Dendritic Ink-Receiving Layer UV Curing for Print Clarity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional decorative materials face challenges in forming an ink-receiving layer that adheres well to various substrate layers, particularly thermally weak substrates like PVC, leading to curling issues and impaired print quality due to thermal drying or curing methods.

Innovation Solution

A decorative material with an ink-receiving layer featuring a dendritic shape formed using an acrylic resin composition, irradiated with ultraviolet rays to create a radially sloping structure, allowing direct coating on substrates and improving ink absorbency and fixing properties without thermal curing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If thermal drying or thermal curing is used to form an ink-receiving layer, then the ink-receiving layer can be formed, but substrate curling occurs and the process becomes limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveink-receiving layer formationVSAvoidsubstrate curling

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the thermal field (thermal drying/curing) with a UV radiation field to form the ink-receiving layer. This substitution eliminates the harmful thermal effects that cause substrate curling while maintaining the functionality of ink-receiving layer formation. The UV irradiation cures the acrylic resin composition without generating the excessive heat that causes PVC substrate deformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the curing parameter from thermal temperature (80°C or higher) to UV radiation energy. This parameter change allows the ink-receiving layer to be formed at low temperatures, preventing substrate curling while achieving complete curing of the acrylic resin composition. The UV irradiation provides sufficient energy for polymerization without the thermal side effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If thermal drying or thermal curing is used to form an ink-receiving layer, then the ink-receiving layer can be formed, but process limitations occur requiring transfer methods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveink-receiving layer formationVSAvoidprocess complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces thermal processing with UV irradiation processing, enabling direct formation of the ink-receiving layer on the substrate. This eliminates the need for complex transfer processes required by thermal methods, simplifying the manufacturing process while ensuring reliable ink-receiving layer formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies and cures the acrylic resin composition directly on the substrate before printing, creating the ink-receiving layer in advance. This preliminary action simplifies the overall process by eliminating the need for separate transfer operations, allowing the substrate with pre-formed ink-receiving layer to proceed directly to printing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If conventional printing methods are used, then printing can be performed, but print clarity and printability are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting capabilityVSAvoidprint clarity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a ink-receiving layer with specific local properties (dendritic structure, controlled surface area) that are optimized for ink absorption and fixation. This localized quality enhancement at the printing surface improves print clarity and ink receptivity without affecting other properties of the substrate, enabling high-quality printing results.

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 solution enhances printability and clarity, prevents substrate curling, and offers environmental benefits with solvent-free resin composition and UV curing, ensuring excellent adhesion and durability.

Implementation Method 1

irradiating an acrylic resin composition applied on a substrate layer with ultraviolet rays to form an ink-receiving layer having a dendritic shape

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotopolymerisation: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 2

the ink-receiving layer having a radially sloping structure having a dendritic shape, so that the absorbing and/or fixing property, i.e., printability, of the ink printed on the ink-receiving layer is improved

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS11745530B2Decorative material having excellent printing properties and method of manufacturing the same

Publication Date: 2023.09.05 LG HAUSYS LTD

AI summary

The present invention relates to a decorative material having excellent printability, and the decorative material according to the present invention has an ink-receiving layer having a radially fine sloping structure having a dendritic shape, whereby the absorbing and/or fixing property, i.e., printability, of the ink printed on the ink-receiving layer is improved, and clarity is excellent, so that aesthetic effects are excellent. In addition, since the ink-receiving layer is manufactured through UV curing, it can be directly coated on a substrate layer, and can include various kinds of substrate layers; and since it is manufactured using a solvent-free type resin composition without using an organic solvent, and has an excellent absorbing and/or fixing property with respect to a water soluble ink, it has environmental friendly advantages.