High Viscosity Inkjet Ink Nozzle Clogging Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital inkjet printing methods using aqueous inks with low viscosity and low colorant content struggle with achieving high color intensity and speed, especially when using insoluble colorants, leading to clogged print heads and inefficient heat activation of heat-activated dyes, particularly in high viscosity inkjet printers.
Innovation Solution
A high viscosity inkjet ink with heat-activated colorant solids, utilizing specific viscosity control solvents and co-solvents that maintain Newtonian fluid behavior and prevent clogging, while ensuring high heat activation efficiency and suitable for printers requiring inks with viscosities of 5.0 centipoise or greater, using a formulation that balances viscosity control agents with heat-activated colorants to achieve optimal image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high molecular weight polymers are added to increase viscosity and colorant concentration, then color intensity is improved, but the ink deviates from Newtonian fluid behavior and clogs print head nozzles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the viscosity control agent from high molecular weight polymers to low molecular weight compounds (1-10 carbons). This parameter change allows the ink to maintain Newtonian fluid behavior while achieving the desired viscosity and colorant concentration, preventing nozzle clogging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by selecting specific low molecular weight viscosity control agents with 1-10 carbon atoms that have appropriate polarity and boiling point characteristics. These localized chemical properties ensure compatibility with heat activated colorants while maintaining print head reliability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If high molecular weight polymers are used to control viscosity, then ink stability is improved, but heat activation efficiency of colorants decreases due to entrapment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the molecular weight parameter of viscosity control agents from high (polymers) to low (1-10 carbon atoms). This prevents entrapment of heat activated colorant particles while maintaining ink stability through appropriate viscosity control and Newtonian fluid behavior.
3Speed
If low viscosity aqueous inks are used for digital printing, then print speed is improved, but color intensity is insufficient due to low colorant content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the viscosity parameter to a specific range (3-20 cP) that is higher than conventional low viscosity inks but still jettable. This allows incorporation of high colorant concentrations (5-50% by weight) while maintaining adequate print speed through optimized droplet ejection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite ink formulation combining low molecular weight viscosity control agents with heat activated colorants. This composite structure allows high colorant loading while maintaining fluid properties suitable for digital printing at acceptable speeds.
4Quantity of substance
If high concentration of colorants is used to achieve high color saturation, then image quality is improved, but print head nozzle clogging increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the viscosity parameter to an optimized range (3-20 cP) using low molecular weight control agents. This creates a fluid environment that can accommodate high colorant concentrations (5-50% by weight) while preventing nozzle clogging through appropriate flow characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by selecting specific low molecular weight viscosity control agents with 1-10 carbon atoms. These localized chemical properties provide optimal solvation and flow characteristics that prevent colorant aggregation and nozzle clogging even at high concentrations.
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 enables high heat activation efficiency and prevents print head clogging, achieving high optical density images with heat-activated inks suitable for high viscosity inkjet printers, maintaining environmental safety and ensuring efficient image transfer and activation.
Implementation Method 1
The image quality is dependent on how effectively and efficiently the heat activated colorants are transferred or fixed to the substrate
Implementation Method 2
Heat activated colorants have been used in digital inkjet printing
Data Source
AI summary
A high viscosity aqueous inkjet ink that is useful in ink jet printers. The ink comprises heat activated colorant solids that are not heat activated during the printing process, and are printed onto a substrate in the form of an image that can be transferred onto a subsequent or final substrate by applying heat and intimate contact between the two substrates. The ink can also be heat activated onto the substrate without further transfer by applying heat at the temperature that is suitable for the activation of the colorant.