Aqueous Ink Composition Balancing Sharpness and Nozzle Decapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aqueous inks for inkjet recording face challenges in achieving sharp image quality while maintaining good ejection properties and preventing nozzle clogging due to viscosity adjustments that affect drying and decapping.
Innovation Solution
An aqueous ink formulation with a specific solvent group A having a vapor pressure of 0.07 Pa or more at 25°C, a thickener, and a binder polymer, with viscosity ranging from 10 to 14 mPa·s, ensuring both ink ejection and image sharpness, along with effective drying and decapping properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the viscosity of the ink is increased to improve image sharpness, then image sharpness is improved, but ink ejection property deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the viscosity of the aqueous ink within the range of 1.0 mPa·s to 14.0 mPa·s at 25°C, and by controlling the solvent content within 20.0 wt% to 55.0 wt%. This optimization of physical parameters allows the ink to achieve both sufficient viscosity for sharp image quality and low enough viscosity for good ejection properties, resolving the contradiction between image sharpness and ink ejection performance.
2Manufacturing precision
If the viscosity of the ink is increased to improve image sharpness, then image sharpness is improved, but drying property deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by optimizing two key parameters simultaneously: viscosity control (1.0-14.0 mPa·s) and solvent content control (20.0-55.0 wt%). This dual parameter optimization ensures that the ink has sufficient viscosity for sharp image formation while maintaining adequate solvent content for proper drying performance, preventing the deterioration of drying property that would occur with excessive viscosity increase.
3Manufacturing precision
If the viscosity of the ink is increased to improve image sharpness, then image sharpness is improved, but decapping property deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes to resolve this contradiction by controlling viscosity within 1.0-14.0 mPa·s and solvent content within 20.0-55.0 wt%. This optimization ensures the ink maintains low enough viscosity to prevent rapid drying on the nozzle surface, thereby preserving decapping property while achieving sufficient sharpness through controlled viscosity enhancement.
4Ease of operation
If the viscosity of the ink is decreased to improve ink ejection property, then ink ejection property is improved, but image sharpness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by establishing an optimal viscosity range of 1.0-14.0 mPa·s, which is sufficiently low to ensure excellent ink ejection properties but high enough to prevent ragged edges and maintain sharp image quality. This precise parameter control eliminates the need to choose between ejection performance and image sharpness.
5Reliability
If the amount of solvent is increased to improve drying property, then drying property is improved, but ink ejection property deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the solvent content within 20.0-55.0 wt% and viscosity within 1.0-14.0 mPa·s. This coordinated optimization ensures that sufficient solvent is present to maintain good drying properties while the viscosity is controlled to prevent deterioration of ink ejection performance, resolving the contradiction between drying property and ejection property.
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 solution ensures stable ink ejection, prevents nozzle clogging, and maintains image clarity by balancing viscosity and drying properties, enhancing overall printing performance.
Implementation Method 1
a solvent group A having a vapor pressure of 0.07 Pa or more at 25° C.
Implementation Method 2
a thickener... The aqueous ink has a viscosity of 10 mPa·s to 14 mPa·s at 25° C.
Data Source
AI summary
An aqueous ink includes water, a solvent group A having a vapor pressure of 0.07 Pa or more at 25° C., a thickener, and a binder polymer. The solvent group A is present in the aqueous ink in a weight percent of 31.0 wt % to 55.0 wt % with respect to a total amount of the aqueous ink. The thickener is present in the aqueous ink in a weight percent of 13.0 wt % or less with respect to the total amount of the aqueous ink. The aqueous ink has a viscosity of 10 mPa·s to 14 mPa·s at 25° C.