Ink jet ink set for sublimation transfer, dyed product, and manufacturing method thereof

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ink jet ink sets for sublimation transfer face issues with bleeding and graininess due to the separation of dispersants from light color ink compositions, leading to nozzle clogging and poor clogging recovery performance, especially when using high dilution rates of dispersants in water.

Innovation Solution

The use of an ink jet ink set comprising a first and second ink composition with the same disperse dye, where the first ink composition has a higher disperse dye content and a specific ratio of dispersant to disperse dye, utilizing lithium or potassium salts of aromatic sulfonic acids as dispersants to prevent aggregation and exudation, thereby suppressing bleeding and graininess.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the dilution rate of dispersant in water is increased in light color ink composition, then the dispersant is easily separated from the surface of color material, but the color material is aggregated and particle diameter becomes large, causing nozzle clogging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedilution rate of dispersantVSAvoidnozzle clogging resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the dispersant by specifying particular types (lignin sulfonic acid and its salts, naphthalenesulfonic acid and its salts) and optimizing the ratio between dispersant and color material. This parameter optimization prevents dispersant separation and color material aggregation, thereby preventing nozzle clogging while maintaining high dilution rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite dispersant systems combining multiple specific dispersant types (lignin sulfonic acid salts, naphthalenesulfonic acid salts) work together with color materials. This composite approach enhances the stability of the color material dispersion, preventing aggregation and nozzle clogging even at high dilution rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the content of dispersant is increased in light color ink composition, then dispersant separation is reduced, but deep color ink composition is exuded into light color ink composition on dyed product

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedispersant separation resistanceVSAvoidink exudation and bleeding
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the dispersant content parameter to a specific range and, more importantly, changes the quality parameter by specifying particular dispersant types. This optimized combination provides sufficient dispersant to prevent separation while maintaining proper ink composition stability to prevent exudation and bleeding on the dyed product.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses specific dispersants (lignin sulfonic acid salts, naphthalenesulfonic acid salts) as intermediary substances that mediate between the color material and water. These dispersants form stable complexes with color materials, preventing both dispersant separation and ink exudation by maintaining proper interfacial stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If different disperse dye concentrations are used in deep color and light color ink compositions, then graininess in light color portion is improved, but nozzle clogging occurs more easily in light color ink and clogging recovery is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegraininess suppressionVSAvoidclogging recovery performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of dispersant-to-color-material ratio and optimizes it for light color ink compositions. By specifying particular dispersant types and their optimal amounts, the patent achieves both graininess suppression through proper dispersion and improved clogging recovery performance through enhanced ink stability and anti-aggregation properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution effectively reduces bleeding and graininess in dyed products, improves clogging recovery performance, and enhances the stability and storage stability of the ink compositions, ensuring consistent and high-quality printing.

Implementation Method 1

each of the first dispersant and the second dispersant contains at least one compound selected from the group consisting of lithium and potassium salts of aromatic sulfonic acid, lithium and potassium salts of aromatic sulfonic acid-formalin condensates, lithium and potassium salts of β-naphthalenesulfonic acid, and lithium and potassium salts of β-naphthalenesulfonic acid-formalin condensates

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDispersion: Dispersion (of waves)

Implementation Method 2

an ink jet ink set for sublimation transfer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSublimation: Sublimation

Data Source

PatentUS9745486B2Ink jet ink set for sublimation transfer, dyed product, and manufacturing method thereof
Publication Date: 2017.08.29 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

There is provided an ink jet ink set for sublimation transfer, including: a first ink composition containing a first disperse dye and a first dispersant; and a second ink composition containing a second disperse dye and a second dispersant, in which the first disperse dye is the same as the second disperse dye, the content of the first disperse dye in the first ink composition is equal to or greater than the content of the second disperse dye in the second ink composition, the ratio A of the content of the first disperse dye in the first ink composition to the content of the first dispersant in the first ink composition is equal to or greater than the ratio B of the content of the second disperse dye in the second ink composition to the content of the second dispersant in the second ink composition.