Cationic Surface Pretreatment for Dyeing 3D Printed Plastic Parts
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Solution Overview
Problem
3D printed plastic parts with ester, ketone, and/or ether bonds are difficult to dye effectively with acid dyes and metal complex dyes due to the destruction of dyes during the printing process and the absorption of light or thermal energy by added dyes, limiting color options and requiring complex process adaptations.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a pretreatment step with a solution containing a solvent and a reactant with amine, imine, or amide groups to cationically modify the surface of the plastic parts, allowing direct binding and uniform coverage, followed by a dyeing step with acid or metal complex dyes, which penetrates into the material for improved color fastness and wash fastness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dyes or color pigments are added to the starting material for 3D printing, then the shaped parts can be printed directly in color, but the dyes absorb light or thermal energy and disrupt the printing process, requiring complex process adaptations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by adding dyes or color pigments to the starting material before the 3D printing process. This allows the shaped parts to be printed directly in the desired color, eliminating the need for subsequent dyeing steps. The dyes are incorporated into the polymer matrix during manufacturing, ensuring color consistency throughout the part.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses the absorption of light or thermal energy by dyes through parameter changes. By adjusting printing parameters such as laser power, scanning speed, or thermal energy input, the process compensates for the energy absorbed by the dyes. This allows the printing process to maintain control and reliability despite the presence of colorants in the starting material.
2Adaptability or versatility
If acid dyes and metal complex dyes are used to dye 3D printed shaped parts, then a wide range of colors can be achieved, but the ester, ketone or ether bonds in the polymer cannot be dyed sufficiently with these dyes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the polymer by introducing reactive functional groups during or after the 3D printing process. These functional groups (such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, or amine groups) are incorporated into the polymer structure to create binding sites that are compatible with acid dyes and metal complex dyes, enabling effective dyeing while maintaining the desired color range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary substance or treatment that bridges the incompatibility between the polymer bonds (ester, ketone, ether) and the acid dyes/metal complex dyes. This intermediary creates reactive functional groups on the polymer surface or within the matrix, serving as a mediator that enables the dyeing process to proceed effectively while preserving the wide color range offered by these dyes.
3Reliability
If a high-quality dyeing result is achieved on 3D printed shaped parts, then the shaped parts can be dyed subsequently, but the laser or light energy and thermal energy in the printing process destroy the dyes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating the dyes or color pigments into the starting material before the 3D printing process. This ensures that the colorants are already present in the polymer matrix during printing, eliminating the need for subsequent dyeing steps that would expose them to destructive laser or thermal energy. The color is applied in advance, protecting the dyes from degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of laser or thermal energy during printing into a beneficial process by using energy-absorbing dyes or color pigments that enhance the printing process. The absorbed energy is utilized to facilitate polymerization or sintering, transforming what would be dye destruction into a useful energy source for manufacturing.
4Reliability
If the printing process is adapted for each color of the starting material, then reliable printing can be ensured, but extensive process optimization is required which is complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by developing a standardized printing process that can handle multiple colors without requiring extensive optimization for each color. This is accomplished by using a base starting material formulation that is compatible with various dyes or color pigments, allowing the same printing parameters and process settings to be applied across different color variations, thereby reducing optimization time and complexity.
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
This method enables efficient and uniform dyeing of 3D printed plastic parts with a wide range of colors, reducing dye migration and thermal stress, and allowing for flexible color selection without altering the 3D printing process, resulting in parts with enhanced color fastness and migration resistance.
Implementation Method 1
a pretreatment step for cationically modifying the surface of the shaped part, wherein, in the pretreatment step, the shaped part is placed in a pretreatment solution for a predetermined pretreatment time, the pretreatment solution comprising at least: a first solvent and a reactant which is dissolved in the first solvent and has one or more amine, imine and/or amide groups
Implementation Method 2
a dyeing step, carried out after the pretreatment step, for dyeing the surface of the shaped part wherein in the dyeing step, the shaped part is placed in a dyeing solution for a predetermined dyeing time
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for treating the surface of a shaped melded part produced with a plastic having ester, ketone and/or ether bonds. The plastic is selected from the group including a polymer, copolymer, polymer blend and combinations of the same. The method includes a pretreatment step for cationically modifying the surface of the melded shaped part. The cationic modification is carried out with a reactant dissolved in a solvent and having one or more amine, imine and/or amide groups.