Ink Jet Recording with Acid-Reactive Resin for Non-Absorbent Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink jet recording methods on non-absorbent or less-absorbent recording media, such as polyvinyl chloride and PET sheets, face challenges in achieving both high-quality images with minimal image irregularities and sufficient water abrasion resistance, as current inks and reaction liquids do not effectively immobilize ink on these surfaces.
Innovation Solution
An ink jet recording method using an aqueous ink and reaction liquid that includes a resin particle with an anionic group in the range of 75 μmol/g to 600 μmol/g, an acidic compound as a reactant, and specific solvent conditions, followed by heating to a temperature satisfying TF≥(TG-10), to promote ink aggregation and improve water abrasion resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If moisture evaporation is used to thicken ink on non-absorbent recording medium, then image quality is improved, but recording speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the ink composition by introducing a resin component with specific properties (carboxyl group content of 0.1-10 mmol/g, molecular weight 100-10000) to enable rapid thickening through chemical reaction rather than physical evaporation, thus achieving both high image quality and high recording speed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a reaction liquid containing a reactant (such as metal salt or amine compound) as an intermediary substance that chemically reacts with the resin component in the ink to rapidly aggregate and thicken the ink on the recording medium, eliminating the need for slow evaporation processes
2Productivity
If reaction liquid is used to aggregate ink components, then productivity is improved, but water abrasion resistance becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the chemical parameters of the resin component (carboxyl group content and molecular weight) to control the aggregation behavior and film formation properties, resulting in improved water abrasion resistance while maintaining high productivity through rapid chemical thickening
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite ink system combining resin particles with specific functional groups and pigment particles, where the resin forms a protective film matrix that enhances water abrasion resistance while the pigment provides color and the composite structure maintains rapid aggregation capability
3Reliability
If resin particle content is increased to improve water abrasion resistance, then film strength is improved, but image irregularities increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent precisely controls the carboxyl group content parameter of the resin component within the range of 0.1-10 mmol/g to optimize the balance between film formation for water abrasion resistance and uniform ink distribution to prevent image irregularities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a moderate amount of resin component (not excessive) that is sufficient to form an adequate protective film for water abrasion resistance while avoiding over-aggregation that would cause image irregularities, achieving the optimal balance point
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 method effectively suppresses image irregularities and enhances water abrasion resistance by ensuring proper ink aggregation and film formation on non-absorbent recording media, without requiring additional curing steps.
Implementation Method 1
a heating step of heating the recording medium having the applied aqueous ink and aqueous reaction liquid to a predetermined heating temperature TF (° C.)
Implementation Method 2
a reactant that reacts with the aqueous ink... the reactant includes at least one acidic compound selected from the group consisting of an organic acid and an inorganic acid
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet recording method. The reactant comprises organic or inorganic acid. The ink comprises a pigment and a resin particle having the anionic group in an amount of 75 μmol/g or more to 600 μmol/g or less. A content of the resin particle is 1.5 times or more a content of the pigment on a mass basis. Both of a content of a first water-soluble organic solvent having a vapor pressure of 3.1×10−5 kPa or less and a content of a second water-soluble organic solvent having a relative permittivity of 28.0 or more and a vapor pressure of 4.0×10−3 kPa or less are in a content of 9.0 by mass or less based on the total mass of the ink. The heating temperature TF of the medium and a glass transition temperature TG of the resin particle satisfy the formula: TF≥(TG-10).