Aqueous Ink Composition Suppressing Curling and Discharge Instability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet recording methods face issues with curling of recording media, discharge stability, and ink transfer when using aqueous inks, as existing solutions do not sufficiently address these problems.
Innovation Solution
An aqueous ink jet ink composition is developed, comprising a color material, an acetylene glycol-based surfactant, glycerin, and a 6-, 7-, or 8-membered lactam, with specific mass ratios and content percentages to improve solubility, prevent phase separation, and enhance discharge stability while suppressing curling and ink transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If aqueous ink is used for ink jet recording, then recording simplicity and fine image quality are improved, but curling of recording medium occurs and discharge stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the aqueous ink by adding specific additives (colloidal silica, acetylene glycol-based surfactant, and betaine) to modify the ink's physical properties. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining the aqueous base for fine image quality while adjusting composition to prevent nozzle thickening and improve discharge stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite aqueous ink formulation combining multiple components (pigment, colloidal silica, surfactant, betaine, and water) to achieve both fine image quality and discharge stability. The composite nature allows each component to contribute specific functions that collectively resolve the contradiction between aqueous ink benefits and discharge reliability
2Device complexity
If aqueous ink is used for ink jet recording, then device simplicity is improved, but curling of recording medium occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the aqueous ink by incorporating colloidal silica and surfactants, which change the ink's interaction with the recording medium. This prevents curling while maintaining the simplicity of the ink jet device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces colloidal silica and surfactants as intermediary substances that mediate between the aqueous ink and the recording medium. These intermediaries prevent direct harmful interactions that cause curling, while allowing the simple ink jet device structure to remain effective
3Stability of the object's composition
If ink composition is optimized to suppress curling, then recording medium stability is improved, but discharge stability and ink transfer suppression deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite formulation containing colloidal silica, acetylene glycol-based surfactant, and betaine together in specific proportions. This composite approach allows simultaneous achievement of recording medium stability (curling suppression) and discharge stability, which cannot be achieved by optimizing a single component
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 suppresses curling of recording media, ensures excellent discharge stability, and prevents ink transfer, thereby improving the overall performance of ink jet recording methods.
Implementation Method 1
an acetylene glycol-based surfactant
Implementation Method 2
a 6-, 7-, or 8-membered lactam
Implementation Method 3
glycerin
Data Source
AI summary
An aqueous ink jet ink composition includes a color material, an acetylene glycol-based surfactant, glycerin, a 6-, 7-, or 8-membered lactam, in which the content of the glycerin is 9% by mass or less based on the total mass of the ink composition, and the mass ratio of the content of the 6-, 7-, or 8-membered lactam to the content of the acetylene glycol-based surfactant is 0.5 or more and less than 5.