Aqueous Inkjet Recording on Heated Nonpermeable Substrates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aqueous inkjet inks struggle to achieve high image quality, smoothness, glossiness, and durability when printed on nonpermeable substrates due to slow drying and potential blocking issues, which are exacerbated by the use of water as a solvent and hydrosoluble organic additives.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet recording method using an aqueous ink comprising water, a hydrosoluble organic solvent with a boiling point not higher than 200°C, such as 3-methoxy-3-methyl-1-butanol, and a particulate resin, applied to a heated nonpermeable substrate with a controlled temperature difference between recording and drying to enhance dryability and film formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If aqueous ink is used for inkjet recording on nonpermeable substrates, then environmental load is reduced, but drying speed deteriorates and blocking occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the aqueous ink by incorporating specific hydrosoluble organic solvents with controlled boiling points (50-80% by weight), low surface tension additives (0.1-5% by weight), and resin emulsions (5-30% by weight). These parameter adjustments enable the ink to dry rapidly on nonpermeable substrates while maintaining environmental friendliness, resolving the contradiction between reduced environmental load and improved drying speed.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If aqueous ink is used on nonpermeable substrates, then health safety is improved, but image quality and glossiness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite ink formulation combining water (safe solvent) with hydrosoluble organic solvents, resin emulsions, and specialized additives. This composite material approach maintains the health safety benefits of aqueous inks while achieving solvent-like performance characteristics including high glossiness, uniform distribution, and excellent image quality on nonpermeable substrates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces low surface tension additives and specific resin emulsions as intermediary substances that mediate between the aqueous ink and nonpermeable substrate. These intermediaries enable uniform ink spreading and high-gloss film formation without requiring the ink to permeate the substrate, thus maintaining both health safety and image quality.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If aqueous ink is used on nonpermeable substrates, then environmental friendliness is improved, but coating film smoothness and glossiness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts critical parameters including surface tension (using low surface tension additives), viscosity (using controlled resin emulsion concentrations), and solvent composition (using hydrosoluble organic solvents with specific boiling points). These parameter changes enable the aqueous ink to form smooth, high-gloss coating films on nonpermeable substrates while maintaining environmental friendliness.
4Device complexity
If aqueous ink is used on nonpermeable substrates, then simplicity of ink composition is improved, but durability and abrasion resistance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops a composite aqueous ink system incorporating water, hydrosoluble organic solvents, pigment dispersions, resin emulsions, and functional additives. This composite formulation achieves enhanced durability, abrasion resistance, and ethanol resistance while maintaining relative composition simplicity and environmental friendliness, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and reliability.
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 produces a uniform, high-gloss, and abrasion-resistant image on nonpermeable substrates by ensuring sufficient dryability and film formation, preventing blocking and improving image quality and durability.
Implementation Method 1
recording an image on a heated nonpermeable substrate with an aqueous ink by an inkjet method; and drying the aqueous ink, wherein the method satisfies the following requirements (1) to (3): (3) a difference of heating temperature between the recording and the drying is from 25 to 80° C.
Implementation Method 2
drying the aqueous ink, wherein the method satisfies the following requirements (1) to (3): (1) the aqueous ink comprises water, a hydrosoluble organic solvent, a pigment and a particulate resin, wherein the hydrosoluble organic solvent comprises a solvent having a boiling point not higher than 200° C. in an amount not less than 50% by weight
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet recording method includes recording an image on a heated nonpermeable substrate with an aqueous ink by an inkjet method; and drying the aqueous ink,wherein the method satisfies the following requirements (1) to (3):(1) the aqueous ink comprises water, a hydrosoluble organic solvent, a pigment and a particulate resin, wherein the hydrosoluble organic solvent comprises a solvent having a boiling point not higher than 200° C. in an amount not less than 50% by weight;(2) the hydrosoluble organic solvent having a boiling point not higher than 200° C. comprises 3-methoxy-3-methyl-1-butanol; and(3) a difference of heating temperatures between the recording and the drying is from 25 to 80° C.