Ink Composition Surfactants Prevent Bubble Formation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet recording systems face issues with discharging failures due to bubble formation caused by air contact with deaerated ink in conventional ink tanks and supply methods, leading to poor initial filling characteristics and continuous printing stability.
Innovation Solution
An ink composition containing an alkylene oxide adduct of acetylenic glycol with a main chain of 12 or more carbon atoms, acetylenic glycol with a main chain of 10 or more carbon atoms, and polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether, along with an ink supply system featuring a filter in the ink supply path, which captures bubbles and ensures stable ink flow to the print head.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If deaerated ink is used in conventional ink tanks, then initial filling characteristics improve, but dissolved oxygen increases over time causing discharging failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the ink by adding specific surfactants (acetylenic glycol-based surfactant with HLB value of 3.5-4.5 and polyoxyethylene alkyl ether with HLB value of 10-16) and adjusting their concentrations within specific ranges. This parameter change enables the ink to maintain stability and prevent bubble formation even when exposed to atmospheric oxygen, resolving the contradiction between initial filling performance and long-term compositional stability.
2Ease of operation
If open type ink tanks are used for easy refilling, then ease of operation improves, but air contact with ink causes bubble formation and discharging failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces surfactants as intermediary substances that mediate between the ink and atmospheric oxygen. These surfactants form protective interfaces that prevent oxygen from dissolving into the ink and forming bubbles, thereby enabling open-type ink tanks to maintain discharging stability while preserving refilling convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the surface tension parameters of the ink through surfactant addition, the patent enables the ink to resist bubble formation at the air-liquid interface. This parameter change allows open-type tanks to operate reliably without compromising discharging stability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If air introducing ports are provided for ink supply, then ink flow stability improves, but bubbles are introduced into the ink tank causing filling failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of air introduction into a beneficial one by using the introduced oxygen to form stable surfactant layers at the air-liquid interface. These layers prevent further oxygen dissolution and bubble formation, thereby maintaining ink flow stability while preventing filling failures.
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 solution provides excellent initial filling characteristics and continuous printing stability by preventing bubble formation and ensuring effective ink flow, even in systems where the atmosphere contacts the ink, thereby enhancing the reliability of ink jet recording.
Implementation Method 1
an ink supply system featuring a filter in the ink supply path, which captures bubbles and ensures stable ink flow to the print head
Implementation Method 2
An ink composition containing an alkylene oxide adduct of acetylenic glycol with a main chain of 12 or more carbon atoms, acetylenic glycol with a main chain of 10 or more carbon atoms, and polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
There is provided an ink composition which has excellent initial filling characteristics and continuous printing stability even in a case of an ink composition (for example, dissolved nitrogen is equal to or greater than 5 ppm) which is almost not deaerated or an ink composition (for example, dissolved nitrogen is equal to or greater than 7 ppm) which is not deaerated at all. The ink composition includes an alkylene oxide adduct (A) of acetylenic glycol in which a main chain has 12 or more carbon atoms, acetylenic glycol (B) in which a main chain has 10 or more carbon atoms, and polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether (C).