Aqueous Ink Jet Composition for Non-Absorbent Media Image Quality
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink jet recording methods struggle to achieve both suppressed granularity and excellent color development on non-absorbent recording media, as conventional approaches often result in uneven ink dot formation and reduced image quality.
Innovation Solution
An ink jet recording method using an aqueous ink containing resin particles, a specific phosphate ester type surfactant, and a water-soluble organic solvent with a permittivity of 31.5 or less, applied with a controlled mass ratio and overlapping application on the recording medium, enhances dot aggregation and pinning force to improve image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional aqueous inks are used on non-absorbent recording media, then environmental load is reduced, but image quality deteriorates with poor color development and unevenness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the aqueous ink by incorporating resin particles with specific surface charges and using reaction liquids with controlled pH values and ionic compositions. This allows the ink to interact effectively with the non-absorbent recording medium surface, improving color development and image uniformity while maintaining the environmental benefits of aqueous-based formulation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite ink system combining aqueous medium with resin particles, surfactants, and reaction liquids. This composite structure enables the ink to achieve both environmental compatibility and improved image quality on non-absorbent surfaces through the synergistic interaction of its components
2Manufacturing precision
If solvent-based inks or curable inks are used on non-absorbent recording media, then image quality improves, but environmental load increases and odor is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the ink chemistry from solvent-based or curable systems to an aqueous-based system with controlled pH and ionic strength. By adjusting these parameters and incorporating resin particles, the ink achieves comparable image quality on non-absorbent media without the environmental and odor issues of conventional alternatives
3Object-affected harmful factors
If aqueous ink is applied to non-absorbent recording media, then environmental benefits are achieved, but ink dot formation becomes uneven and color development is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces resin particles and reaction liquids as intermediary components between the aqueous ink and the non-absorbent recording medium. These intermediaries facilitate proper ink dot formation and color development by mediating the interaction between the aqueous-based ink and the hydrophobic recording medium surface
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the aqueous ink system, including pH, ionic strength, and resin particle concentration, to optimize ink dot formation on non-absorbent surfaces while maintaining environmental benefits
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 method achieves images with suppressed granularity and enhanced color development on non-absorbent recording media by optimizing the interaction between resin particles and surfactants, resulting in smoother dot surfaces and improved abrasion resistance.
Implementation Method 1
the aqueous ink contains resin particle, a surfactant A represented by the following general formula (1)
Implementation Method 2
an aqueous reaction liquid that reacts with the aqueous ink
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet recording method includes the steps of ejecting an aqueous reaction liquid from an ink jet recording head and applying it to a non-absorbent recording medium, and ejecting and applying an aqueous ink from the recording head so as to overlap at least a part of an area of the recording medium to which the reaction liquid is applied. The aqueous ink contains resin particle, a surfactant A represented by the general formula (1), and a water-soluble organic solvent having a permittivity of 31.5 or less, and a content of the surfactant A in the aqueous ink is 0.01 times or more to 0.08 times or less in a mass ratio with respect to a content of the resin particle.