Ink Jet Composition With Sulfo Group Surface Concentration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet printing faces challenges in achieving both ejection stability and color development property, as water-based inks struggle to provide sufficient coating film strength, and ink jet inks containing polyester resin with high sulfo groups compromise color development when aiming for improved ejection stability.
Innovation Solution
An ink jet composition comprising water, a polyester resin with sulfo groups, and a colorant, where the sulfo groups are concentrated at the surface of particles, enhancing hydrophilicity and dispersion stability, and the colorant is localized within the particles to prevent poor dispersion, thereby maintaining ejection stability and improving color development.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an ink jet ink containing polyester resin with high sulfo groups is used to improve ejection stability, then ejection stability is improved, but color development property is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating particles with non-uniform sulfo group distribution, where the surface has a higher abundance ratio of sulfo groups compared to the center. This localized concentration of hydrophilic groups at the particle surface improves ejection stability while the interior structure maintains color development property, thus resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
2Ease of operation
If a water-based ink is used to improve handleability and safety, then handleability and safety are improved, but coating film strength is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining water-based ink with polyester resin particles that have specific structural characteristics. The particles contain colorant and polyester resin with sulfo groups distributed in a specific pattern (higher concentration at surface), creating a composite structure that provides both the safety of water-based formulation and the film strength of resin-containing ink.
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 achieves excellent ejection stability and color development on various recording media, with enhanced fixing properties, adhesion strength, and water resistance, while reducing production costs and energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
the sulfo groups have a high abundance ratio at a surface of each of the particles as compared to that at a center thereof
Implementation Method 2
enhancing hydrophilicity and dispersion stability
Implementation Method 3
a heating step of heating a recording medium to which the ink jet composition is adhered
Implementation Method 4
enhanced fixing properties, adhesion strength, and water resistance
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet composition of the present disclosure includes: water; a polyester resin having sulfo groups; and a colorant, the colorant is contained in particles formed from a material containing the polyester resin, and the sulfo groups have a high abundance ratio at a surface of each of the particles as compared to that at a center thereof.