Ink Jet Ink Composition Using N-Vinyl-2-Pyrrolidone and N-Hydroxyethylpyrrolidone

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Ink jet ink compositions using organic solvents often experience precipitation, solidification, and discharge stability issues due to solvent combinations, leading to clogging and reduced performance in printing on fabrics.

Innovation Solution

The use of N-hydroxyethylpyrrolidone and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone as organic solvents in an ink jet ink composition, combined with water, enhances dye solubility and stability, preventing precipitation and improving discharge stability and clogging recovery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If organic solvents are used in ink jet ink compositions, then dye solubility is improved, but precipitation and solidification occur leading to discharge stability reduction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedye solubilityVSAvoiddischarge stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the ratio of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone to N-hydroxyethylpyrrolidone within 1:10 to 1:500. This specific parameter range optimizes the balance between dye solubility and discharge stability, preventing both precipitation and solidification issues that occur with conventional organic solvent combinations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite solvent system combining N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and N-hydroxyethylpyrrolidone in specific proportions. This composite material approach leverages the complementary properties of both solvents: N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone provides excellent dye solubility while N-hydroxyethylpyrrolidone maintains discharge stability and prevents clogging, achieving performance that neither solvent could provide alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If organic solvents are blended to dissolve color material, then color material solubility is improved, but clogging recovery failure occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor material solubilityVSAvoidclogging recovery
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies a narrow parameter range for the solvent ratio (1:10 to 1:500 of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone to N-hydroxyethylpyrrolidone) that simultaneously optimizes both color material solubility and clogging recovery. This precise parameter control ensures that the ink maintains proper flow characteristics for nozzle clearance while effectively dissolving color materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

N-hydroxyethylpyrrolidone acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the dye-solubilizing function of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and the clogging-prevention requirement. It provides a balanced chemical environment that prevents solidification and facilitates smooth flow through the ink jet system, enabling effective clogging recovery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If high dye concentrations are used, then image quality is improved, but precipitation and oil separation occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedye concentrationVSAvoidcomposition stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by adjusting the solvent composition ratio to specifically accommodate high dye concentrations. The 1:10 to 1:500 ratio of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone to N-hydroxyethylpyrrolidone creates an optimized chemical environment that maintains composition stability even at elevated dye levels, preventing both precipitation and oil separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The composite solvent system of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and N-hydroxyethylpyrrolidone provides enhanced capacity to dissolve high concentrations of color materials while maintaining stability. The synergistic interaction between the two solvents creates a robust medium that prevents phase separation and precipitation, enabling high-quality image production with improved color intensity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 jet ink composition with N-hydroxyethylpyrrolidone and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone achieves excellent discharge stability and clogging recovery, maintaining dye solubility and preventing oil separation, even with high dye concentrations, thereby ensuring reliable printing performance.

Implementation Method 1

N-hydroxyethylpyrrolidone and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone as the organic solvent... enhances dye solubility and stability, preventing precipitation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS12077671B2Ink jet ink composition and recording method
Publication Date: 2024.09.03 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

An ink jet ink composition contains a color material, an organic solvent, and water. The ink jet ink composition contains N-hydroxyethylpyrrolidone and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone as the organic solvent.