Ink Composition Using Ionic Liquid to Dissolve Resin Contaminations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet recording technologies face challenges with contamination generation and stability issues due to impurities and resin interactions, leading to clogging and print quality defects, especially in industrial applications where long operating times increase the likelihood of impurity elution from printer components.
Innovation Solution
An ink composition for ink jet systems incorporating a pigment or disperse dye with an ionic liquid at a concentration of 0.05% to 5% by mass, which dissolves contaminations derived from coloring materials and printer members, improving preservation and discharge stability by maintaining a balanced content ratio of ionic liquid to coloring material or resin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large amount of fixing resin emulsion is included in the ink composition, then the fixing performance onto recording medium is improved, but contaminations derived from the fixing resin are generated and preservation stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
An ionic liquid is introduced as an intermediary substance that selectively dissolves contaminations derived from the fixing resin emulsion. The ionic liquid acts as a mediator between the fixing resin and the dispersion medium, preventing the resin from generating harmful precipitates while maintaining its fixing function. This resolves the contradiction by adding a third component that neutralizes the harmful effects of the fixing resin.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the ink composition by introducing ionic liquids with specific properties (ionic character, solvent power). This parameter change allows the system to dissolve and stabilize contaminations that would otherwise precipitate, enabling the use of higher fixing resin content without sacrificing preservation stability.
2Ease of operation
If coloring material is dispersed in dispersion medium, then the ink can be applied to recording medium, but impurities are eluted into dispersion medium and precipitated as contaminations over time
Solution Approach 1:
The ionic liquid serves as an intermediary that selectively dissolves impurities eluted from the coloring material. These impurities, which would normally precipitate as contaminations, are kept in solution by the ionic liquid's solvent power, preventing clogging and maintaining ink stability over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite ink composition combining the dispersion medium, coloring material, fixing resin, and ionic liquid. This composite system leverages the synergistic effects of multiple components, where the ionic liquid complements the dispersion medium by providing additional solvation capacity for impurities without interfering with the primary dispersion function.
3Productivity
If ink is used for long operating time in industrial applications, then productivity is improved, but impurities are eluted from printer members into ink and precipitated
Solution Approach 1:
The ionic liquid acts as a protective intermediary that dissolves impurities eluted from printer members (tubes, nozzles, etc.) during long operating periods. This prevents the impurities from precipitating and clogging the system, enabling extended continuous operation without maintenance interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The ionic liquid provides beforehand cushioning against the accumulation of impurities by pre-establishing a solvation environment. This anticipatory measure prevents clogging before it occurs, allowing the ink jet system to operate continuously for extended periods without performance degradation.
4Stability of the object's composition
If dispersant is used to disperse coloring material, then dispersion is achieved, but adsorption equilibrium is disturbed by temperature changes and aggregated contaminations are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite dispersion system combining the original dispersant with an ionic liquid. This composite approach provides dual stabilization mechanisms: the dispersant maintains primary dispersion while the ionic liquid prevents aggregation caused by temperature-induced equilibrium disturbances, thereby suppressing contamination formation.
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 suppresses contamination generation, enhances preservation stability, and improves discharge reliability and print quality by dissolving contaminations, reducing clogging and ensuring consistent ink flow.
Implementation Method 1
an ionic liquid in which the content of the ionic liquid is 0.05% by mass to 5% by mass, which dissolves contaminations derived from coloring materials and printer members
Data Source
AI summary
The ink composition for an ink jet according to the invention includes a pigment or a disperse dye as a coloring material and an ionic liquid; and the content of the ionic liquid therein is 0.05% by mass to 5% by mass.