Ink Composition Using Wettability Enhancer for Hydrophobic Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inkjet recording technologies face challenges in achieving high-quality, water-resistant prints on various media, including uncoated and coated papers, and hydrophobic surfaces, due to issues with pigment stability, adhesion, and ink absorption.
Innovation Solution
An ink composition comprising a pigment, a polymeric dispersant, an aqueous resin emulsion, 2,5,8,11-tetramethyl-6-dodecyne-5,8-diol as a wettability enhancer, and a water-soluble solvent, which provides improved storage stability, adhesion, and water resistance by inhibiting pigment agglutination and sedimentation, and enhancing ink wettability across different media types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pigment-based color material is used instead of dye-based color material, then water resistance and fading resistance are improved, but pigment stability and adhesion on various media deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A polymeric dispersant is introduced as an intermediary substance between the pigment particles and the aqueous medium. The dispersant molecules adsorb onto pigment surfaces, providing steric stabilization and preventing agglutination and sedimentation, thereby maintaining pigment stability while preserving water resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The ink composition uses a composite system combining pigment particles with a polymeric dispersant and aqueous resin emulsion. This composite approach allows the pigment to maintain its water resistance properties while the dispersant and resin components work together to improve adhesion and stability on various recording media
2Reliability
If pigment-based color material is used instead of dye-based color material, then water resistance and fading resistance are improved, but adhesion on various media deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
An aqueous resin emulsion is introduced as a mediator between the pigment-based ink and the recording media surface. The resin components enhance adhesion to various media including uncoated paper, coated paper, and plastic films, while the pigment maintains its water resistance properties
Solution Approach 2:
The ink formulation employs a composite system where pigment particles are combined with polymeric dispersant and aqueous resin emulsion. This composite structure enables simultaneous achievement of strong adhesion on diverse media and excellent water resistance through the synergistic effects of the components
3Productivity
If conventional ink composition is used to print on hydrophobic surfaces, then printing speed is maintained, but ink absorption and image quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The surface tension parameters of the ink are modified by adding a wettability enhancer (2,5,8,11-tetramethyl-6-dodecyne-5,8-diol). This changes the ink's wetting properties, enabling better spreading and absorption on hydrophobic surfaces while maintaining printing speed and producing high-quality images
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 ensures high-density, high-quality images with excellent water resistance and adhesion on a wide range of recording media, including plain paper, recycled paper, and hydrophobic surfaces, while maintaining storage stability and output performance.
Implementation Method 1
a wettability enhancer including 2,5,8,11-tetramethyl-6-dodecyne-5,8-diol
Implementation Method 2
a pigment dispersant... which provides improved storage stability, adhesion, and water resistance by inhibiting pigment agglutination and sedimentation
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with one embodiment, an ink composition for inkjet recording comprises a pigment, a pigment dispersant, water, a water-soluble solvent, a wettability enhancer including 2,5,8,11-tetramethyl-6-dodecyne-5,8-diol, and an aqueous resin emulsion.