Acrylate Ink Composition for Digital Lithography
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital offset lithography printing systems face challenges with ink delivery, solubility in dampening fluids, ghosting issues, high manufacturing costs, and inefficient image transfer due to limitations in ink composition and properties.
Innovation Solution
Development of acrylate ink compositions with specific weight percentages of pigment, acrylate, dispersant, photoinitiator, stabilizer, and rheology modifier, which exhibit stable rheology and improved transfer efficiency, compatibility with non-aqueous dampening fluids, and compatibility with reimageable surfaces, enabling efficient delivery and transfer without pre-curing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If offset-type inks are used in digital lithographic printing systems, then high quality digital printing at high speed is enabled, but the inks are difficult to deliver via anilox roller-type inking systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the ink composition, specifically adjusting viscosity, surface tension, and rheological properties to enable effective delivery through anilox roller systems while maintaining high-speed digital printing performance
2Productivity
If offset-type inks are used in digital lithographic printing systems, then high quality digital printing at high speed is enabled, but the inks are soluble in dampening fluids such as D4
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the ink to reduce solubility in dampening fluids like D4, while preserving the ink's functionality in high-speed digital lithographic printing processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite ink formulations combining multiple components with complementary properties to achieve both high-speed printing capability and resistance to dampening fluid solubility
3Productivity
If offset-type inks are used in digital lithographic printing systems, then high quality digital printing at high speed is enabled, but image background and ghosting issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts ink composition parameters including viscosity, surface tension, and chemical composition to prevent background staining and ghosting artifacts while maintaining high-speed digital printing quality
4Productivity
If offset-type inks are used in digital lithographic printing systems, then high quality digital printing at high speed is enabled, but manufacturing and usage costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes ink formulation parameters to reduce manufacturing complexity and material costs while preserving the performance characteristics necessary for high-speed digital lithographic printing
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The acrylate ink compositions enhance ease of delivery, transfer efficiency, and print quality on various substrates, reducing the risk of system component degradation and ghosting, while maintaining compatibility with digital printing system requirements.
Implementation Method 1
The ink composition may be effectively delivered from an anilox roller-type delivery system to a reimageable surface of an imaging member
Implementation Method 2
The ink composition exhibits stable rheology that enables delivery using an anilox roll delivery system, and demonstrates desirable transferability to a reimageable surface
Implementation Method 3
demonstrates desirable transferability to a reimageable surface of an imaging member
Implementation Method 4
transferred from the reimageable offset plate to a substrate
Data Source
AI summary
An ink composition, including 30% or less pigment, 10% or less dispersant, between 40% and 80% acrylate, 12% or less photoinitiator, and having a viscosity between 2×106 cP and 5×107 cP at 25° C., and between 2.×105 cP and 4.×106 cP at 60° C., and a 60 second tack between 40 and 65 g-m at 25° C., and between 10 and 20 g-m at 60° C.