Ink Formulation for High-Speed Inkjet Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet printing technologies face challenges such as nozzle blockages due to pigment settling and solvent evaporation in continuous and drop-on-demand printing, which affect print quality and speed, especially in high-speed industrial applications.
Innovation Solution
A specially formulated ink with self-dispersible pigments, a polymeric latex binder, and a balanced solvent system that minimizes nozzle blockages, allows for fast drying, and prevents face-plate wetting, comprising 0.1-10 parts of self-dispersible pigment, 5-15 parts of latex binder, 5-15 parts of polar organic solvents, and additional components to achieve optimal ink performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If standard ink-jet inks are used, then print quality is maintained, but drying speed is slow and energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the ink by using highly volatile solvents (acetone, ethyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol) with low boiling points and high vapor pressures. This enables fast evaporation at lower temperatures, achieving rapid drying speed while reducing energy consumption in industrial ink-jet printing applications
2Reliability
If pigment inks are used, then image durability is improved, but nozzle blockages occur due to pigment settling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite ink formulation combining pigment particles with a carefully balanced solvent system (acetone, ethyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol, water) and surfactants. This composite structure keeps pigment particles suspended in the highly volatile vehicle, preventing settling and nozzle blockages while maintaining image durability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses surfactants and the specific solvent mixture as intermediaries between the pigment particles and the ink vehicle. These intermediaries prevent pigment aggregation and settling, ensuring smooth flow through print head nozzles while carrying the pigment for durable image formation
3Speed
If volatile solvents are used, then drying speed is improved, but face-plate wetting occurs in the print-head
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully adjusts the surface tension parameters of the ink formulation by selecting specific volatile solvents and surfactants. The balance between volatility and surface tension is optimized so the ink dries quickly on the substrate while maintaining sufficient surface tension to prevent unwanted wetting of the print-head face-plate
4Productivity
If high-speed printing is implemented, then productivity is improved, but pigment settling and nozzle blockages increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses highly volatile solvents that evaporate almost immediately after ink ejection, maintaining continuous clean flow through the print head nozzles even at high printing speeds. This continuous evaporation action prevents pigment accumulation and blockages, enabling sustained high-speed printing
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 formulation ensures high-speed printing with low energy consumption, prevents nozzle blockages, and produces durable images by optimizing the ink vehicle design and solvent properties, while maintaining non-wetting characteristics on print-head surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
5 to 15 parts of one or more polar organic solvent(s) with a solubility parameter at 25°C greater than 27.5
Implementation Method 2
allow fast drying by being more volatile than standard ink-jet inks
Implementation Method 3
0.1 to 3 parts of an acetylenic surfactant
Implementation Method 4
5 to 15 parts of a polymeric latex binder with a glass transition temperature in the range of from 10°C to -60°C
Data Source
AI summary
An ink comprising: (a) 0.1 to 10 parts of a self-dispersible pigment; (b) 5 to 15 parts of a polymeric latex binder with a glass transition temperature in the range of from 0°C to -30°C; (c) 5 to 15 parts of one or more polar organic solvent(s) with a solubility parameter at 25°C greater than 27.5; (d) 0 to 3 parts of an acetylenic diol surfactant; (e) 0 to 5 parts of biocide; (f) 0 to 10 parts of a viscosity modifier; (g) 0 to 5 parts of one or more organic solvents with a solubility parameter at 25°C less than 27.5; (h) 0 to 5 parts of a cross linking agent; and (i) the balance to 100 parts water; wherein the ratio of latex binder to total solvent is in the range of from 1:3 to 3:1. Also ink jet printing processes, ink-jet ink containers, printed substrates and ink-jet printers.