Ink Composition for Steel Inkjet Printing Adhesion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional printing methods for steel sheets, such as silk screen and roll printing, fail to achieve high-resolution patterns, are costly, and limited in producing various colors, with inkjet printing facing challenges in ink adhesion and processability on steel materials.

Innovation Solution

An ink composition comprising a mixture of urethane acrylate oligomer, other acrylate oligomers, radiation curable monomers, photoinitiators, and adhesion promoters, optimized for low viscosity and surface tension, is used for inkjet printing on steel sheets, forming a coating film with excellent adhesion, processability, and solvent resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional printing methods (silk screen, roll printing) are used on steel sheets, then production is possible, but high-resolution patterns cannot be achieved and production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinting resolutionVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses inkjet printing technology to copy the functionality of conventional printing methods while achieving higher resolution. The digital printing system allows direct transfer of digital patterns to steel sheets without physical screens or rolls, eliminating the need for expensive manufacturing of printing equipment while maintaining high-quality output

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical printing systems (silk screen, roll printing) with a digital inkjet printing system. This substitution eliminates the need for physical printing equipment and enables high-resolution printing on steel sheets through computer-controlled ink droplet deposition

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If conventional inkjet printing is applied directly to steel material, then equipment complexity is reduced, but ink adhesion to steel material becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinting equipmentVSAvoidink adhesion
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an adhesion promoter as an intermediary substance between the ink and the steel sheet surface. This promoter contains functional groups that bond with both the steel surface and the ink components, creating a strong interface that ensures reliable adhesion without requiring complex surface treatment equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the ink formulation by incorporating adhesion promoters with specific functional groups. This chemical parameter change enables the ink to bond effectively with the steel surface through molecular interactions, solving the adhesion problem without adding equipment complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If ink composition is optimized for adhesion, then coating film adhesion improves, but processability and solvent resistance may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating film adhesionVSAvoidprocessability and solvent resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite ink composition by combining multiple components with complementary functions: adhesion promoters for bonding, radiation curable monomers for crosslinking and solvent resistance, and photoinitiators for curing. This composite formulation achieves simultaneous optimization of adhesion, processability, and solvent resistance through synergistic interactions among components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent assigns different functional properties to different components within the ink composition. Each component is optimized for its specific function (adhesion, curing, solvent resistance) while working together as a unified system, allowing the overall formulation to achieve multiple performance requirements simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 enables high-quality printed steel sheets with improved adhesion, processability, and solvent resistance, suitable for inkjet printing, overcoming the limitations of conventional methods by ensuring effective coating film formation on steel surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

65 parts by weight to 80 parts by weight of a radiation curable monomer that is a mixture of a monofunctional radiation curable monomer and a di- or more functional radiation curable monomer; 1 part by weight to 10 parts by weight of a photoinitiator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotopolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS10696858B2Ink composition for steel material, having excellent adhesion, method for manufacturing printed steel sheet by using same, and printed steel sheet manufactured thereby
Publication Date: 2020.06.30 INKTEC CO LTD

AI summary

An ink composition for a printed steel sheet, having excellent adhesion to a steel sheet, processability, solvent resistance, and the like, a method for manufacturing a printed steel sheet using the same, and a printed steel sheet manufactured thereby, are provided. The ink composition for a steel material includes 10 to 30 parts by weight of a mixture of a urethane acrylate oligomer and another type of acrylate oligomer different from the urethane acrylate oligomer, 65 to 80 parts by weight of a radiation curable monomer which is a mixture of a monofunctional radiation curable monomer and a di- or more functional radiation curable monomer, 1 to 10 parts by weight of a photoinitiator, and 0.01 to 10 parts by weight of an adhesion promoter.