Active Energy Ray-Curable Ink Composition for Water-Resistant Inkjet Recording
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing active energy ray-curable liquid compositions used in ink jet recording methods face challenges in achieving both excellent aqueous solution characteristics and cured film properties, particularly in terms of water resistance and image quality, due to issues with crosslink density and hydrophilicity.
Innovation Solution
An active energy ray-curable liquid composition is developed, containing a monofunctional polymerizable monomer with a specific structure represented by General Formula (1), which includes a hydrogen atom or saturated hydrocarbon group, and a saturated hydrocarbon group with hydroxyl or amide bonds, allowing for improved water solubility and curing properties when used as an aqueous ink material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a non-aqueous curable substance is used as an ink material, then the cured film characteristics are improved, but the environmental impact worsens due to volatile organic solvents
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the solvent parameter from organic to aqueous, and modifies the curable substance structure to include specific hydrophilic groups (amide bonds, hydroxyl groups) that enable water solubility while maintaining curing performance. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by allowing aqueous formulation without sacrificing cured film characteristics.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an aqueous curable substance is used as an ink material, then the environmental load is reduced, but the cured film quality worsens due to roughness occurrence
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the molecular structure parameters of the curable substance by introducing specific functional groups (amide bonds, hydroxyl groups) and controlling molecular weight and functionality. These parameter changes enable the aqueous curable substance to form smooth, high-quality cured films without roughness, while maintaining the environmental benefits of water-based formulation.
3Strength
If the crosslink density is increased to improve cured film properties, then the film strength is improved, but the water resistance deteriorates due to high hydrophilicity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the balance between crosslink density and hydrophilicity by carefully selecting the functionality and molecular weight of the curable substance, and by controlling the composition ratio. This parameter optimization achieves both high film strength through adequate crosslinking and sufficient water resistance by preventing excessive hydrophilicity.
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 exhibits excellent characteristics as an aqueous solution and cured film, enhancing ejection performance and storage stability, while maintaining high-quality image formation and improved water resistance.
Implementation Method 1
an active energy ray-curable liquid composition curable with an active energy ray
Data Source
AI summary
The active energy ray-curable liquid composition according to the present disclosure is an active energy ray-curable liquid composition that contains water and a curable substance and is curable with an active energy ray, in which the curable substance contains a monofunctional polymerizable monomer having a structure represented by the Formula (1);in Formula (1), R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a saturated hydrocarbon group, R2 represents a saturated hydrocarbon group that has at least one of a hydroxyl group or an amide bond and may contain a heteroatom, R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R1 and R2 may be bonded together to form an aliphatic heterocycle together with a nitrogen atom substituted with R1 and R2 in a case where R1 represents a saturated hydrocarbon group, and a total number of carbon atoms of the saturated hydrocarbon groups represented by R1 and R2 is 5 or more.