Crosslinked Pretreatment Liquid for Boil-Resistant Inkjet Laminates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pretreatment liquids for ink jet recording on impermeable base materials lack sufficient boiling resistance, leading to inadequate performance in laminates produced by applying the ink and pretreatment liquid in sequence.

Innovation Solution

A pretreatment liquid comprising water, an aggregating agent, a nonionic urethane resin, and a crosslinking agent, specifically containing a compound with a carbodiimide or oxazoline group, is applied to an impermeable base material, followed by an ink jet ink, to enhance the boiling resistance and flexibility of the resulting laminate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a pretreatment liquid is applied to an impermeable base material for ink jet recording, then image recording is enabled, but the laminate lacks sufficient boiling resistance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveboiling resistanceVSAvoidpretreatment liquid composition
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the pretreatment liquid by incorporating a crosslinking agent (carbodiimide or oxazoline group) and controlling the ratio of resin to crosslinking agent (1:0.1 to 1:50 by mass). This parameter optimization enables the formation of a crosslinked film structure that provides boiling resistance while maintaining ease of application through standard ink jet processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite pretreatment liquid system combining water, resin (urethane, polyester, or acrylic), and crosslinking agents. This composite formulation results in a crosslinked film structure that simultaneously achieves boiling resistance, flexibility, and adhesion to the impermeable base material, resolving the contradiction between reliability and manufacturing ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If a crosslinking agent is added to improve boiling resistance, then laminate stability improves, but the complexity of pretreatment liquid formulation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelaminate stabilityVSAvoidpretreatment liquid formulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of crosslinking agents (0.01-5% by mass) and resin-to-crosslinking-agent ratios (1:0.1 to 1:50) to achieve laminate stability with minimal formulation complexity. These parameter ranges ensure sufficient crosslinking for stability while avoiding excessive complexity in the pretreatment liquid composition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs readily available crosslinking agents with specific functional groups (carbodiimide or oxazoline) that can be easily incorporated into the pretreatment liquid. These common chemicals provide the necessary stability without requiring complex or rare substances, thus maintaining formulation simplicity while achieving the desired laminate stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If resin components are crosslinked to enhance boiling resistance, then hydrophobicity improves, but flexibility may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovehydrophobicityVSAvoidflexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes crosslinking parameters including the type of crosslinking agent (carbodiimide or oxazoline groups), resin-to-crosslinking-agent ratio (1:0.1 to 1:50), and crosslinking conditions to achieve the right balance between hydrophobicity and flexibility. This parameter optimization ensures the crosslinked film is sufficiently hydrophobic for boiling resistance while maintaining flexibility for ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a crosslinked film structure with localized crosslinking density that provides hydrophobicity where needed for boiling resistance while maintaining flexibility in the overall film structure. The selective crosslinking approach ensures different regions of the film have appropriate properties, resolving the contradiction between hydrophobicity and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 laminate exhibits improved boiling resistance and flexibility due to crosslinking of resin components, resulting in enhanced hydrophobicity and followability to base material deformation.

Implementation Method 1

a crosslinking agent... The laminate exhibits improved boiling resistance and flexibility due to crosslinking of resin components

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCrosslinking: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

The laminate exhibits improved boiling resistance and flexibility due to crosslinking of resin components, resulting in enhanced hydrophobicity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobicity: Hydrophobe

Data Source

PatentUS20250368847A1Pretreatment liquid for ink jet ink, ink set, image recording method, method of producing laminate, image recorded material, and laminate
Publication Date: 2025.12.04 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

There are provided a pretreatment liquid for an ink jet ink, containing water, an aggregating agent, a nonionic urethane resin, and a crosslinking agent, and applications thereof.