Ink Composition for Display Windows with Light-Shielding and Hardness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink compositions for display device windows lack sufficient light-shielding properties, surface hardness, durability, and adhesion strength, particularly when used as a single layer, which affects the aesthetics and functionality of display devices.
Innovation Solution
An ink composition comprising an acrylic resin, a multifunctional curing agent with four or more functional groups, a pigment, and a matting agent with a median particle size of 1.0 μm to 2.0 μm, which forms a single printed layer with improved light-shielding properties, surface hardness, and adhesion strength, and is used in conjunction with an adhesive layer to attach to display modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single-layer ink composition is used to reduce thickness and simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but light-shielding properties and adhesion strength are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by incorporating multiple functional components within a single ink layer: acrylic resin (adhesion promoter), multifunctional curing agent (crosslinking agent with 4+ functional groups), pigment (light-shielding agent), and matting agent (surface texture modifier). This composite formulation enables one layer to simultaneously achieve adhesion, light-shielding, surface hardness, and aesthetic properties that previously required multiple layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes critical parameters of the ink composition to enhance performance: using curing agents with 4 or more functional groups (increasing crosslinking density), controlling pigment particle size and distribution, optimizing matting agent particle size (1.0-2.0 μm median), and adjusting resin-to-curing-agent ratios. These parameter optimizations enable a single layer to achieve sufficient light-shielding and mechanical properties.
2Reliability
If pigment concentration is increased to improve light-shielding properties, then light-shielding performance is enhanced, but viscosity increases and manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes pigment concentration within specific ranges rather than maximizing it, balancing light-shielding performance with coating processability. The formulation includes dispersants and controls particle size distribution to prevent aggregation, maintaining viscosity within printable ranges even at high pigment loads necessary for adequate light-shielding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dispersants as intermediary substances that mediate between pigment particles and the resin matrix. These dispersants prevent pigment aggregation and maintain stable suspension, enabling high pigment concentrations needed for light-shielding without causing viscosity spikes or coating defects that would compromise manufacturing precision.
3Strength
If crosslinking density is increased to improve surface hardness and durability, then mechanical properties are enhanced, but adhesion strength may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully balances the functional group ratio between acrylic resin and multifunctional curing agent, using curing agents with 4 or more functional groups to achieve high crosslinking density while controlling the stoichiometry to maintain adhesion. The crosslinking density is optimized within specific ranges to maximize surface hardness without creating excessive internal stress that would compromise adhesion to the window.
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 achieves excellent light-shielding, surface hardness, and durability while maintaining strong adhesion, even as a single layer, enhancing the aesthetics and functionality of display devices with improved production yield and reduced thickness.
Implementation Method 1
a multifunctional curing agent having four or more functional groups
Implementation Method 2
a pigment dispersed in the base resin
Implementation Method 3
a matting agent having a median particle size in a range of about 1.0 μm to about 2.0 μm and dispersed in the base resin
Data Source
AI summary
An ink composition includes a base resin including an acrylic resin, a multifunctional curing agent having four or more functional groups, a pigment dispersed in the base resin, and a matting agent having a median particle size in a range of about 1.0 μm to about 2.0 μm and dispersed in the base resin. Accordingly, a single-layered printed layer formed from the ink composition may have improved light-shielding properties, surface hardness, durability, and adhesion strength.