Ink jet textile printing composition set and ink jet textile printing method

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ink jet textile printing methods using fluorescent dyes face issues with concentration quenching, where fluorescence intensity decreases due to high dye concentrations, leading to inadequate color reproducibility and fluorescence intensity differences between fabric surfaces.

Innovation Solution

The use of an ink jet textile printing composition set comprising a fluorescent dye and a penetrant with a lactam structure, which promotes even dye penetration and reduces fluorescence quenching, ensuring consistent fluorescence intensity across fabric surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If high dye concentration is used to improve color reproducibility, then color saturation is improved, but concentration quenching occurs causing fluorescence intensity to decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluorescence intensityVSAvoiddye concentration
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The penetrant acts as an intermediary substance between the fluorescent dye and the fabric. It facilitates uniform dye distribution and penetration into the fabric structure, preventing dye molecules from clustering together. This mediator role allows the system to achieve good color reproducibility without the harmful concentration quenching effect that occurs when dye molecules are too close to each other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the dyeing system by introducing a penetrant with specific properties (lactam structure, hydrophilicity). This parameter change affects how the dye distributes itself in the fabric, enabling lower effective dye concentrations to achieve the same color intensity without quenching, thus maintaining fluorescence intensity while improving color reproducibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If high dye concentration is used to enhance color developability, then color saturation is improved, but fluorescence intensity decreases due to concentration quenching

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor reproducibilityVSAvoidfluorescence intensity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The penetrant serves as a mediator that decouples the relationship between dye concentration and fluorescence intensity. By controlling dye distribution through the penetrant, the system achieves reliable color reproduction without requiring high dye concentrations that would cause quenching, thus maintaining both color reproducibility and fluorescence intensity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The penetrant creates local quality differences in the fabric structure by facilitating selective penetration and uniform distribution of dye molecules. This local control over dye positioning prevents the formation of high-concentration clusters that cause quenching, while still achieving sufficient color saturation for good reproducibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Area of stationary object

If fluorescent dye is applied to fabric surface, then color coverage is achieved, but fluorescence intensity differs between fabric surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefabric surface coverageVSAvoidfluorescence intensity uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The penetrant acts as a mediator that transports the fluorescent dye uniformly throughout the fabric structure, not just on the surface. This intermediate transport mechanism ensures that dye is distributed evenly across different regions and depths of the fabric, resulting in uniform fluorescence intensity across the entire fabric surface area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The penetrant enables the dye distribution to extend from a two-dimensional surface application into the third dimension of fabric depth. By facilitating penetration into the fabric bulk, the system achieves uniform fluorescence throughout the fabric volume, which translates to uniform surface fluorescence intensity across the entire fabric area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 suppresses concentration quenching, enhances fluorescence intensity on both fabric surfaces, and maintains color developability, improving the overall printing quality and reproducibility.

Implementation Method 1

concentration quenching may arise. This is a phenomenon in which the fluorescence generated from dye molecules is absorbed by other, neighbouring, dye molecules, so that the fluorescence intensity decreases

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConcentration quenching: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP3546644B1Ink jet textile printing composition set and ink jet textile printing method
Publication Date: 2021.04.28 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP3546644B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3546644B1 patent drawing

AI summary

An ink jet textile printing composition set of the invention includes an ink jet textile printing ink composition and a penetrant. The ink jet textile printing ink composition contains a fluorescent dye and water, and the penetrant contains a compound having a lactam structure and water.