Heat-Stable Particulate Ink for High-Temperature Substrates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current inkjet printing technologies are unable to produce functional or decorative layers on articles that are subjected to high temperatures, as standard inks containing organic dye compounds and binders degrade at elevated temperatures, making it impossible to print designs on substrates that undergo baking or use cycles above 110°C.
Innovation Solution
A heat-stable particulate composition for inkjet use is developed, comprising 10 wt % to 95 wt % water and 90 wt % to 5 wt % fluorinated heat-stable binder in particle form, along with optional heat-stable pigments, which maintains stability and durability up to 250°C, preventing nozzle clogging and ensuring precise printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If standard inks containing organic dye compounds and binders are used for inkjet printing, then printing capability is achieved, but the ink degrades at elevated temperatures above 110°C
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the ink composition by replacing standard organic binders with fluorinated polymer binders (such as polyvinylidene fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene, or their copolymers) that have high thermal stability. This parameter change allows the ink to maintain its binding properties and colorfastness at temperatures up to 250°C, directly resolving the contradiction between temperature resistance and ink stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite ink formulation combining water, fluorinated polymer binders, and heat-stable pigments. This composite material approach integrates components with complementary properties: the fluorinated binder provides thermal stability, the pigments provide color, and water provides ease of application. The synergistic combination enables the ink to withstand high temperatures while maintaining print quality
2Reliability
If particle size is reduced to prevent nozzle clogging, then printing reliability improves, but ink formulation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise particle size parameters for the fluorinated binder particles (0.1-10 μm) and pigments (0.01-5 μm), ensuring they are small enough to pass through inkjet nozzles without clogging. This parameter control is achieved through careful selection of commercially available dispersions and thorough mixing procedures, balancing particle size requirements with formulation simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses water as an intermediary medium to disperse the fluorinated binder and pigment particles, creating a stable aqueous suspension. This intermediary approach allows fine particles to be evenly distributed without requiring complex organic solvents or additional dispersing agents, simplifying the overall formulation while preventing nozzle clogging
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 allows for stable and durable inkjet printing on high-temperature substrates without nozzle clogging, maintaining print quality and preventing color changes or property degradation at temperatures up to 250°C, enabling efficient production of designs on materials like ceramic tiles.
Implementation Method 1
binder is understood to mean a chemical compound with a high molecular weight (greater than 1000 Da) initially present in the ink and capable of forming a film by drying, by coalescence, or by heat treatment
Implementation Method 2
Heat-stable binder is understood to mean a binder that is temperature-stable and does not show any changes (such as chain cleavages), including at temperatures of at least 250° C., once the film is formed
Implementation Method 3
The CIJ inkjet printing technique is based upon the controlled fragmentation of a jet of fluid
Implementation Method 4
the ink remains in the container, forming a meniscus at the nozzle, until a pressure applied to the volume of fluid exceeds the surface tension and permits the ejection of a droplet
Implementation Method 5
heat-stable pigment is understood to mean a particulate or insoluble dye substance that withstands heat effectively or in other words has stable physicochemical properties in response to temperature
Implementation Method 6
In the context of the present invention, heat-stable pigments also include thermochromic pigments, the stable behavior of which in response to temperature is expressed in their capability of showing the same color contrast in response to temperature, even after previous exposure to a temperature higher than that of their color changing
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a heat-stable particulate composition for inkjet use, preferably pigmented and including 10 wt % to 95 wt % of water relative to the total weight of the composition, and 90 wt % to 5 wt % of at least one fluorinated heat-stable binder in particle form, at least one of the characteristic dimensions thereof being smaller than 800 nm.