Aqueous Inkjet Ink Cross-Linking for Ejection and Rub Fastness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing active energy ray curable inks face challenges in achieving high ejection quality and stability while forming cured films with good rub fastness and water resistance, particularly due to issues with cross-linking density and solvent volatility, which affect image quality and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
An aqueous inkjet ink containing a water-soluble monomer with a polymerizable group and a hydrazide compound, which undergoes both active energy ray curing and chemical cross-linking reactions, forming a cured film with improved characteristics through a combination of acrylamide-based compounds and hydrazide compounds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a non-aqueous curable substance is used, then the curing performance is improved, but the environmental burden increases due to organic solvent volatilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solvent parameter from organic to aqueous, transforming the ink composition to use water-based solvents instead of organic solvents. This maintains curability while eliminating harmful volatilization, directly resolving the contradiction between curing performance and environmental burden
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the traditionally harmful organic solvent component into a beneficial aqueous system. By using water-based solvents with controlled volatility and adding specific curable substances, the harmful volatilization is eliminated while maintaining or improving curing performance through the synergistic effect of water-based solvent and curable substance
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a 100% curable ink is used, then the solvent burden is reduced, but step generation occurs between recorded and non-recorded portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the composition parameters by introducing water-based solvents with specific volatility characteristics and controlling the ratio of curable substance to solvent. This creates a balanced system where complete curing is achieved without excessive step generation, resolving the contradiction between solvent burden reduction and image uniformity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite material system combining water-based solvents, curable substances (acrylamide compounds, vinyl compounds), and color materials. This composite approach allows the ink to exhibit both complete curability and reduced step generation by leveraging the complementary properties of each component
3Object-generated harmful factors
If water-soluble curable substances are used, then environmental burden is reduced, but ejection quality and standing stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the physical-chemical parameters of the water-based solvent system, including volatility, surface tension, and viscosity. By carefully selecting and combining water-based solvents with specific properties, the ink achieves both low environmental burden and good ejection quality with stable standing characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite material formulation combining water-based solvents, curable substances, color materials, and auxiliary agents. This composite system resolves the contradiction by using the synergistic effects of components: water-based solvents provide low environmental burden, while curable substances and additives maintain ejection quality and standing stability
4Reliability
If cross-linking density is increased to improve rub fastness, then water resistance improves, but ejection quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration and molecular weight parameters of cross-linking agents and curable substances. By controlling these parameters, the ink achieves adequate cross-linking density for good rub fastness and water resistance while maintaining appropriate viscosity and flow characteristics for good ejection quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite material system with multiple curable substances including acrylamide compounds and vinyl compounds in specific ratios. This composite approach allows balanced cross-linking that provides sufficient rub fastness and water resistance without excessive cross-linking density that would harm ejection quality
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 achieves good ejection performance and forms cured films with enhanced rub fastness and water resistance, addressing the limitations of previous technologies.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating a liquid composition applied on a recording medium with an active energy ray to thereby cure a curable substance in the liquid composition
Implementation Method 2
an ink containing a polymer that has an acrylamide structure and cross-linkable functional groups and can be cured by a cross-linking reaction
Data Source
AI summary
An aqueous inkjet ink of the present disclosure is an active energy ray curable aqueous inkjet ink including a water-soluble monomer having a polymerizable group and a hydrazide compound. The water-soluble monomer is a curable substance having a ketone structure.