Ceramic Inkjet Ink Solvent Blend for Glaze Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ceramic inkjet inks based on hydrophobic solvents experience poor print quality, including blurring, variable color strength, gloss differential, cracking, and bleeding when printed over unfired glazes using the double fast firing process due to poor absorption into the glaze.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a small amount (≤10% by weight) of a water-soluble hydrophilic solvent, such as glycol ethers, into the predominantly hydrophobic solvent blend to enhance ink absorption into the unfired glaze, thereby improving print quality and resolution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If hydrophobic solvent-based inkjet inks are used for ceramic tile decoration, then color strength and print definition are improved, but absorption into unfired glaze deteriorates leading to blurring and cracking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprint definitionVSAvoidabsorption into glaze

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the solvent composition parameters by incorporating a specific ratio of water-soluble solvent (5-20% by weight) into the hydrophobic solvent blend. This parameter change enables the ink to achieve both good absorption into the unfired glaze and maintain print definition, resolving the contradiction between absorption reliability and print quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite solvent system combining hydrophobic solvents (such as long-chain hydrocarbons) with water-soluble solvents (such as glycol ethers). This composite material approach allows the ink to exhibit dual characteristics: hydrophobic properties for color strength and hydrophilic properties for glaze absorption, thereby resolving the technical contradiction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Illumination intensity

If predominantly hydrophobic solvent blend is used, then color strength is enhanced, but print quality deteriorates due to blurring and cracking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor strengthVSAvoidprint quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameter of water-soluble solvent in the ink formulation (5-20% by weight). This parameter adjustment maintains sufficient hydrophobic character for color strength while introducing enough hydrophilicity to prevent blurring and cracking, thus resolving the contradiction between color strength and print quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The water-soluble solvent acts as an intermediary component that facilitates controlled interaction between the hydrophobic ink formulation and the unfired glaze. This intermediary enables the ink to absorb properly into the glaze without compromising color strength or causing print defects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If water-soluble solvent is added to hydrophobic ink, then absorption into glaze is improved, but drying time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabsorption into glazeVSAvoiddrying time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by limiting the water-soluble solvent content to a specific range (5-20% by weight). This partial incorporation provides sufficient absorption improvement while minimizing the drying time penalty, resolving the contradiction between absorption reliability and drying speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 addition of a water-soluble solvent significantly improves ink absorption, reducing defects like blurring and cracking, maintaining print resolution, and enhancing color strength and definition in ceramic tile decoration via the double fast firing process, while also allowing for faster drying and increased productivity.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

enhance ink absorption into the unfired glaze

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentUS11613666B2Inkjet inks for ceramic tile decoration

Publication Date: 2023.03.28 SUN CHEMICAL BV

AI summary

Solvent-based pigmented ceramic inkjet ink compositions including a solvent blend consisting predominantly of one or more hydrophobic solvent(s) (preferably one or more hydrophobic long chain hydrocarbon solvent(s)) are capable of achieving superior print quality when applied over unfired glazes by the inclusion of less than 10% by weight of the composition of a water-soluble solvent, especially glycol ethers. These ink compositions are particularly suited to ceramic tile decoration via the double fast firing process, with resulting improvements in absorption, color strength and print definition.