Ink Set Cleaning Liquid Conductivity and HLB Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing faces issues with jetting faults and clogging due to the aggregation of components in the inkjet head, which can lead to insufficient cleaning and reduced printing quality, especially when using aqueous inks.
Innovation Solution
An ink set comprising an inkjet pretreatment liquid with an aggregating agent, an inkjet ink, and a cleaning liquid that includes water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a surfactant with an HLB value of 10 or more, and a metal salt, with a conductivity of 0.10 to 3.0 mS/cm at 5°C, enhancing the dispersion and stability of the aggregating agent and preventing aggregation of ink components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cleaning liquid is used to clean the inkjet head, then jetting faults and clogging are reduced, but insufficient cleaning and foreign matter formation occur with conventional cleaning liquids
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning liquid's conductivity is precisely controlled within 0.10 to 3.0 mS/cm at 5°C, and the surfactant's HLB value is set to 10 or more. These parameter optimizations enable the cleaning liquid to effectively dissolve aggregating agents and ink components while preventing foreign matter formation, resolving the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and foreign matter generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning liquid comprises a composite formulation containing water, water-soluble organic solvent, surfactant with HLB≥10, and metal salt A. This composite composition synergistically provides both strong cleaning capability for jetting faults and prevents foreign matter formation through balanced chemical properties.
2Reliability
If the cleaning liquid has high polarity to dissolve aggregating agents, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but surfactant precipitation occurs reducing storage stability
Solution Approach 1:
The surfactant's HLB value is optimized to 10 or more, which maintains sufficient polarity for effective dissolution of aggregating agents while preventing surfactant precipitation. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and storage stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning liquid is designed with specific local chemical properties: metal salt A is selected to provide targeted ionic strength that enhances aggregating agent dissolution without triggering surfactant precipitation, creating localized optimal conditions for both cleaning and stability.
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 set provides excellent cleaning effects for both the pretreatment liquid and ink, reducing foreign matter formation and clogging, thereby ensuring stable jetting and improved printing quality by maintaining high polarity and preventing surfactant precipitation, which enhances storage stability and cleaning properties.
Implementation Method 1
a surfactant with an HLB value of 10 or more
Implementation Method 2
a surfactant with an HLB value of 10 or more, and has a conductivity of 0.10 to 3.0 mS/cm at 5° C.
Implementation Method 3
a cleaning liquid that contains water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a surfactant with an HLB value of 10 or more, and a metal salt A, and has a conductivity of 0.10 to 3.0 mS/cm at 5° C.
Implementation Method 4
an inkjet pretreatment liquid containing an aggregating agent
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an ink set including: an inkjet pretreatment liquid containing an aggregating agent; an inkjet ink; and a cleaning liquid that contains water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a surfactant with an HLB value of 10 or more, and a metal salt A, and has a conductivity of 0.10 to 3.0 mS/cm at 5° C. A method for producing a printed textile item is also disclosed.