Actinic Radiation-Curing Ink Composition for In-Mold Molding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional actinic radiation-curing type ink compositions for inkjet recording suffer from insufficient film strength, leading to scratches, cracking, and poor resistance to stretching and adhesion at high temperatures, especially during in-mold molding processes.
Innovation Solution
An ink composition comprising a monofunctional radically polymerizable monomer and a polyfunctional acrylate oligomer with specific components, such as N-vinyl compounds, acrylamide derivatives, and a thioxanthone compound, which are formulated to provide enhanced adhesion, stretchability, and heat resistance, along with a polymerization initiator and a resin with urethane bonds and polysiloxane structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional actinic radiation-curing type ink compositions are used, then the ink composition can be cured upon exposure to radiation, but the cured film has insufficient strength leading to scratches and cracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite ink composition containing multiple components: a polyfunctional acrylate oligomer (Component B) with specific glass transition temperature and acrylate equivalent, combined with monofunctional radically polymerizable monomers (Component A). This composite formulation creates a cured film with enhanced strength and flexibility, preventing scratches and cracking while maintaining adhesion at high temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for the ink composition components: Component B has a glass transition temperature of no greater than 20°C and an acrylate equivalent of at least 300 g/eq. By controlling these parameters, the cured film achieves optimal balance between strength, flexibility, and resistance to mechanical damage.
2Strength
If conventional ink compositions are used, then the ink can be applied to recording media, but the image has poor adhesion at high temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the glass transition temperature of Component B to be no greater than 20°C, which maintains the polymer chain flexibility at high temperatures. This parameter control ensures that the cured film retains strong adhesion to the recording medium even under elevated temperature conditions, preventing delamination and maintaining image integrity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional ink compositions are used, then the ink can form an image, but the image has poor stretchability during molding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies that Component B has an acrylate equivalent of at least 300 g/eq and a glass transition temperature of no greater than 20°C. These parameter changes create a cured film with optimal molecular structure that provides both stretchability during molding processes and resistance to cracking during punching and other mechanical operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The ink composition forms a flexible cured film that can withstand stretching and deformation during molding processes. The specific formulation with Component B creates a film structure that maintains flexibility and elasticity, allowing the image to stretch without cracking while still providing durable protection.
4Reliability
If conventional ink compositions are used, then the ink can be cured by radiation, but the ink shows poor resistance to ink flow during injection molding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molecular weight and functionality of Component B (polyfunctional acrylate oligomer) with specific glass transition temperature and acrylate equivalent parameters. This creates a cured film with high crosslink density and strength that resists ink flow during injection molding while maintaining overall film integrity and preventing defects.
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 achieves excellent adhesion, stretchability, and heat resistance, preventing cracking and ink flow issues during in-mold molding, while ensuring a strong and flexible cured film.
Implementation Method 1
an actinic radiation-curing type ink composition comprising (Component A) a monofunctional radically polymerizable monomer and (Component B) a polyfunctional acrylate oligomer... (Component C) a polymerization initiator, Component C comprising (Component C-1) a thioxanthone compound
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an actinic radiation-curing type ink composition comprising (Component A) a monofunctional radically polymerizable monomer and (Component B) a polyfunctional acrylate oligomer having a glass transition temperature of no greater than 20°C and having an acrylate equivalent of at least 300 g/eq, Component A comprising (Component A-1) an N-vinyl compound and (Component A-2) an acrylamide derivative, Component A having a content of at least 70 mass% of the entire ink composition, and Component A-1 having a content of at least 18 mass% of the entire ink composition.