Ultraviolet radiation curing of inks on game balls, golf balls and the like
is disclosed. Production inks, logo inks and methods for forming
production prints and logos on golf balls, game balls and the like are
disclosed. To form an ultraviolet radiation curable water-insoluble
production ink, at least an adhesion promoting component is added to an
ink base. The adhesion promoting component is selected from the group
consisting of a carboxylic acid functional monomer, a carboxylic acid
functional oligomer, an ester functional monomer, an ester functional
oligomer and mixtures thereof, the adhesion promoting component having at
least one adhesion promoting functional moiety comprising at least about 2
moles of a carbonyl functionality per mole of the adhesion promoting
component and being sufficient to maintain adhesion of the production ink
of at least about 75% of the inked surface to the topcoat and to the
surface of the game ball or the golf ball after ultraviolet radiation
curing and after coating the production ink with the topcoat. To form an
ultraviolet radiation curable water-insoluble logo ink, at least a
toughening agent is added to an ink base. The toughening agent is
sufficient to maintain adhesion of the logo ink to the topcoat of at least
about 75% of the inked surface after ultraviolet radiation curing.