Actinic-Curable Ink Composition for High Gloss and Stretchability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Actinic-ray-curable ink compositions face challenges in achieving both high blocking resistance and high stretchability, while also maintaining high glossiness, especially for clear inks used in outdoor applications like advertisements and banners.
Innovation Solution
An actinic-ray-curable ink composition comprising a di(meth)acrylate with a linear alkylene group, a di(meth)acrylate with an alkylene oxide chain, a cyclohexyldienone-based polymerization inhibitor, and a photopolymerization initiator, with specific content ratios and the inclusion of a surfactant having a polymerizable group, which enhances glossiness, blocking resistance, and stretchability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the ink composition uses conventional di(meth)acrylate monomers, then the curability is high, but the film stretchability is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the molecular structure parameter of the di(meth)acrylate monomer by introducing a linear alkylene group with 9 or more carbon atoms. This structural modification allows the polymer chains to have greater flexibility and mobility, enabling the cured film to stretch while maintaining crosslinking density for high curability. The specific carbon chain length parameter is critical in achieving both properties simultaneously.
2Reliability
If the ink composition is formulated for high blocking resistance, then the film integrity is improved, but the film glossiness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by combining monomers with different functional characteristics: the di(meth)acrylate with linear alkylene provides flexibility and stretchability, while the di(meth)acrylate with alkylene oxide chain contributes to surface smoothness and glossiness. The polymerization inhibitor is specifically selected to prevent premature polymerization that would cause blocking, while allowing controlled curing for gloss formation. This localized functional assignment resolves the contradiction between blocking resistance and glossiness.
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 ink composition effectively forms films with high glossiness, high blocking resistance, and high stretchability, improving adhesion and temporal stability, and is suitable for outdoor applications without the need for coloring agents.
Implementation Method 1
actinic-ray-curable ink composition including: a di(meth)acrylate having a linear alkylene wherein the alkylene group has 9 or more carbon atoms; a di(meth)acrylate having an alkylene oxide chain; a cyclohexyldienone-based polymerization inhibitor; and a photopolymerization initiator
Data Source
AI summary
An actinic-ray-curable ink composition is provided, the composition including: a di(meth)acrylate having a linear alkylene group; a di(meth)acrylate having an alkylene oxide chain; a cyclohexyldienone-based polymerization inhibitor that includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by Formula (1) below and a compound represented by Formula (2) below; and a photopolymerization initiator, in which, in Formula (1), R1a and R1b each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R1c represents a phenyl group or a cyclohexyl group, and in which, in Formula (2), R2a, R2b, R2c, and R2d each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms.