Ink jet ink composition set and ink jet recording method

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ink jet recording methods for textile printing face challenges in achieving high color development and visibility, particularly with white images, as the color image formed over a white background often lacks color development due to insufficient interaction between the white and color ink compositions.

Innovation Solution

An ink jet ink composition set comprising a white ink jet ink composition with cation-responsive white pigment and a nonwhite ink jet ink composition, where the white pigment has a lower zeta potential than the nonwhite pigment, allowing for rapid aggregation and sedimentation of the white pigment, thereby enhancing image formation and preventing mixing with the nonwhite ink, which is applied without drying over the white ink layer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a white ink jet ink composition is adhered and then a color ink composition is overlapped on it, then the whiteness of the white image is improved, but the color development of the color image becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewhiteness of white imageVSAvoidcolor development of color image
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the zeta potential parameter of the white pigment to have a lower absolute value than that of the color pigment. This parameter change causes the white pigment to aggregate and sediment more rapidly upon contact with the fabric, forming a stable white layer that does not interfere with subsequent color ink adhesion, thereby resolving the contradiction between whiteness improvement and color development

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by causing the white pigment to aggregate and sediment rapidly immediately upon ejection onto the fabric surface. This preliminary aggregation occurs before the color ink is applied, creating a stable foundation layer that prevents mixing and allows the color ink to adhere properly, thus maintaining both whiteness and color development

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the nonwhite ink jet ink composition is adhered without drying after the white ink jet ink composition, then the productivity is improved, but the mixing between white and nonwhite ink layers occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage formation speedVSAvoidlayer separation between white and nonwhite ink
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by causing the white pigment to aggregate and sediment rapidly immediately upon ejection onto the fabric surface. This preliminary aggregation occurs before the color ink is applied, creating a stable foundation layer that prevents mixing and allows the color ink to adhere properly, thus maintaining both whiteness and color development

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of trying to prevent mixing by drying the white layer first (conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by using zeta potential control to make the white pigment aggregate and settle rapidly into a stable configuration that naturally resists mixing with the subsequent color ink layer, enabling direct overprinting without drying

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

This approach enables the formation of images with improved color development and visibility on fabrics by ensuring the white image layer is quickly formed and remains distinct from the nonwhite image layer, enhancing the overall color quality and rapid image formation without the need for drying.

Implementation Method 1

the white pigment has cation responsiveness, and the absolute value of zeta potential of the white pigment is smaller than the absolute value of zeta potential of the nonwhite pigment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCation responsiveness: Electrostatic Induction

Implementation Method 2

allowing for rapid aggregation and sedimentation of the white pigment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSedimentation: Sedimentation

Data Source

PatentUS11898043B2Ink jet ink composition set and ink jet recording method
Publication Date: 2024.02.13 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

An ink jet ink composition set includes a white ink jet ink composition and a nonwhite ink jet ink composition. The white ink jet ink composition contains a white pigment, resin particles, and water, and the nonwhite ink jet ink composition contains a nonwhite pigment, resin particles, and water. The white pigment has cation responsiveness, and the absolute value of zeta potential of the white pigment is lower than the absolute value of zeta potential of the nonwhite pigment.