Water-Based Ink Amide Solvent Fixation Non-Absorptive Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet recording methods face challenges in achieving excellent abrasion resistance and lamination resistance, particularly when used on non-absorptive recording media like soft packaging films and transparent plastic films, where the ink composition does not easily fix and can peel due to the flexibility of the medium.
Innovation Solution
A water-based ink composition containing a resin and an amide compound as an organic solvent, which improves adhesion and abrasion resistance, combined with a drying step to reduce the organic solvent remaining on the medium, enhancing lamination resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If ink jet recording is performed on non-absorptive recording media such as soft packaging films and transparent plastic films, then high-quality images with good gloss can be obtained, but the ink composition does not easily fix and exhibits poor abrasion resistance and lamination resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the ink by incorporating specific amide compounds (N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone) in controlled amounts (5-55 mass%). These parameter changes in solvent composition improve both the fixation on non-absorptive media and the resulting abrasion/lamination resistance, while maintaining image gloss quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite ink composition combining water-based solvents with specific amide compounds and resin particles. This composite formulation achieves synergistic effects where the amide compounds enhance adhesion and fixation on difficult substrates like soft packaging films, while the resin provides durability, resolving the contradiction between image quality and reliability.
2Reliability
If organic solvent is used in the ink composition to improve adhesion and abrasion resistance, then fixation on non-absorptive media improves, but organic solvent remains on the medium after drying, causing poor lamination resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls the type and amount of amide compound (5-55 mass%) to optimize evaporation characteristics. By selecting amide compounds with appropriate boiling points and controlling their concentration, the ink achieves good fixation during drying while minimizing residual solvent that would cause lamination problems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition (evaporation) of the amide compound from liquid to gas during the drying process. The controlled evaporation of the amide solvent allows the resin to form a solid film that provides abrasion resistance, while complete evaporation prevents lamination issues caused by residual solvent.
3Reliability
If heating temperature is increased to improve drying and fixation of ink composition, then abrasion resistance improves, but excessive heating may cause deformation of the recording medium
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition of the ink to include amide compounds that provide effective fixation at lower heating temperatures. This parameter change in ink formulation allows achieving good abrasion resistance with moderate heating, preventing deformation of temperature-sensitive recording media like soft packaging films.
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 method achieves high abrasion resistance and lamination resistance for images on non-absorptive media by ensuring proper fixation and drying of the ink composition, preventing peeling and bubble formation during lamination.
Implementation Method 1
heating the recording medium to which the ink composition is attached
Implementation Method 2
heating the recording medium to which the ink composition is attached
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet recording method includes attaching ink by ejecting an ink composition from a head to attach to a recording region of a recording medium, and drying by heating the recording medium to which the ink composition is attached, in which the ink composition is a water-based ink composition including a resin and an amide compound represented by General Formula (1) as an organic solvent, and the drying dries the organic solvent in the recording region of the recording medium to be 2.0 mg/inch2 or less. (In Formula (1), R1 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R2 and R3s represent each independently H or a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.)