Black Inkjet Ink Color Neutrality via Dye Blending
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing black inkjet inks often suffer from color neutrality and gray scale issues due to non-neutral black colorants, leading to reduced image quality as the hue becomes apparent at lighter shades of gray, and existing mixtures do not adequately address these problems.
Innovation Solution
A black inkjet ink composition comprising Direct Black 168, Acid Blue 290, and a magenta dye selected from Irgasperse Jet Magenta 3BL, Acid Red 82, or Reactive Red 23, with specific weight ratios to achieve improved color neutrality and gray scale performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional black colorants are used to achieve high optical density, then the ability to produce intermediate gray shades is improved, but color neutrality deteriorates as hue becomes apparent at lighter shades of gray
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by formulating a black inkjet ink that combines multiple dye components (cyan, magenta, and yellow dyes) in specific proportions. This composite approach allows the ink to achieve both high optical density for good gray scale and color neutrality by balancing the contributing hues of each dye component, thereby resolving the contradiction between gray scale quality and color neutrality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by carefully controlling the concentration ratios of different dye components in the ink formulation. By adjusting the relative amounts of cyan, magenta, and yellow dyes, the invention optimizes both the optical density (for gray scale performance) and the overall color balance (for neutrality), thus resolving the contradiction through precise parameter optimization.
2Illumination intensity
If black colorants with significant hue are used, then optical density is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to hue shifting at incremental shades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining multiple dye types (cyan, magenta, and yellow) in a black ink formulation. This composite structure distributes the optical density contribution across multiple dyes with different spectral characteristics, reducing the impact of any single dye's hue shifts and thereby maintaining both high optical density and image quality across the gray scale range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the concentration ratios of cyan, magenta, and yellow dyes. This multi-parameter optimization allows the formulation to achieve high optical density while compensating for individual dye hue shifts through the balanced contribution of multiple dyes, thus preserving image quality across different gray levels.
3Ease of manufacture
If single black dye is used to simplify formulation, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but color neutrality and gray scale performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by formulating black ink using a combination of cyan, magenta, and yellow dyes instead of a single black dye. This composite approach improves color neutrality and gray scale performance by leveraging the complementary properties of different dyes, while the formulation process remains relatively straightforward by using commercially available dye components in defined ratios.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention pertains to an aqueous-based black inkjet ink comprising a mixture of Direct Black 168, Acid Blue 290 and a certain magenta dye. The ink exhibits good color neutrality and gray scale.