Curable Inkjet Ink for Plastic Substrates with Thermal Elongation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current inkjet inks are unable to digitally print onto plastic substrates without cracking or elongation issues during thermal processing, limiting their application in digital printing for three-dimensional plastic constructions.
Innovation Solution
A curable inkjet ink composition containing a pigment, a diluent, an acrylic polymer or copolymer with an acid number below 20, and a mono-functional monomer, which can be cured using UV or LED energy, enabling the ink image to form chemical, mechanical, or combined bonds with the plastic substrate, allowing for continuous elongation during thermal processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional inkjet inks are used on plastic substrates, then digital printing can be performed, but the ink images crack or cannot elongate during thermal processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the ink by incorporating polymerizable diluents that can crosslink upon curing. This transformation allows the ink to develop elastic properties and thermal elongation capability, enabling it to withstand thermal processing of plastic substrates without cracking while maintaining digital printing applicability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite ink system combining polymerizable diluents, resins, and pigments that form a crosslinked polymer network after curing. This composite structure provides both the adhesion needed for plastic substrates and the elasticity required for thermal elongation, resolving the contradiction between digital printing compatibility and crack resistance
2Reliability
If screen printing is used on plastic substrates, then thermal elongation is achieved, but digital printing capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical screen printing process with a digital inkjet printing system that uses chemically active inks. The polymerizable diluents and crosslinking mechanisms substitute for the mechanical forcing of ink through screens, enabling digital printing to achieve thermal elongation capabilities previously only available through screen printing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the ink's physical and chemical parameters through polymerizable diluents and UV/heat curing processes. This creates an ink system that maintains the fluidity needed for digital jetting while developing the elastic properties required for thermal elongation, bridging the gap between digital printing automation and thermal processing compatibility
3Ease of operation
If polymerizable diluents are used, then low viscosity and jetability are achieved, but crosslinking upon curing reduces flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using mono-functional monomers in specific proportions within the ink formulation. These monomers provide localized flexibility points within the crosslinked network, ensuring that while the ink cures to a durable finish, it retains sufficient elasticity to elongate with the plastic substrate during thermal processing without cracking
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 ink composition achieves excellent exterior durability and thermal elongation of 100% to 900% without cracking or distortion, enabling digital printing on plastic substrates and three-dimensional objects, and reduces the need for screen printing techniques.
Implementation Method 1
The mono-functional monomer enables the ink composition to undergo continuous elongation during thermal processing of the plastic substrate
Implementation Method 2
The curable inkjet ink composition... can be cured using UV or LED energy
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention includes a curable ink composition for digitally printing onto plastic substrates and three dimensional objects comprising an ink composition comprising a pigment, an acrylic polymer or copolymer having an acid number below about 20 component, a diluent, additives and a mono-functional monomer. The mono-functional monomer may be an aromatic monoacrylate.