Printed materials and methods of using the same, and articles

Abstract

The present application discloses a printed material and a method of using the same, and an article. The printed material includes a microwave sensitive medium; wherein the volume resistivity of the printed material is 10 8 The present application adds a microwave sensitive medium in the printed material to realize efficient and rapid curing of the formed coating, thereby improving the production efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of printing and coating processes, and in particular to a printing material that is adaptable to a variety of printing processes and can achieve efficient curing, a method of using the same, and articles obtained based on the method of using. Background Technology

[0002] In the printing and coating processes, to ensure the environmental performance and safety of products, existing coatings, adhesives, and inks generally adopt water-based systems. To ensure good rheological properties, the water content in these water-based systems is typically no less than 20%, and some formulations even higher. In the printing process, the wet film formed on the substrate using these formulations usually requires heating to effectively evaporate the moisture. Simultaneously, heat is needed to induce cross-linking or curing reactions in the film-forming substances of the formulation, thereby obtaining a coating with the desired physicochemical properties. Only after the coating is fully dried and cured can the product meet the technical requirements for adhesion, elastic modulus, deformation recovery, surface hardness, and flexural resistance.

[0003] Currently, the mainstream heating methods for wet films include infrared radiation heating and hot air convection heating, with operating temperatures typically set between 100℃ and 150℃. Processing times vary depending on process conditions, ranging from several minutes to tens of minutes. However, in large-scale continuous industrial production scenarios, these traditional heating methods suffer from high energy consumption, low thermal efficiency, and long processing cycles, significantly hindering the improvement of overall production efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address at least one of the aforementioned problems, this application discloses a printing material, a method of using the same, and an article thereof. The printing material includes a microwave-sensitive medium capable of microwave heating, thereby achieving a rapid and efficient curing process and improving production efficiency.

[0005] The first aspect of this application discloses a printing material comprising: a microwave-sensitive medium; wherein the volume resistivity of the printing material is 10⁻¹⁰. 8 .

[0006] According to some embodiments of this application, the printing material further includes: a colorant, an adhesive, and an aqueous carrier; the volume resistivity of the printing material is 10⁻⁶. 6 ~10 8 .

[0007] According to some embodiments of this application, the mass percentages of the colorant, the adhesive, the microwave-sensitive medium, and the aqueous carrier are as follows: colorant: 2%-15%; adhesive: 5%-25%; microwave-sensitive medium: 1%-15%; and aqueous carrier: balance.

[0008] According to some embodiments of this application, the aqueous carrier includes an additive and deionized water; the additive includes a surfactant and a dispersant; the mass percentages of the surfactant and the dispersant are 0.1%-2% and 0.5%-2%, respectively.

[0009] According to some embodiments of this application, the additives further include crosslinking agents and / or softeners; the mass percentages of the crosslinking agent and the softener are 0.5%-2% and 0.5%-1.0%, respectively.

[0010] According to some embodiments of this application, the printing material further includes: a colorant, an adhesive, and an aqueous carrier; the volume resistivity of the printing material is 10⁻⁶. 3 ~10 6 .

[0011] According to some embodiments of this application, the mass percentages of the colorant, the adhesive, the microwave-sensitive medium, and the aqueous carrier are as follows: colorant: 5%-20%; adhesive: 30%-50%; microwave-sensitive medium: 0.5%-15%; and aqueous carrier: balance.

[0012] According to some embodiments of this application, the aqueous carrier includes additives and deionized water; the additives include crosslinking agents, thickeners and softeners; the mass percentages of the crosslinking agent, the thickener and the softener are 0.5%-2%, 2%-6% and 1%-3%, respectively.

[0013] According to some embodiments of this application, the additive further includes an antifoaming agent; the antifoaming agent has a mass percentage of 0.1%-2%.

[0014] According to some embodiments of this application, the printing material further includes: a colorant, an adhesive, and an aqueous carrier; the volume resistivity of the printing material is 10~10. 3 .

[0015] According to some embodiments of this application, the mass percentages of the colorant, the adhesive, the microwave-sensitive medium, and the aqueous carrier are as follows: colorant: 5%-30%; adhesive: 20%-50%; microwave-sensitive medium: 5%-20%; and aqueous carrier: balance.

[0016] According to some embodiments of this application, the aqueous carrier includes additives and deionized water; the additives include surfactants, defoamers, and softeners; the mass percentages of the surfactants, the defoamers, and the softeners are 0.1%-2%, 0.5%-1%, and 0.5%-3%, respectively.

[0017] According to some embodiments of this application, the additive further includes a crosslinking agent; the crosslinking agent has a mass percentage of 0.5%-3%.

[0018] According to some embodiments of this application, the printing material comprises the following components by mass percentage: colorant: 1%-20%; binder: 5%-25%; microwave-sensitive medium: 1%-20%; rheology modifier: 0.5%-5%; curing agent: 0.5%-10%; additives: 0.5%-10%; and the balance being solvent.

[0019] A second aspect of this application provides a method of using the printing material as described above, the method comprising: forming a wet film of the printing material on a substrate surface using a printing device; and microwaving the wet film to cure it and form a printed coating.

[0020] According to some embodiments of this application, the printing equipment includes at least one of digital inkjet printing equipment, inkjet gun, and screen printing stencil; the substrate includes at least textile fabric.

[0021] A third aspect of this application provides an article obtained by printing with the printing material described above, or by preparing it using the method of using the printing material described above.

[0022] Additional aspects and advantages of this application will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0024] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used in this application and in its specification is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. The terms "comprising" or "including," as used in this application, mean that an element or object preceding the word encompasses the elements or objects listed following the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. The terms "and / or" or "and / or" as used in this application include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0025] The following describes some preferred embodiments of this application. It should be noted that the following description is for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application.

[0026] As mentioned in the background section, existing methods for heating wet films formed from printed materials (infrared radiation heating or hot air convection heating) typically require a long time. This results in high energy consumption, low efficiency, and long processing cycles in large-scale industrial production. Furthermore, in fields such as footwear, apparel, advertising displays, packaging, and arts and crafts, printed materials with three-dimensional structures (also known as "3D effects" or "embossed textures") are widely favored by the market due to their unique visual depth and tactile texture. These three-dimensional effects are usually achieved by applying thicker coatings, with significantly higher coating amounts (paints / solvents / inks) than conventional flat printing. This leads to higher moisture and volatile component content in the wet film, requiring more heat energy for film formation. Consequently, the drying and curing processes require longer heating times and higher energy input, further exacerbating the energy burden and extending production cycles.

[0027] Based on this, this application provides a printing material that can significantly shorten the heating time while ensuring that the coating meets key performance indicators such as adhesion, elasticity, hardness, and flexural strength, effectively reducing the energy consumption and manufacturing cost of the product, and improving overall production efficiency, making it suitable for large-scale industrial production.

[0028] The printing material provided in this application may include a microwave-sensitive medium. When a microwave electric field is applied to the printing material, the microwave-sensitive medium, along with other polar molecules in the printing material (e.g., H2O), can achieve rapid and uniform "bulk phase heating" within the printing material in a short time, causing moisture to evaporate quickly and shortening the heating / curing time. Simultaneously, "bulk phase heating" ensures uniform heating throughout the wet film formed by the printing material, avoiding uneven curing due to temperature gradients, which could affect the final product performance.

[0029] To adapt to different printing processes (e.g., including but not limited to digital direct inkjet printing, screen printing, and spray gun coating) and to ensure that the performance of the final product meets requirements, the volume resistivity of the printing material can be set to 10~10. 8 Within this volume resistivity range, the printing material can not only successfully form planar patterns or three-dimensional structures under different processes, but also efficiently absorb microwave energy and convert it into a controllable heat source, achieving curing in a short time.

[0030] In some embodiments, the microwave-sensitive medium may include one or more of the following: conductive polymer materials, carbon-based conductive materials, transparent conductive oxide materials, solid ionic conductors, and non-metallic conductive materials. Exemplary conductive polymer materials may include, but are not limited to, polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophene and its derivatives (such as PEDOT, P3HT), PEDOT:PSS (poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene-polystyrene sulfonate), poly(p-phenylenevinylene), polyphenylene sulfide, polyacetylene, poly(p-phenyleneacetylene), polycarbazole, polyindole, polyfuran, polyfluorene, polybiphenylene, polyselenophene, and poly(phenylene oxide). Exemplary carbon-based conductive materials may include, but are not limited to, natural graphite, artificial graphite, conductive carbon black, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, fullerenes C60 and C70, carbon fibers, carbon nanofibers, graphyne, carbon aerogel, porous conductive carbon, carbon foam, carbon nanoparticles, and activated carbon. Exemplary transparent conductive oxide materials may include, but are not limited to, indium tin oxide (ITO), fluorine-doped tin dioxide (FTO), aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO), gallium-doped zinc oxide (GZO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), boron-doped zinc oxide (BZO), pure tin dioxide, indium oxide, antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO), niobium-doped titanium dioxide, tungsten trioxide, molybdenum trioxide, cadmium oxide, tantalum pentoxide, strontium titanate, etc. Exemplary solid ionic conductors may include, but are not limited to, lithium-ion conductors such as LLZO, LATP, LGP, LiPON, Li2S-P2S5, Li3N, LiI, LiBH4, Li2ZrO3, and sodium-ion conductors such as β-Al2O3, NATP, NGP, NaZr2(PO4)3, NaI, NaBH4, Na2TiO3, etc. Exemplary non-metallic conductive materials may include, but are not limited to, single-crystal silicon, polycrystalline silicon, elemental germanium, black phosphorus, silicon carbide SiC, conductive aluminum nitride AlN, molybdenum disulfide MoS2, bismuth telluride Bi2Te3, cadmium selenide CdSe, gallium arsenide GaAs, indium phosphide InP, conductive ceramics, conductive modified boron nitride, conductive mica, zinc sulfide conductive semiconductors, amorphous selenium conductive materials, MXenes, etc.

[0031] In some embodiments, the printing material may include a colorant, an adhesive, the microwave-sensitive medium, and an aqueous carrier. The volume resistivity of the printing material is 10⁻⁶. 6 ~10 8 The above printing materials are compatible with digital inkjet printing technology.

[0032] The colorant, used to provide the color of the final coating, can be a dye or pigment. For example, dye-based colorants may include reactive dyes, disperse dyes, acid dyes, vat dyes, direct dyes, etc. Pigment-based colorants may include organic pigments such as phthalocyanine pigments, azo pigments, quinacridone pigments, etc.; inorganic pigments such as titanium dioxide, carbon black, iron oxide red, iron oxide yellow, ultramarine blue, etc.; pearlescent pigments such as titanium mica pearlescent powder; fluorescent pigments such as fluorescent yellow, fluorescent red, fluorescent green, etc.; thermochromic / photochromic pigments such as thermochromic powder, photochromic powder, etc.; and metallic pigments such as aluminum silver powder, copper gold powder, etc. Depending on the equipment using the printing material, the colorant may be water-based, solvent-based, or UV-based paste or powder. For example, for digital inkjet printing, the colorant may be an water-based paste.

[0033] The colorant may have a mass fraction of 2%-15% in the printing material. Optionally or preferably, the colorant may have a mass fraction of 2%-8% in the printing material. For example, the colorant may have a mass fraction of 12% in the printing material.

[0034] The adhesive can be used to form a continuous film after curing to firmly bond other components of the printed material to the substrate surface. Exemplary, but not limiting, the adhesive may be selected from one or more resins. One or more of the following can be used as the film-forming adhesive: acrylic resins (e.g., waterborne acrylic resins, pure acrylic resin emulsions, styrene-acrylic resin emulsions, vinyl acetate-acrylic resin emulsions, etc.), polyurethane resins (e.g., waterborne polyurethane adhesives, acrylic-modified polyurethane adhesives, etc.), polyester resins (e.g., saturated polyester emulsions, modified polyester emulsions, etc.), epoxy resins (e.g., waterborne epoxy resin emulsions, epoxy-acrylic composite emulsions, etc.), silicone-modified resins (e.g., silicone-modified epoxy resins such as siloxane-grafted epoxy resins, silicone-modified acrylic resins such as silane coupling agent-modified acrylic emulsions, silicone-modified phenolic resins such as methylphenylsiloxane-phenolic cocondensates, etc.), natural polymer-modified resin adhesives (e.g., modified starch resins, cellulose derivatives such as CMC / HEC, sodium alginate resins, etc.), and self-crosslinking resins (e.g., ketone carbonyl-hydrazide self-crosslinking pure acrylic resins, epoxy-based self-crosslinking acrylic copolymers, acetoacetate-based self-crosslinking acrylic resins, etc.).

[0035] The adhesive may have a mass fraction of 5%-25% in the printing material. Optionally or preferably, the adhesive has a mass fraction of 5%-20% in the printing material. For example, the adhesive has a mass fraction of 20% in the printing material.

[0036] The microwave-sensitive medium can serve as a conductive filler, evaporating moisture and curing the resin upon microwave heating. The microwave-sensitive medium can be selected from any of the aforementioned examples, such as PEDOT:PSS or carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The mass fraction of the microwave-sensitive medium in the printing material can be 1%-15%. Optionally or preferably, the mass fraction of the microwave-sensitive medium in the printing material is 1%-10%. For example, the mass fraction of the microwave-sensitive medium in the printing material is 10%.

[0037] The aqueous carrier may include deionized water and additives dissolved therein. The additives may include surfactants and dispersants. The deionized water can act as a solvent to improve the flowability of the printing material (e.g., ink). The surfactant can be used to control the surface tension of the printing material (e.g., ink) to adapt it to digital inkjet printing processes. Exemplarily, but not limitingly, the surfactant may be selected from one or more of the following: nonionic surfactants (e.g., acetylenic glycols, fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ethers, isooctyl alcohol polyoxyethylene ethers, polyether block copolymers, etc.), anionic surfactants (e.g., sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, fatty alcohol ether sulfate, sodium diisooctyl succinate sulfonate, sodium secondary alkyl sulfonate, etc.), amphoteric surfactants (e.g., dodecyl betaine, cocamidopropyl betaine, imidazoline amphoteric surfactants, amino acid amphoteric wetting agents, etc.), and cationic surfactants (e.g., dodecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, polyquaternary ammonium salt surfactants, etc.). The dispersant can be used to stabilize the colorant and the binder, preventing flocculation. Anionic dispersants such as naphthalenesulfonic acid formaldehyde condensate, lignin sulfonates, alkyl sulfonates / sulfates, and alkyl phosphates; nonionic dispersants such as fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ethers and polyoxyethylene ethers; polymeric dispersants such as polycarboxylic acid polymeric dispersants, acrylic copolymeric dispersants, polyurethane polymeric dispersants, and BYK commercial dispersants; silicone dispersants such as polyether-modified silicone dispersants and trisiloxane composite dispersants and wetting agents; and natural polymeric dispersants such as sodium alginate, gum arabic, xanthan gum, and modified gelatin can all be used in this application without limitation.

[0038] The surfactant in the printing material may be 0.1%-2% by mass fraction. Optionally or preferably, the surfactant in the printing material may be 0.1%-0.5% by mass fraction. For example, the surfactant in the printing material may be 2% by mass fraction. The dispersant in the printing material may be 0.5%-2% by mass fraction. For example, the dispersant in the printing material may be 1% or 1.5% by mass fraction.

[0039] In some embodiments, the additive may further include 0.5%-2% by mass of a crosslinking agent and / or 0.5%-1.0% by mass of a softener. The crosslinking agent can be used to improve the wash fastness of the formed coating, and the softener can be used to improve the feel of the coating. The crosslinking agent may be selected from one or more of the following: aziridine crosslinking agent ZF-88, blocked isocyanate crosslinking agent, ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether, carbodiimide CDI crosslinking agent, silane crosslinking agent KH560, BTCA polycarboxylic acid crosslinking agent, organozirconium salt crosslinking agent, etc. The softener may be selected from one or more of the following: amino-modified organosilicon microemulsion softener, polyether-modified organosilicon softener, waterborne polyurethane softener, fatty amide softener, polyol fatty acid ester softener, cationic soft sheet type softener, copolymer organosilicon smoothing softener, etc.

[0040] In some embodiments, the printing material may include a colorant, an adhesive, the microwave-sensitive medium, and an aqueous carrier. The volume resistivity of the printing material is 10⁻⁶. 3 ~10 6 The above printing materials are suitable for screen printing.

[0041] The selection of the colorant, the adhesive, and the microwave-sensitive medium in the above printing materials can refer to the foregoing description and will not be repeated here. The mass percentages of the above three components can be as follows: colorant: 5%-20%; adhesive: 30%-50%; and microwave-sensitive medium: 0.5%-15%, or 0.5%-5%.

[0042] In some embodiments, the aqueous carrier may also include deionized water and additives. The additives may include crosslinking agents, thickeners, and softeners. The uses and selection of the crosslinking agents and softeners are described above. The thickener can be used to adjust the viscosity of the printing material (e.g., paste), impart thixotropy, and prevent bleeding rheology, ensuring a clear final pattern. Examples of thickeners include sodium alginate, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), alkali-swellable polyacrylic acid thickeners, polyurethane associative thickeners, xanthan gum, guar gum, bentonite inorganic thickeners, and methyl hydroxypropyl cellulose (MHPC). The mass percentage of the thickener may be 2%-6%.

[0043] In some embodiments, the additive may further include 0.1%-2% by weight of a defoamer. The defoamer can be used to prevent the generation of bubbles during paste preparation and printing. Any known defoamer, such as NXZ mineral oil defoamer, BYK-024 silicone defoamer, TEGO Foamex 800 polyether-modified silicone defoamer, GP polyether defoamer, DF-810 composite defoamer, Surfynol DF-110D acetylenol defoamer, GPE polyoxypropylene glycerol ether defoamer, and silicone-free polycarboxylic acid defoamers, can be used in this application.

[0044] In some embodiments, the printing material may include a colorant, an adhesive, the microwave-sensitive medium, and an aqueous carrier. The volume resistivity of the printing material is 10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻¹⁰. 3 The above printing materials are suitable for spray gun coating processes.

[0045] The uses and selection of the colorant, the adhesive, and the microwave-sensitive medium in the above printing materials can be referred to the foregoing description and will not be repeated here. The mass percentages of the above three components can be as follows: colorant: 5%-30%, for example 5%; adhesive: 20%-50%, for example 30%; and microwave-sensitive medium: 5%-20%, for example 20%.

[0046] In some embodiments, the aqueous carrier may also include deionized water and additives. The additives may include surfactants, defoamers, and softeners. By mass fraction, the surfactants, defoamers, and softeners may be 0.1%-2% (e.g., 2%), 0.5%-1% (e.g., 1%), and 0.5%-3% (e.g., 1%), respectively. For specific uses and selections of various additives, please refer to the foregoing description.

[0047] In some embodiments, the additive may further include a crosslinking agent at a mass fraction of 0.5%-3%. The mass percentage of the crosslinking agent can be 0.5%-3%, for example, 1%. The use and selection of the crosslinking agent can be referred to the foregoing description.

[0048] This application also provides a printing material adaptable to any inkjet printing or printing process. The volume resistivity of the printing material is 10⁻⁶. 6 ~10 8 It may include the following components by weight percentage: colorant: 1%-20%, for example 15%; binder: 5%-25%, for example 25%; microwave-sensitive medium: 1%-20%, for example 12%; rheology modifier: 0.5%-5%, for example 2%; curing agent: 0.5%-10%, for example 5%; additives: 0.5%-10%, for example 2%; and the balance being solvent.

[0049] The uses and selection of the colorant, the adhesive, and the microwave-sensitive medium in the above printing materials can be referred to the foregoing description and will not be repeated here. The rheology modifier can be used to precisely control the rheological properties of the printing material (including but not limited to viscosity, thixotropy, flowability, etc.) to ensure the smooth use of the printing material (e.g., to pass smoothly through the nozzle without causing nozzle clogging when using digital inkjet printing or inkjet spraying) while also ensuring that the printing material maintains a good shape on the substrate surface without excessive leveling, thereby accurately obtaining the desired pattern or three-dimensional contour. Exemplary but not limiting, the rheology modifier may include, but is not limited to, cellulose ethers (e.g., hydroxyethyl cellulose HEC, carboxymethyl cellulose CMC, etc.), polyurethane thickeners (e.g., associative polyurethane HEUR, polyurethane thickeners with photocurable groups such as acrylate active groups, modified polyurethane thickeners such as hydrophobic modified polyurethane, etc.), inorganic thickeners (e.g., fumed silica, bentonite, magnesium aluminum silicate, etc.), polyacrylic acid compounds (e.g., hydrophobic modified polyacrylate HASE, etc.), polyamide waxes (e.g., modified polyamide wax micropowder), hydrogenated castor oil derivatives, organobentonite compounds (e.g., organomodified montmorillonite), acrylate rheology modifiers (e.g., hydrophobic modified acrylate prepolymers), polyurethane rheology modifiers (e.g., UV-active polyurethane associative thickeners), and any combination thereof.

[0050] The curing agent can be used to initiate or promote the cross-linking curing reaction of the printed material (e.g., the aforementioned adhesive), causing it to change from a liquid to a solid state. Exemplarily, the curing agent can be selected from one or more thermosetting agents. Examples include aziridine curing agents, blocked polyisocyanate curing agents, amine / anhydride curing agents, amino resin curing agents, two-component polyisocyanates, etc.

[0051] The additives described herein can be used to optimize the overall performance of printing materials. For example, the additives may include at least one or more of the following: wetting agents, defoamers, leveling agents, softeners, and abrasion-resistant agents. The wetting agents can be used to improve the adhesion of the printing material to the substrate surface; the defoamers can be used to prevent the formation of bubbles in the printing material during production, use, and storage; the leveling agents can be used to control the spread and smoothness of the printing material on the substrate surface to achieve a smooth surface; the softeners can be used to improve the surface smoothness and soft feel of the final coating and reduce the coefficient of friction; and the abrasion-resistant agents can be used to enhance the abrasion resistance and scratch resistance of the coating to prevent pattern peeling. Any known additives may be used in this application without limitation. For example, the wetting agent may be selected from polyether-modified polydimethylsiloxane, alkyl-modified organosiloxane copolymers, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene-modified heptamethyltrisiloxane, fluorocarbon-modified acrylate copolymers, acrylate-modified organosiloxanes, polyether-acrylate block copolymers, etc. The leveling agent can be selected from polyether-modified methylphenylsiloxane, nonionic polyacrylate copolymer, polyester-modified organosiloxane solution, perfluoroalkyl ethyl acrylate copolymer, acrylate-modified organosiloxane, etc. The softener can be selected from amino-modified polydimethylsiloxane emulsion, hydroxyl-modified organosiloxane emulsion, aqueous polyurethane dispersion, hydrogenated palm wax micropowder, hydrogenated castor oil derivative, etc. The abrasion-resistant agent can be selected from polyether-modified organosiloxane, organosilicone-modified acrylate copolymer, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) micropowder, polyethylene wax micropowder, acrylate copolymer microspheres, etc. The film-forming aid can be selected from propylene glycol monobutyl ether, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol monoisobutyrate, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate, dimethyl adipate + dimethyl glutarate + dimethyl succinate mixture, etc. For the defoamer, please refer to the foregoing description.

[0052] The solvent can be used to adjust the viscosity and solids content of the printing material to adapt it to different printing processes or printing equipment. For example, the solvent can be one or more of deionized water, alcohols, lipids, and hydrocarbons. Exemplary alcohol solvents include ethanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol. Exemplary lipid solvents include ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, and ethylene glycol butyl ether acetate. Exemplary hydrocarbon solvents include n-hexane, cyclohexane, petroleum ether, toluene, and xylene.

[0053] The printing material provided in this application achieves efficient response and curing into a film under a microwave field by adding a microwave-sensitive medium to adjust the volume resistivity of the printing material. It exhibits uniform heating, high heating efficiency, and high product quality. The printing material is adaptable to various printing processes, including but not limited to digital inkjet printing, spray gun coating, and screen printing, demonstrating strong versatility.

[0054] This application also provides a method for using the aforementioned printing material. The method may include: forming a wet film of the printing material on a substrate surface using printing equipment; and microwaving the wet film to cure it and form a printed coating. The printing equipment may include, but is not limited to, digital inkjet printing equipment, inkjet guns, and screen printing stencils. In use, the printing material can be loaded into the appropriate equipment to form a patterned wet film or a three-dimensional wet film on the substrate surface. For example, when using digital inkjet printing equipment, piezoelectric or thermally foamed nozzles can be used to precisely control the volume of a single drop and the number of deposition layers, directly constructing high-resolution color three-dimensional patterns on flexible or rigid substrates, achieving pixel-level thickness control. As another example, when using screen printing, by customizing the screen mesh count and squeegee parameters, a high-solids content paste can be transferred to the substrate surface, and a micron-thickness raised effect can be formed with one or more printing passes, suitable for preparing large-area uniform textures. For example, when using spraying, a pressure or airless spray gun can be used to apply a partial or full coating to a flat or complex curved surface. By adjusting the number of sprays, air pressure, and gun speed, the coating thickness and appearance can be flexibly controlled. Subsequently, the patterned wet film or three-dimensional wet film can be transferred to a microwave field for microwave heating, transforming the wet film in situ into a functional coating with a stable morphology (including planar and uneven structures). The substrate can include at least textile fabrics, but can also be materials such as paper, plastics, metals, glass, and ceramics. The printing materials provided in this application are adaptable to different printing systems and have strong versatility.

[0055] The present application will be further described in detail below with reference to embodiments. It should be noted that the following embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection claimed in this application.

[0056] Example 1 - Coating Ink for Digital Printing In this embodiment, the colorant, binder, microwave-sensitive medium, and additives (surfactant and dispersant) are weighed according to the mass ratios shown in Table 1, with the remainder being solvent. The solvents include ethylene glycol, glycerol, and deionized water. The colorant is a pigment, the binder is waterborne polyurethane, the rheology modifier is fumed silica, the curing agent is a blocked HDI trimer, the microwave-sensitive medium is PEDOT:PSS, and the additives include a surfactant and a dispersant. The surfactant is a nonionic fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether, and the dispersant is a polyether-modified silicone dispersant.

[0057] Table 1 Ink Composition and Ratio The preparation process is as follows: The components, excluding pigments, are dispersed evenly at high speed. Then, pigment paste is added and dispersed evenly again. The mixture is then ground to a fine particle size of ≤300μm using a ceramic nano-grinding machine. After filtration, a CMYK+W five-color ink with a viscosity of approximately 15 cP is obtained.

[0058] The application process is as follows: Ink was filled into a piezoelectric digital printing machine to print a logo pattern on polyester fabric (heating temperature 140℃). The volume resistivity of this pattern was 1.63 × 10⁻⁶. 6 Ω The logo is 400 µm thick and then cured using a microwave heating device. The microwave output power is set to 300 W and the curing time is 40 s, forming a fine embossed logo pattern. The resulting pattern has a soft feel and is rated as level 4 in terms of abrasion resistance and water resistance, meeting the requirements for daily use.

[0059] Example 2 - Paste for screen printing In this embodiment, the colorant, binder, microwave-sensitive medium, and aqueous carrier were weighed according to the mass ratios shown in Table 2. The colorant is a pigment containing 20%–5% organic pigment, the binder is an aqueous acrylic resin, the microwave-sensitive medium is graphene, and the aqueous carrier includes additives and deionized water. The additives include a crosslinking agent, a thickener, a softener, and a defoamer. The crosslinking agent is silane crosslinking agent KH560, the thickener is carboxymethyl cellulose, the softener is an amino-modified silicone microemulsion softener (such as diaminopropyl polydimethylsiloxane), and the defoamer is Surfynol DF-110D acetylenol defoamer.

[0060] Table 2 Slurry Composition and Proportioning The preparation process is as follows: Using a top-mounted agitator, mix the pigment with a portion of deionized water at 600-800 rpm for 15-20 minutes until a uniform ink paste without visible particles is formed. Then, adjust the agitator to 400 rpm and slowly add the water-based acrylic resin emulsion, stirring for 10 minutes to ensure thorough mixing. While stirring at low speed, slowly add the conductive graphene dispersion, ensuring uniform dispersion throughout the system. Avoid high-speed stirring during this process to prevent damage to the graphene sheet structure. After adding other additives, slowly add the remaining deionized water for fine-tuning. Continue stirring at low speed for 15 minutes, then allow to stand for 2 hours to defoam, thus obtaining the screen printing paste.

[0061] The application process is as follows: Using an 80-mesh polyester screen, the above-mentioned adhesive was printed onto two substrates: pure cotton fabric and PET plastic sheet (printing can be done two or more times). The coating was cured at a temperature of 130 ℃, and the corresponding volume resistivity of the printed samples was 6.37 × 10⁻⁶. 4 Ω cm and 2.65×10 5 Ω The printed samples were 1200 µm and 800 µm thick, respectively. Immediately after printing, both samples were placed in a laboratory multimode microwave reactor with a microwave output power set to 600 W. Microwave heating was initiated for 90 seconds, resulting in a coated fabric with high precision, fine softness, and excellent film-forming properties. Abrasion resistance tests using a Martindale abrasion tester showed both samples to be at least level 4. A wash resistance test on the printed coated pure cotton fabric, conducted according to GB / T 5713-2013 standard, showed a level of 5, meeting the performance requirements of high-end textiles.

[0062] Example 3 - Spraying paste for spray gun application In this embodiment, the colorant, binder, microwave-sensitive medium, and aqueous carrier are weighed according to the mass ratio shown in Table 3. The aqueous carrier includes additives and deionized water. The colorant is a pigment, the binder is acrylic-modified polyurethane, the microwave-sensitive medium is carbon black or carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and the additives include surfactants, crosslinking agents, softeners, and defoamers. The surfactant is the amphoteric surfactant dodecyl betaine, the crosslinking agent is a blocked isocyanate crosslinking agent, the softener is a polyether-modified silicone softener, and the defoamer is BYK-024 silicone defoamer.

[0063] Table 3 Slurry Composition and Proportioning The preparation process is as follows: The preparation method is similar to that in Example 1. In this example, each component is accurately weighed according to Table 3. Then, the components except for the pigment are dispersed evenly at high speed. Then, the colorant (i.e., pigment) is added and dispersed evenly again. After that, it is ground with a ceramic nano-grinding machine until the fine particle size is ≤300 µm to obtain a CMYK+W five-color ink with a viscosity of about 20 cP.

[0064] The application process is as follows: Using a 2.5 mm nozzle pressurized spray gun, the coating is applied to the surface of the wooden substrate and the curved PVC pipe. By controlling the number of sprays (1-3 or more), the gun distance (20-80 cm), and the spraying time, a wet coating with a distinct textured surface, ranging in thickness from 200 µm to 2 mm, can be formed. The volume resistivity of the coating can be controlled within the range of 10~10. 3 Ω The coated sample was placed in a 2.45 GHz industrial microwave tunnel oven. The power was set to 800 W, and the sample was conveyed through the microwave cavity (cavity length 1 m, i.e., exposure time approximately 120 s) at a speed of 0.5 m / min. After heating, the coated pattern was delicate and exquisite, exhibiting excellent film-forming properties and good flexibility. Testing with a Martindale abrasion tester showed no significant changes to the coating surface, indicating high adhesion to the substrate and meeting the daily use requirements of the product.

[0065] In this embodiment, when the spraying is done twice, the colorant, binder, microwave-sensitive medium, and additives are weighed according to the mass ratio shown in Table 4, with the remainder being solvent. The solvent includes deionized water. The colorant is a pigment, the binder is a silicone-modified phenolic resin, the microwave-sensitive medium is polypyrrole, and the additives include a softener and a defoamer. The softener is a polyether-modified silicone softener, and the defoamer is BYK-024 silicone defoamer.

[0066] Table 4 Slurry Composition and Proportioning The application process is as follows: The coating components shown in Table 4, when used, can be controlled by spraying twice, with each spraying time being 30 seconds, to maintain the volume resistivity of the coating at 2×10⁻⁶. 2 ~5×10 3 Ω Within a range of cm, the coating thickness was controlled between 400 µm and 600 µm. The microwave output power was set to 800 W, the required curing temperature for the coating was 150 ℃, and the heating time was 90 s. After microwave curing, the coating exhibited excellent film-forming properties and a superior feel, achieving a wear resistance rating of ≥4 after testing.

[0067] In this embodiment, when the number of spraying applications is 3 or more, the colorant, binder, microwave-sensitive medium, and additives can be weighed according to the mass ratio shown in Table 5, with the remainder being solvent. The solvent includes deionized water. The colorant is a pigment, the binder is a silicone-modified phenolic resin, the microwave-sensitive medium is polyaniline or carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and the additives include surfactants, dispersants, softeners, and defoamers. The surfactant is a nonionic polyether block copolymer, the softener is a polyether-modified silicone softener, and the defoamer is DF-810 composite defoamer.

[0068] Table 5. Slurry composition and proportions The application process is as follows: The coating components shown in Table 5 correspond to 3 or more spray applications, with each application lasting 30 seconds, and can control the volume resistivity of the coating layer to be between 100 and 2 × 10⁻⁶.3 Ω Within a range of cm, the coating thickness is controlled between 600 µm and 1000 µm. The microwave output power is set to 900 W, the required temperature for coating curing is 160 ℃, and the heating time is 90 s. The paste is sprayed onto the surface of synthetic fiber fabric or other substrates using a spray gun. After microwave curing, the coating exhibits excellent film-forming properties and a good hand feel. After washing and abrasion resistance tests, the coated fabrics all achieve a grade ≥4, meeting the needs of daily use.

[0069] Example 4 - Paste for screen printing and spray gun coating In this embodiment, the colorant, binder, rheology modifier, curing agent, microwave-sensitive medium, and additives are weighed according to the mass ratios shown in Table 6, with the remainder being solvent. The solvents include ethylene glycol, glycerol, and deionized water. The colorant is a pigment, the binder is waterborne polyurethane, the rheology modifier is fumed silica, the curing agent is a blocked HDI trimer, the microwave-sensitive medium is PEDOT:PSS, and the additives include wetting agents and defoamers.

[0070] Table 6 Ink Composition and Ratio The preparation process is as follows: Using a top-mounted stirrer, mix the components (excluding pigments) with solvent and some deionized water until homogeneous. Set the speed to 600-800 rpm and continue dispersing for 30 minutes. Then slowly add the pigment and adjust the speed to 400 rpm until homogeneous. Finally, use a ceramic nano-grinding mill to grind the ink to a fine particle size ≤300μm. After filtration, obtain a CMYK+W five-color ink with a viscosity of approximately 20 cP.

[0071] The application process is as follows: Ink was filled into a piezoelectric digital printing machine to print a logo pattern on polyester fabric (heating temperature 140℃). The volume resistivity of this pattern was 1.63 × 10⁻⁶. 4 Ω The logo is 500 µm thick and then cured using a microwave heating device. The microwave output power is set to 600 W and the curing time is 60 s, forming a fine embossed logo pattern. The resulting pattern has a soft feel and a wear resistance and water resistance rating of level 4, meeting the requirements for daily use.

[0072] This application also provides an article of manufacture, which can be obtained by printing using the printing materials described above, or prepared based on the printing materials application methods described above. The article of manufacture may include at least one of the following: textile printed articles, packaging printed articles, advertising signage articles, industrial functional printed articles, and cultural and creative craft and daily necessities printed articles. The printing materials described enable highly efficient, energy-saving, and efficient preparation of the article of manufacture.

[0073] This application has described the basic concepts. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, the above detailed disclosure is merely illustrative and does not constitute a limitation of this application. Although not explicitly stated herein, those skilled in the art may make various modifications, improvements, and corrections to this application. Such modifications, improvements, and corrections are suggested in this application, and therefore such modifications, improvements, and corrections still fall within the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of this application.

[0074] Meanwhile, this application uses specific terms to describe its embodiments. For example, "an embodiment," "one embodiment," "some embodiments," and / or "some implementations" refer to a particular feature, structure, or characteristic related to at least one embodiment of this application. Therefore, it should be emphasized and noted that "an embodiment," "one embodiment," or "an alternative embodiment" mentioned twice or more in different locations in this application do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, certain features, structures, or characteristics in one or more embodiments of this application can be appropriately combined.

[0075] Similarly, it should be noted that, in order to simplify the description of this application and thus aid in the understanding of one or more embodiments of the invention, the foregoing description of the embodiments of this application sometimes combines multiple features into one embodiment or its description. However, this disclosure method does not imply that the subject matter of this application requires more features than those mentioned in the claims. In fact, the embodiments have fewer features than all the features of the single embodiments disclosed above.

[0076] Finally, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this application are merely illustrative of the principles of the embodiments of this application. Other modifications may also fall within the scope of this application. Therefore, alternative configurations of the embodiments of this application are considered as examples and not limitations, and are regarded as consistent with the teachings of this application. Accordingly, the embodiments of this application are not limited to the embodiments explicitly described and illustrated in this application.

Claims

1. A printing material, characterized in that, The printing material includes: a microwave-sensitive medium; wherein... The volume resistivity of the printing material is 10⁻¹⁰. 8 .

2. The printing material according to claim 1, characterized in that, The printing material further includes: colorant, adhesive, and water-based carrier; the volume resistivity of the printing material is 10. 6 ~10 8 .

3. The printing material according to claim 2, characterized in that, The mass percentages of the colorant, the adhesive, the microwave-sensitive medium, and the aqueous carrier are as follows: The colorant: 2%-15%; The adhesive: 5%-25%; The microwave-sensitive medium: 1%-15%; and The aqueous carrier: balance.

4. The printing material according to claim 3, characterized in that, The aqueous carrier includes an additive and deionized water; the additive includes a surfactant and a dispersant; the surfactant and the dispersant have a mass percentage of 0.1%-2% and 0.5%-2%, respectively.

5. The printing material according to claim 4, characterized in that, The additives also include crosslinking agents and / or softeners; the mass percentages of the crosslinking agent and the softener are 0.5%-2% and 0.5%-1.0%, respectively.

6. The printing material according to claim 1, characterized in that, The printing material further includes: colorant, adhesive, and water-based carrier; the volume resistivity of the printing material is 10. 3 ~10 6 .

7. The printing material according to claim 6, characterized in that, The mass percentages of the colorant, the adhesive, the microwave-sensitive medium, and the aqueous carrier are as follows: The colorant: 5%-20%; The adhesive content is 30%-50%. The microwave-sensitive medium: 0.5%-15%; and The aqueous carrier: balance.

8. The printing material according to claim 7, characterized in that, The aqueous carrier includes additives and deionized water; the additives include crosslinking agents, thickeners, and softeners; the mass percentages of the crosslinking agent, the thickener, and the softener are 0.5%-2%, 2%-6%, and 1%-3%, respectively.

9. The printing material according to claim 8, characterized in that, The additives also include defoamers; the defoamers have a mass percentage of 0.1%-2%.

10. The printing material according to claim 1, characterized in that, The printing material further includes: colorant, adhesive, and water-based carrier; the volume resistivity of the printing material is 10~10. 3 .

11. The printing material according to claim 10, characterized in that, The mass percentages of the colorant, the adhesive, the microwave-sensitive medium, and the aqueous carrier are as follows: The colorant: 5%-30%; The adhesive content is 20%-50%. The microwave-sensitive medium: 5%-20%; and The aqueous carrier: balance.

12. The printing material according to claim 11, characterized in that, The aqueous carrier includes additives and deionized water; the additives include surfactants, defoamers, and softeners; the mass percentages of the surfactants, defoamers, and softeners are 0.1%-2%, 0.5%-1%, and 0.5%-3%, respectively.

13. The printing material according to claim 12, characterized in that, The additives also include a crosslinking agent; the crosslinking agent has a mass percentage of 0.5%-3%.

14. The printing material according to claim 1, characterized in that, The printing material comprises the following components by weight percentage: Colorant: 1%-20%; Adhesive: 5%-25%; Microwave-sensitive medium: 1%-20%; Rheology modifier: 0.5%-5%; Hardener: 0.5%-10%; Additives: 0.5%-10%; and The remaining amount of solvent.

15. A method of using a printing material as described in any one of claims 1-14, characterized in that, The method of use includes: The printing material is used to form a wet film on the surface of a substrate using printing equipment; The wet film is microwave-heated to cure and form a printed coating.

16. The method of use according to claim 15, characterized in that, The printing equipment includes at least one of the following: digital inkjet printing equipment, inkjet gun, and screen printing screen. The substrate includes at least textile fabrics.

17. An article characterized in that, The article is obtained by printing with the printing material as described in any one of claims 1-14, or by using the method of using the printing material as described in claim 15 or 16.

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