Ink Composition Low-Foaming Alcohol Solvent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink compositions for inkjet processes face challenges in achieving improved low-foaming characteristics, defoaming characteristics, high-speed recording, and fast drying, with existing solutions either compromising on these aspects or using additives that degrade dispersion and ejection stability.
Innovation Solution
An ink composition comprising water, a resin, a coloring material, a low-water-solubility alcohol, and a specific water-soluble solvent, which includes glycol ethers and alkanediols, along with a polysiloxane-based surfactant, to enhance low-foaming and defoaming properties while maintaining high-speed recording and fast drying capabilities without degrading stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a specific betaine-based surfactant and linear saturated aliphatic alcohol are used, then defoaming characteristics are improved, but low-foaming characteristics and ejection stability need further improvement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the alcohol component by specifying a linear saturated aliphatic alcohol with a hydroxyl value of 10-50 mg KOH/g and carbon number of 6-12, and combines it with a specific betaine-based surfactant. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by achieving both low-foaming characteristics and good defoaming characteristics simultaneously while maintaining ejection stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite system combining a linear saturated aliphatic alcohol with a betaine-based surfactant in specific proportions. This composite material approach allows the alcohol to provide low-foaming characteristics while the surfactant provides defoaming characteristics, resolving the contradiction between these two properties.
2Manufacturing precision
If an alkanediol with low water solubility, crystalline sugar alcohol, and water-soluble glycol ether are used, then image quality and gloss are improved, but high-speed recording characteristics and fast drying characteristics need improvement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the parameters of the alcohol component by specifying a linear saturated aliphatic alcohol with controlled hydroxyl value (10-50 mg KOH/g) and carbon number (6-12), which balances image quality, gloss, high-speed recording characteristics, and fast drying characteristics. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between image quality and recording performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different functional components to different aspects of performance: the linear saturated aliphatic alcohol provides low-foaming and defoaming properties, while the betaine-based surfactant provides defoaming characteristics. This local quality assignment allows each component to optimize specific properties without compromising others.
3Productivity
If surface tension is reduced to improve wetting and recording characteristics, then high-speed recording is improved, but foaming increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a linear saturated aliphatic alcohol with specific properties (hydroxyl value 10-50 mg KOH/g, carbon number 6-12) as an intermediary substance that reduces surface tension to improve wetting and recording characteristics while simultaneously suppressing foaming. This intermediary component resolves the contradiction between improved recording performance and reduced foaming.
Solution Approach 2:
By precisely controlling the hydroxyl value and carbon number of the aliphatic alcohol, the patent achieves the optimal balance where surface tension is sufficiently reduced for high-speed recording but foaming is suppressed. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between recording performance and foaming control.
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 ink composition effectively reduces foaming and bubble formation, improves ejection stability, and enables efficient high-speed recording and fast drying, while maintaining excellent image quality and stability, even with reduced surface tension.
Implementation Method 1
the alcohol (A) has a vapor pressure at 25° C. of 0.050 mmHg or greater and a solubility at 25° C. in 100 g of water of less than 3 g... the solvent (B) includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a glycol ether having a vapor pressure at 25° C. of less than 0.050 mmHg and a solubility at 25° C. in 100 g of water of 3 g or greater
Implementation Method 2
this enables the production of an ink composition that has improved low-foaming characteristics and defoaming characteristics
Implementation Method 3
The alcohol (A) has a vapor pressure at 25° C. of 0.050 mmHg or greater... enables fast drying characteristics
Implementation Method 4
the ink composition further include a polysiloxane-based surfactant and that the polysiloxane-based surfactant be a compound represented by formula (1) below
Data Source
AI summary
An ink composition includes water, a resin, a coloring material, an alcohol (A) and a solvent (B). The alcohol (A) has a vapor pressure at 25° C. of 0.050 mmHg or greater and a solubility at 25° C. in 100 g of water of less than 3 g. The solvent (B) includes at least one selected from the group consisting of glycol ethers having a vapor pressure at 25° C. of less than 0.050 mmHg and a solubility at 25° C. in 100 g of water of 3 g or greater and alkanediols having a vapor pressure at 25° C. of less than 0.050 mmHg and a solubility at 25° C. in 100 g of water of 3 g or greater.