Aqueous Inkjet Ink Formulation for Curling Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aqueous pigment inks for inkjet printing face issues with storage stability and printer head performance due to curling and nozzle blockages, while dye-based inks cause opposite curling effects over time.
Innovation Solution
An aqueous inkjet ink comprising a pigment, a high-polarity water-soluble organic solvent A (such as diglycerol or polyglycerol) and a low-polarity solvent B (like polyethylene glycol monoalkyl ether), which balances solubility and moisture retention to prevent curling and ensure stable printer performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If aqueous ink is used for inkjet printing on plain paper, then drying properties and show-through resistance are improved, but curling and cockling occur due to rapid penetration into paper fibers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the aqueous ink by adding specific organic solvents (polyhydric alcohols and carboxylic acid compounds) to modify the ink's interaction with paper fibers. This reduces the harmful swelling effect while maintaining the beneficial show-through resistance and drying properties of aqueous inks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite ink formulation by combining water with specific organic solvents (polyhydric alcohols like glycerol and carboxylic acid compounds). This composite approach allows the ink to exhibit both the desirable properties of aqueous inks and reduced paper deformation through the combined effects of multiple solvent components.
2Reliability
If pigment is used as colorant in aqueous ink, then light resistance and water resistance are improved, but storage stability deteriorates and nozzle blockages occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces organic solvents (polyhydric alcohols and carboxylic acid compounds) as intermediary substances between the pigment particles and water. These intermediaries improve pigment dispersion and prevent aggregation, thereby enhancing storage stability while maintaining the light and water resistance benefits of pigment-based inks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the ink by adding specific organic solvents that change the solubility and dispersion characteristics. This prevents pigment aggregation during storage and reduces nozzle blockages while preserving the superior light and water resistance of pigment colorants.
3Stability of the object's composition
If dye-based ink is used, then storage stability is maintained, but curling occurs in the opposite direction after moisture evaporation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solvent composition parameters by using aqueous-based formulations with specific organic solvents instead of non-aqueous solvents. This modifies the drying and evaporation characteristics to minimize paper fiber shrinkage and prevent concave curling while maintaining storage stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality control by carefully selecting organic solvents with specific properties (polyhydric alcohols and carboxylic acid compounds) that locally affect the ink's interaction with paper at the fiber level. This localized modification prevents moisture-induced shrinkage and opposite-direction curling while preserving overall ink stability.
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 effectively suppresses curling, maintains storage stability, and ensures continuous head performance, allowing for high-speed printing with minimal paper deformation and nozzle issues.
Implementation Method 1
causing cleavage of the hydrogen bonds between fibers, and causing the paper to swell
Implementation Method 2
retaining these components within the recording medium to inhibit the evaporation of the moisture content within the ink
Implementation Method 3
causing the solvent components to penetrate into the recording medium, and then retaining these components within the recording medium
Implementation Method 4
inhibit the evaporation of the moisture content within the ink
Implementation Method 5
the moisture evaporates from the printed item, causing the hydrogen bonds to regenerate between the paper fibers, and this leads to the paper shrinking
Data Source
AI summary
An aqueous ink for an inkjet, comprising a pigment, a water-soluble organic solvent A, a water-soluble organic solvent B, and water, wherein the water-soluble organic solvent A comprises at least one of diglycerol and polyglycerol, and the water-soluble organic solvent B comprises a polyethylene glycol monoalkyl ether represented by a general formula (1): RO-(CH2CH2O)n-H (wherein, R represents an alkyl group of 4 to 6 carbon atoms, and n represents an integer from 4 to 6).