Aqueous Ink Jet Printing on Nonabsorbent Media With Surface Wax Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink jet recording methods on nonabsorbent recording media, such as polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene terephthalate sheets, fail to achieve sufficient abrasion resistance and color developability when using aqueous inks, despite the growing need for environmentally friendly solvent-free solutions.
Innovation Solution
An ink jet recording method utilizing an aqueous ink and reaction liquid with specific relationships between heating temperature, resin and wax particle properties, and anionic group densities to enhance abrasion resistance and color developability, involving a heating process that forms a resin film and localizes wax particles on the image surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If aqueous ink is used on nonabsorbent recording media, then environmental load and odor are reduced, but abrasion resistance and color developability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the aqueous ink by controlling the glass transition temperature of resin particles (40-120°C) and melting point of wax particles (50-100°C), and by optimizing particle size ratios (wax particle diameter 0.5-5.0 times pigment diameter) and anionic group densities, to achieve both environmental friendliness and sufficient abrasion resistance on nonabsorbent media
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite ink formulation containing pigment particles, resin particles, and wax particles with specific property relationships, where the resin provides film formation and adhesion, while the wax particles migrate to the surface during heating to provide abrasion resistance, achieving multiple functions in a single aqueous ink system
2Productivity
If reaction liquid with acrylic resin particle and wax is used, then productivity is improved, but abrasion resistance is not sufficiently enhanced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the glass transition temperature of resin particles to 40-120°C and melting point of wax particles to 50-100°C, ensuring that during heating to a temperature satisfying TG < Tf < TM, the resin forms a film while wax particles migrate to the surface, achieving sufficient abrasion resistance without compromising productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates different functional zones within the ink layer: resin particles form the base film providing adhesion to the substrate, while wax particles are positioned to migrate to the outer surface during heating to provide abrasion resistance, with each component performing its function in a specific spatial location
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 improved abrasion resistance and color developability by ensuring the resin particle fusion and wax particle localization, enhancing the durability of images on nonabsorbent media without the need for solvent-based inks.
Implementation Method 1
heating the recording medium provided with the aqueous ink and the aqueous reaction liquid to a predetermined heating temperature TF (° C.)
Implementation Method 2
resin particle fusion
Implementation Method 3
heating the recording medium provided with the aqueous ink and the aqueous reaction liquid to a predetermined heating temperature TF (° C.)
Implementation Method 4
wax particle localization
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet recording method includes a step of providing a recording medium with an aqueous ink containing a pigment dispersed by an action of an anionic group, a resin particle and a wax particle and an aqueous reaction liquid containing a reaction agent that reacts with the aqueous ink and a step of heating the recording medium provided with the aqueous ink and the aqueous reaction liquid. A heating temperature, a glass transition temperature of the resin particle and a melting point of the wax particle satisfy a predetermined relationship, average particle diameters of the pigment and the wax particle satisfy a predetermined relationship and anionic groups of the pigment, the resin particle and the wax particle satisfy a predetermined relationship.