Radiation Curable Hybrid Ink for Fast Drying and Low Roller Swelling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lithographic inks face issues with slow drying speed, compatibility problems between energy curable and conventional inks, and the need for switching rollers, leading to productivity and print quality issues, especially when printing on non-porous substrates.
Innovation Solution
Development of a balanced radiation curable hybrid ink with a limited amount of conventional oils and alkyds and a high amount of inert hard resin, which allows for good lithographic properties, minor gloss back, and improved compatibility with acrylate monomers, enabling faster drying and increased productivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional lithographic inks based on oils and alkyds are used, then good pigment wetting and lithographic properties are achieved, but drying speed is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a hybrid ink composition that combines conventional oil-based components (for good pigment wetting and lithographic properties) with radiation-curable components (for fast drying). This composite approach allows the ink to exhibit both traditional printing qualities and accelerated curing capabilities, resolving the contradiction between pigment wetting and drying speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the ink by incorporating radiation-curable monomers and oligomers alongside conventional oils and alkyds. This parameter change enables the ink to undergo rapid polymerization under UV or electron beam radiation, dramatically increasing drying speed while maintaining the lithographic properties provided by the conventional components.
2Productivity
If energy curable inks are used, then drying speed and gloss are improved, but pigment wetting and emulsion stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The hybrid ink formulation combines radiation-curable components (which provide fast drying and good gloss) with conventional oil-based components (which provide excellent pigment wetting). This composite material approach allows the ink to simultaneously achieve the advantages of both ink types, resolving the contradiction between drying speed and pigment wetting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent assigns different functional roles to different components within the hybrid ink. The radiation-curable monomers and oligomers handle the drying and curing functions, while the conventional oils and alkyds handle the pigment wetting and lithographic transfer functions. This local quality differentiation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromising overall performance.
3Productivity
If hybrid inks containing both conventional and energy curable components are used, then faster drying is achieved, but compatibility problems and roller swelling occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls the composition parameters of the hybrid ink, specifically limiting the amount of radiation-curable components and optimizing the ratio of conventional to curable ingredients. This parameter optimization reduces the chemical incompatibility that causes roller swelling, while still maintaining sufficient radiation-curable content to achieve fast drying speeds.
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 hybrid ink exhibits improved pigment wetting, reduced cure retardation, and enhanced compatibility, resulting in faster drying, better print quality, and reduced roller swelling, while maintaining good intercoat adhesion and gloss retention.
Implementation Method 1
Energy curable inks have been employed in lithographic printing... radiation curable hybrid inks... comprising energy curable monomers and/or oligomers
Implementation Method 2
The oils in lithographic inks participate in the drying of the inks by an oxidation reaction
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides radiation curable hybrid ink and coating compositions comprising large amounts of inert hard resin. The radiation hybrid ink and coating compositions have good lithographic properties, low roller swelling, and a low gloss-back effect when overprinted with a UV varnish. The ink and coating compositions are useful for lithographic wet and waterless printing.