Ink Formulation for Non-Permeable Substrates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aqueous inkjet inks struggle to wet-spread and adhere evenly on non-permeable substrates at room temperature, leading to image density and gloss issues due to quick drying and resin particle formation, which degrades layer robustness and image quality.
Innovation Solution
An ink formulation combining a water-soluble organic solvent with a boiling point of 250 °C or higher, a silicone-based surfactant, and a specific compound like 2,4,7,9-tetramethyldecane-4,7-diol, which improves wettability and prevents drying, ensuring high image density and gloss without heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If aqueous inkjet ink is used for printing on non-permeable substrates at room temperature, then the ink dries quickly, but the wettability and adhesion are poor leading to image density and gloss issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the ink by incorporating specific compounds (carboxylic acid compounds with silyl groups and compounds with specific chemical structures) to improve wettability on non-permeable substrates without requiring heating, thus resolving the contradiction between quick drying and poor wettability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite ink formulation combining multiple functional components including carboxylic acid compounds, silyl-containing compounds, and specific organic compounds to achieve both good wettability and adhesion on non-permeable substrates at room temperature
2Ease of operation
If heating is applied to improve wet-spreading on non-permeable substrates, then wettability improves, but the process complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal field (heating) with a chemical field approach by using specially formulated compounds that provide inherent wettability enhancement, eliminating the need for heating devices and simplifying the printing process
Solution Approach 2:
The ink formulation contains compounds that automatically provide wettability enhancement upon contact with the substrate, making the system self-sufficient without requiring external heating energy input
3Productivity
If resin particles are formed in the ink, then the ink can be printed, but the layer robustness and image quality degrade
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical environment parameters in the ink by adding carboxylic acid compounds and silyl-containing compounds that prevent resin particle formation, thereby maintaining both printability and layer robustness
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 achieves high image density and gloss with no voids on non-permeable substrates by enhancing wet-spreading at room temperature, maintaining image quality and robustness.
Implementation Method 1
water soluble organic solvent having a boiling point of 250 °C or higher... prevents drying
Implementation Method 2
silicone-based surfactant... enhances wet-spreading
Implementation Method 3
compound represented by chemical formula 1... improves wettability
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An ink contains a colorant, a water soluble organic solvent, a silicone-based surfactant, a compound represented by the following chemical formula 1, and water, wherein the water soluble organic solvent having a boiling point of 250 °C or higher accounts for 38 % by weight or less in a total amount of the water soluble organic solvent, where R11 and R12 each, independently represent aliphatic hydrocarbon groups having 3 to 6 carbon atoms with forks and R13 and R14 each, independently represent alkyl groups having one to two carbon atoms, and n represents an integer of from 1 to 6.