Acrylic‐urethane/modified Rhodamine‐B eco‐friendly UV‐curable anticounterfeiting ink

Abstract

AbstractCounterfeiting is an ever‐growing global problem challenging companies, governments, and customers. In recent decades, as a potential remedy, anticounterfeiting technology and information security have gained a great deal of attention from academia and industry. In this work and for the first time, Rhodamine B (RhB), an efficient and enticing fluorescent material, was modified and used as a reactive stimuli‐responsive component in the formulation of an eco‐friendly ink. Additionally, a UV‐curable polyurethane dispersion (UCPUD) with zero volatile organic compound was synthesized and employed as the matrix for the fluorescent ink. The modified RhB and UCPUD were thoroughly characterized using Fourier‐transform infrared and proton nuclear magnetic resonance analyses. Exploiting the fluorescent monomer in the ink formulations could enhance the absorption intensity (λmax = 552 nm) of the prepared ink up to 7 with respect to its solution (λmax = 519 nm). The printed pattern was immediately illuminated with brilliant red‐pink fluorescence emission upon UV irradiation. It has been shown that the prepared fluorescent ink has potential applications in the encryption, security marking, and optical authentication of confidential cellulose substrates.