BigPatents India

The present invention relates to a flexographic water based ink in which a biodegradable polymer, such a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), replaces conventional poorly or non-biodegradable organic polymeric resins for example. PHAs are used as a latex suspension in water, thus the present invention relates to a novel pigment/latex mixture. PHA in a latex form is a fluid vehicle in which all the other components necessary to provide a flexographic ink are added, i.e., pigments, wax and/or binder, as well as a solvent, if necessary. The PHAs are mainly responsible for the biodegradability of the flexographic water based ink. The present invention relates also a method to produce a flexographic water based composition with enhanced biodegradability properties.