Ink Jet Printing Silver Particle Gloss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink jet printing methods using aqueous inks on transparent substrates fail to produce glossy images with high chroma, as silver particles are often trapped in the ink-receiving layer's pores, preventing them from fusing and forming a smooth coating.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using an aqueous ink containing silver particles with a particle size larger than the average pore size of the ink-receiving layer, ensuring they are not trapped and can fuse to form a glossy coating, while a second ink containing a dye is applied to enhance chroma without obscuring the gloss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If aqueous ink containing silver particles is applied onto transparent substrate with ink-receiving layer, then chroma is improved, but gloss deteriorates because silver particles are trapped in pores
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the particle size parameter of silver particles to be larger than the pore size of the ink-receiving layer. This parameter change prevents silver particles from being trapped in pores, allowing them to remain on the surface and form a glossy coating while still achieving high chroma through optical interference effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates different local qualities within the ink-receiving layer system. The ink-receiving layer maintains its pore structure for ink absorption, while the silver particles on the surface form a separate glossy layer. This local differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of chroma (from dye penetration) and gloss (from silver particle surface reflection).
2Illumination intensity
If dye ink is applied to enhance chroma, then chroma is improved, but gloss may be obscured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the silver particle ink first to establish the glossy base layer, then applies the dye ink subsequently. This preliminary action of forming the silver particle coating ensures that the gloss foundation is created before dye application, allowing the dye to enhance chroma without completely obscuring the underlying gloss from the silver particles.
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 production of glossy images with high chroma by allowing silver particles to form a smooth coating and ensuring the dye penetrates without hiding the gloss, resulting in images that appear colored rather than silver.
Implementation Method 1
silver particles are at least partially superposed one on the other... silver particles... fuse to form a glossy coating
Implementation Method 2
aqueous ink containing silver particles with a particle size larger than the average pore size of the ink-receiving layer... dye penetrates
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet printing method includes printing an image on a printing medium including a transparent substrate and an ink-receiving layer on one side of the transparent substrate by applying a first ink and a second ink onto the surface of the ink-receiving layer of the printing medium in such a manner that the first ink and the second ink are at least partially superposed one on the other. The first ink is an aqueous ink containing silver particles, and the second ink is an aqueous ink containing a dye. The particle size at 50% in the cumulative volume distribution of the silver particles is larger than the average pore size of the ink-receiving layer.