Fabric printable medium

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Challenges in textile printing arise due to fabric's absorptive nature, leading to poor image quality, ink bleed, and durability issues, along with concerns about flame resistance and increased flammability when using pigmented inks and latex-based compositions.

Innovation Solution

A fabric printable medium is developed with a fabric base substrate coated with an image-receiving layer, a migration control finish layer, and a fire retarding barrier layer, comprising polymeric binders and filler particles, which enhances print durability, scratch resistance, and flame resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If fabric substrate is used for printing, then textile printing applications are enabled, but image quality deteriorates due to poor ink reception and absorptive nature

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetextile printing applicationVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A coating layer comprising polymeric binders and filler particles is applied to the fabric substrate to serve as an intermediary between the ink and the fabric. This coating layer improves ink reception and image quality while maintaining the fabric's textile properties, resolving the contradiction between textile application and image quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Illumination intensity

If pigmented inks and latex-based compositions are used for printing on fabric, then color characteristics are enhanced, but flammability increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor characteristicsVSAvoidflammability

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The coating layer is designed to reduce flammability of the fabric substrate while maintaining color characteristics. The polymeric binders and filler particles in the coating layer provide flame retardancy, converting the harmful effect of flammability into a beneficial safety feature while preserving the visual quality of printed images.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Adaptability or versatility

If fabric substrate is used directly for printing, then textile printing is enabled, but durability and scratch resistance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetextile printingVSAvoidprint durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The coating layer acts as a protective intermediary between the printed image and the fabric substrate, providing enhanced durability and scratch resistance. This allows textile printing applications to proceed while the coating layer protects the printed image from degradation, resolving the durability contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If fabric substrate is used directly for printing, then textile printing is enabled, but ink bleed occurs due to absorptive nature

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetextile printingVSAvoidimage sharpness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The coating layer comprising polymeric binders and filler particles serves as a controlled absorption intermediary that prevents uncontrolled ink penetration into the fabric. This maintains image sharpness and prevents ink bleed while still enabling textile printing applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 provides excellent print durability, scratch resistance, and flame resistance, maintaining image quality and permanence while ensuring safety in indoor environments.

Implementation Method 1

an image-receiving coating layer, applied on the image-side of printable medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

comprising a first and a second crosslinked polymeric network

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 3

a migration control finish layer comprising a film-formable polymer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFilm formation:

Implementation Method 4

migration control finish layer...at a coat-weight ranging from about 0.5 to 10 gsm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical barrier: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 5

a fire retarding barrier layer, applied to the back-side of the printable medium, comprising polymeric binders and filler particles with flame retardancy properties

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlame retardancy:

Implementation Method 6

comprising a first and a second crosslinked polymeric network

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCrosslinking: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS11236467B2Fabric printable medium

Publication Date: 2022.02.01 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

A fabric printable medium comprising a fabric printable medium, with an image-side and a back-side, comprising a fabric base substrate; an image-receiving coating layer, applied on the image-side of printable medium, comprising a first and a second crosslinked polymeric network; a fire retarding barrier layer, applied to the back-side of the printable medium comprising polymeric binder and filler particles with flame retardancy properties; and, at least, a migration control finish layer comprising a film-formable polymer and a flame retardant agent, at a coat-weight ranging from about 0.5 to 10 gsm. Also disclosed are the method for making such fabric printable medium and the method for producing printed images using said material.