Ink Composition Dissolved Oxygen Control for Storage Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radioactive ray-curable ink compositions stored in oxygen-impermeable containers face issues with dark reaction-induced polymerization, leading to increased viscosity, which affects ink-discharging performance, and existing solutions like adding polymerization inhibitors or selecting specific compounds can compromise curing sensitivity or increase costs.
Innovation Solution
An ink composition with a dissolved oxygen content of 9 mg/L or more, containing radically polymerizable compounds, radical polymerization initiators, and colorants, is stored in a gas-impermeable container, and the ink is degassed to reduce oxygen levels before discharge, maintaining stability and curing sensitivity regardless of light source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the ink composition is stored in an oxygen-impermeable container, then storage stability is improved, but dark reaction-induced polymerization occurs leading to increased viscosity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dissolved oxygen content parameter to a specific range (9-50 mg/L) to prevent dark reaction polymerization during storage. This parameter optimization allows the ink to maintain stability in oxygen-impermeable containers without suffering from viscosity increase due to unwanted polymerization reactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of oxygen (which can cause polymerization) into a beneficial factor by controlling dissolved oxygen content within a specific range. Instead of completely eliminating oxygen, the controlled presence of oxygen at 9-50 mg/L actually prevents dark reaction polymerization while maintaining storage stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a polymerization inhibitor is added to prevent dark reaction, then storage stability is improved, but curing sensitivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the approach from adding chemical inhibitors to optimizing the dissolved oxygen content parameter. By controlling oxygen levels to 9-50 mg/L, the system achieves storage stability without compromising curing sensitivity, as the oxygen level is optimized to prevent polymerization while remaining compatible with the curing process.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the dissolved oxygen content is reduced to prevent polymerization, then storage stability is improved, but ink-discharging performance deteriorates due to viscosity changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the dissolved oxygen content to a specific range (9-50 mg/L) that simultaneously satisfies both storage stability and ink-discharging performance requirements. This parameter optimization prevents dark reaction polymerization while maintaining appropriate viscosity for proper ink discharge.
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 ink composition achieves long-term storability and maintains excellent curing sensitivity, preventing dark reaction-induced viscosity increases, thus ensuring consistent ink-discharging performance and image quality, even with LED light sources.
Implementation Method 1
the ink composition has a dissolved oxygen content of 9 mg/L or more... it can inactivate the active species generated during storage with oxygen, and therefore, it has excellent long-term storability
Implementation Method 2
an ink composition containing a radically polymerizable compound, a radical polymerization initiator and a colorant... curable by irradiation with radioactive rays such as ultraviolet rays
Implementation Method 3
an ink container, which has a gas-impermeable structure and encapsulate the ink composition
Implementation Method 4
an ink jet recording method including a degassing step of reducing a dissolved oxygen between an ink container that stores the ink composition according to any one of <1> to <9> and ink-discharging nozzles
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide an ink composition which has excellent storage stability and has good curing sensitivity regardless of the type of a light source for irradiation, and an ink container. Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording method which provides a cured image having excellent image gloss even with an LED light source. The ink composition comprises: a radically polymerizable compound; a radical polymerization initiator; and a colorant, and having a dissolved oxygen content of 9 mg/L or more. The ink container, having a gas-impermeable structure and encapsulates the ink composition. The ink jet recording method comprises: a degassing step of reducing a dissolved oxygen between the ink container that stores the ink composition and ink-discharging nozzles; and a discharging step of discharging the degassed ink composition from the nozzles.