Water-Based Ink Emulsion Stabilization with Multivalent Crosslinkers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Water-based inks used for printing on plastic films face challenges with adhesion, abrasion resistance, and chemical resistance, and multivalent metal crosslinkers like zirconium-based agents suffer from chemical and colloidal stability issues, limiting their use in water-based coatings.
Innovation Solution
The development of polymer emulsion compositions containing carboxylic acid-functional support polymers, multivalent metal crosslinkers, and stabilizing agents, which provide superior printability and stability by forming stable crosslinks and preventing premature crosslinking, ensuring long-term storage stability and resistance properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If multivalent metal crosslinkers (e.g., zirconium-based agents) are added to improve resistance properties, then solvent and abrasion resistance are improved, but chemical and colloidal stability deteriorate due to oxolation forming insoluble polymer of zirconium oxide
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating stabilizing agents into the water-based coating formulation before the metal crosslinker is added. These stabilizing agents are present in advance to prevent oxolation of the metal crosslinker, allowing the crosslinker to be added without causing premature precipitation or loss of stability during storage and application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses stabilizing agents as intermediary substances that mediate between the metal crosslinker and the aqueous environment. These intermediaries bind to or protect the metal crosslinker, preventing it from undergoing harmful oxolation reactions while still allowing it to perform its beneficial crosslinking function when needed.
2Ease of operation
If water-based inks are formulated for good printability, then ink transfer and wetting are improved, but resolubility deteriorates due to flocculation, film-coalescence, and film formation during drying
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating stabilizing agents into the water-based coating formulation before the metal crosslinker is added. These stabilizing agents are present in advance to prevent oxolation of the metal crosslinker, allowing the crosslinker to be added without causing premature precipitation or loss of stability during storage and application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses stabilizing agents as intermediary substances that mediate between the metal crosslinker and the aqueous environment. These intermediaries bind to or protect the metal crosslinker, preventing it from undergoing harmful oxolation reactions while still allowing it to perform its beneficial crosslinking function when needed.
3Strength
If metal crosslinkers are used to improve resistance properties, then adhesion and chemical resistance are enhanced, but premature crosslinking and gellation occur during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating stabilizing agents into the water-based coating formulation before the metal crosslinker is added. These stabilizing agents are present in advance to prevent oxolation of the metal crosslinker, allowing the crosslinker to be added without causing premature precipitation or loss of stability during storage and application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses stabilizing agents as intermediary substances that mediate between the metal crosslinker and the aqueous environment. These intermediaries bind to or protect the metal crosslinker, preventing it from undergoing harmful oxolation reactions while still allowing it to perform its beneficial crosslinking function when needed.
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 compositions exhibit excellent printability, maintaining at least 95% of original print quality in a small number of prints and showing stability over extended periods, even at elevated temperatures, while preventing premature water-insolubility and gellation.
Implementation Method 1
The basis of the improved wet resistance properties is believed to be linkages formed by the metal species between the polymer molecules at carboxylate and hydroxyl groups. More specifically, it is believed that the carboxylate groups are directly bound to, e.g., the zirconium cations upon evaporation of water and other volatile constituents.
Implementation Method 2
ammonium zirconium carbonate (AZC) is susceptible to oxolation, a process through which an insoluble polymer of zirconium oxide is formed. This problem is exacerbated at dilute concentrations of AZC such as typically would be used with a water-borne polymer.
Implementation Method 3
the carboxylate groups are directly bound to, e.g., the zirconium cations upon evaporation of water and other volatile constituents
Data Source
AI summary
Polymer emulsion compositions for use in printing inks and printing inks made from the compositions are provided. The emulsion compositions include an aqueous continuous phase containing water and a dissolved carboxylic acid-functional support polymer. The dispersed phase of the emulsion composition contains crosslinked, dispersed polymer particles. The emulsion compositions also include at least one multivalent metal crosslinker and at least one stabilizing agent. The polymer emulsion compositions display superior printability properties in inks and other coatings formulated with them, yet are stable at elevated temperatures for long periods of time.