Biodegradable Ink Composition for Sharp Codes on Porous Substrates
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to develop a biodegradable ink that can be inkjet printed on low-quality substrates without spreading or blurring, particularly for applications requiring high-resolution optically-readable codes.
Innovation Solution
An ink composition comprising a semi-drying solvent, alkyd resin, and amine-based polymeric dispersant, with specific weight percentages of each component, ensuring stability and viscosity for reliable inkjet printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If biodegradable ink is used for inkjet printing, then environmental sustainability is improved, but printing quality and resistance to spreading/blurring deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the ink composition by incorporating specific biodegradable components (alkyd resin with 5-20 wt%, amine-based polymeric dispersant with 5-15 wt%, and semi-drying solvent) to achieve both environmental sustainability and printing quality. The parameter optimization allows the ink to maintain viscosity and adhesion properties necessary for high-resolution printing while being biodegradable.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite ink formulation combining multiple biodegradable components: alkyd resin as binder, amine-based polymeric dispersant for pigment stabilization, and semi-drying solvent. This composite approach enables the ink to exhibit both eco-friendly properties and sufficient rheological characteristics for quality inkjet printing without spreading or blurring.
2Manufacturing precision
If ink composition is optimized for high-resolution printing, then image clarity is improved, but ink spreading and blurring worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the viscosity and surface tension parameters of the ink by carefully controlling the composition ratios of semi-drying solvent, alkyd resin, and amine-based polymeric dispersant. This parameter tuning ensures the ink maintains its shape during printing and dries without spreading or blurring, achieving high-resolution images with clear optically-readable codes.
3Illumination intensity
If pigment concentration is increased for better image density, then color intensity is improved, but ink viscosity and flow properties worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The amine-based polymeric dispersant acts as an intermediary between the pigment particles and the continuous phase. It provides steric and electrostatic stabilization, allowing high pigment concentrations to be maintained without excessive viscosity increase or aggregation. The dispersant ensures uniform pigment distribution while maintaining ink flow properties suitable for inkjet printing.
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 composition achieves stable, high-resolution inkjet printing on low-quality substrates, maintaining image clarity and enabling effective decoding of optically-readable codes.
Implementation Method 1
an amine-based polymeric dispersant
Implementation Method 2
a semi-drying solvent
Data Source
AI summary
An ink composition contains a semi-drying solvent; a pigment; an alkyd resin; and an amine-based polymeric dispersant. The composition contains 5 wt % or more of the alkyd resin, based on the total weight of the composition, and 5 wt % or more of the amine-based polymeric dispersant, based on the total weight of the composition.