Image forming method and ink set
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet textile printing methods face challenges in maintaining friction fastness over time due to issues with pigment fixability and texture impairment, particularly when using pigment inks and post-treatment liquids, as existing methods either result in interface formation between ink and post-treatment layers leading to peeling or poor diffusion of lubricants.
Innovation Solution
An image forming method involving the application of an ink containing pigment and resin particles by inkjet, followed by a post-treatment liquid with a lubricant, where the solubility parameters of the resin and lubricant are adjusted to ensure a moderate affinity, applied in a wet-on-wet manner to prevent interface formation and promote long-term friction fastness without impairing the fabric texture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a post-treatment liquid containing a lubricant is applied onto dried ink in a wet-on-dry manner, then the lubricant can be applied onto the fabric surface, but an interface is easily formed between the ink layer and the post-treatment layer, causing the entire post-treatment layer to be peeled off by friction
Solution Approach 1:
The ink is applied in a wet state before complete drying, creating a receptive substrate for the subsequent lubricant application. This preliminary wet state ensures that when the lubricant is applied, it can penetrate and bond with the ink-resin particles rather than forming a separate interface layer, thereby preventing peeling while maintaining friction fastness
Solution Approach 2:
The ink layer and post-treatment lubricant layer are merged into a single integrated layer through wet-on-wet application. The lubricant and ink-resin particles diffuse into each other during the overlapping wet period, eliminating the interface between layers and creating a unified structure that resists friction-induced peeling
2Illumination intensity
If an ink containing pigment and resin particles is applied onto fabric by inkjet, then color developability is improved, but the resin particles easily permeate the fabric immediately after application, impairing the texture of the fabric
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric surface is prepared with a receiving layer or pretreatment before ink application, creating a barrier that prevents resin particles from permeating into the fabric interior. This preliminary preparation allows the ink to remain on the surface for optimal color development while preserving fabric texture
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the ink formulation serve different functions: pigment particles provide color developability on the surface, while resin particles are controlled to remain in specific zones rather than permeating throughout the fabric. The selective distribution maintains both color quality and fabric texture
3Speed
If affinity between resin particles contained in the ink and a lubricant contained in the overcoat liquid is low, then the lubricant diffuses to the surface of the fabric in a short time, but it is difficult to maintain friction fastness for a long period of time
Solution Approach 1:
The solubility parameters of the resin particles and lubricant are specifically matched to achieve moderate affinity. This parameter optimization allows the lubricant to diffuse rapidly to the fabric surface initially, then be retained effectively by the resin particles, maintaining both fast diffusion speed and long-term friction fastness
Solution Approach 2:
The moderate affinity between resin particles and lubricant creates a continuous retention mechanism. As the lubricant diffuses to the surface, it is continuously held by the resin particles, preventing premature loss and ensuring sustained friction fastness over extended periods
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
This approach maintains high friction fastness for an extended period while preserving the fabric's texture by ensuring continuous composition and reduced permeation of resin particles, preventing peeling and maintaining slipperiness effectively.
Implementation Method 1
ink microdroplets are discharged from an inkjet recording head and landed on a fabric to form an image
Implementation Method 2
affinity between resin particles contained in the ink and a lubricant contained in the post-treatment liquid is low, the lubricant easily diffuses to a surface of a fabric
Data Source
AI summary
To provide an image forming method capable of maintaining high friction fastness for a long period of time without impairing texture of a fabric. An image forming method of the present invention includes a step of applying an ink containing a pigment and resin particles onto a fabric by an inkjet method, and a step of applying a post-treatment liquid containing a lubricant onto the ink applied to the fabric in a wet-on-wet manner. When a solubility parameter of a resin constituting the resin particles is represented by SP1 (cal/cm3)1/2 and a solubility parameter of the lubricant is represented by SP2 (cal/cm3)1/2, 0.3 ≤ SP1 - SP2 ≤ 0.8 is satisfied.