Ink Composition with Low SP Solvent for High-Speed Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet recording methods face issues with insufficient drying and penetration of solvents into recording media, leading to blocking and offset phenomena during high-speed recording, where images transfer to the rear side of the medium or to rollers, causing defects.
Innovation Solution
An ink composition with a high glass transition temperature resin and a water-soluble organic solvent having an SP value of 27.5 or lower, with a solid content of 10% or more, is used to enhance fixability and prevent blocking and offset, comprising a pigment, self-dispersing resin particles, and a water-soluble organic solvent, which are ejected and thermally fixed on the recording medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-speed recording is performed, then productivity is improved, but insufficient drying and penetration of solvents occurs, leading to blocking and offset phenomena
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the ink, specifically using a water-soluble organic solvent with SP value of 27.5 or lower (such as dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether with SP=26.4) and controlling the solvent content at 10-40 mass%, to achieve faster drying and penetration rates that match high-speed recording requirements while preventing blocking and offset
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite ink formulation combining pigment particles, water-soluble organic solvent with specific SP value, and water in controlled proportions, where the specific solvent acts as a penetration accelerator that enables rapid solvent penetration into the recording medium during high-speed recording, preventing image transfer and offset
2Quantity of substance
If a solvent absorption layer with thickness of 20μm to 30μm is used, then ink penetration is improved, but surface gloss, texture and stiffness are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the solvent system by selecting water-soluble organic solvents with SP value of 27.5 or lower, which have optimized penetration characteristics that allow effective ink absorption even with thinner solvent absorption layers, thereby maintaining surface gloss, texture and stiffness while achieving sufficient penetration
3Quantity of substance
If recording medium with solvent absorbing layer is used, then ink penetration is improved, but the recording medium becomes expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses conventional, cost-effective recording media without requiring expensive specialized solvent absorption layers or water resistant layers. The ink formulation itself contains the penetration acceleration function through the specific water-soluble organic solvent, making the recording medium disposable and inexpensive while achieving adequate penetration performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the solvent composition parameters to include water-soluble organic solvents with SP value of 27.5 or lower at 10-40 mass%, which provide inherent penetration acceleration capability, eliminating the need for expensive specialized recording media structures while maintaining effective ink penetration
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 blocking and offset issues by ensuring proper fixation and penetration, resulting in high-quality images with improved scratch resistance and adhesion to the paper, even during high-speed recording.
Implementation Method 1
a technique in which a penetration liquid is used for accelerating penetration of the ink solvent into the recording medium
Implementation Method 2
the at least one water-soluble organic solvent includes at least one organic solvent having an SP value of 27.5 or lower
Implementation Method 3
self-dispersing resin particles having a glass transition temperature of 80°C or higher... which are ejected and thermally fixed on the recording medium
Implementation Method 4
self-dispersing resin particles having a glass transition temperature of 80°C or higher
Implementation Method 5
the components of the ink-jet ink are aggregated on the surface of paper by the action of a fixing component in the ink, whereby the ink is fixed
Implementation Method 6
the components of the ink-jet ink are aggregated on the surface of paper by the action of a fixing component in the ink
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
An ink composition for ink-jet recording includes a pigment; resin particles having a glass transition temperature of 80°C or higher; at least one water-soluble organic solvent; and water, and a total mass of solid content in the ink composition for ink-jet recording is 10% by mass or more relative to the ink composition for ink-jet recording, and the at least one water-soluble organic solvent includes at least one organic solvent having an SP value of 27.5 or lower, the amount of the at least one organic solvent having an SP value of 27.5 or lower being 70% by mass or more relative to a total amount of the at least one water-soluble organic solvent. An ink-jet recording method is also provided.