Ink Set Gelation for White Underlayer Bleed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing on non- or low-absorbent base materials faces issues with ink sinking and color bleeding, and existing methods requiring drying steps or limiting ink amounts complicate the process and reduce productivity.
Innovation Solution
An ink set comprising a first ink with an aggregating agent, a second ink with a white pigment and resin emulsion that gels upon mixing, and a third ink with a color pigment, allowing direct application without intermediate drying steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a drying step is provided between white ink attachment and color ink attachment, then color ink sinking is prevented, but productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical-chemical parameters of the white ink by adjusting adhesion amount and using specific resin emulsions that can rapidly transition from liquid to gel state, eliminating the need for drying time while preventing color ink sinking
Solution Approach 2:
The white ink is applied with controlled adhesion amount in advance to create a gel structure that prevents color ink sinking, so that when color ink is immediately applied, the preventive structure is already in place
2Manufacturing precision
If ejection amount of white ink is limited, then color ink sinking is suppressed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of white ink adhesion amount to a specific range (0.5-2.0 g/m²) and uses resin emulsions with specific properties (particle diameter 50-200 nm, glass transition temperature 0-50°C) to achieve the gel effect without requiring complex device control mechanisms
3Reliability
If treatment liquid for aggregation is used, then ink fixation is improved, but color ink sinking in white underlayer occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the functions into two distinct inks: white ink containing resin emulsion for base formation and aggregation, and color ink containing color material for color imaging. This segmentation allows the white ink to provide fixation function while the color ink maintains its color development function without sinking
Solution Approach 2:
The white ink uses a composite system of resin emulsion and aggregating agent that creates a gel structure, combining the benefits of ink fixation with prevention of color ink sinking, unlike the treatment liquid which only provides aggregation
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 prevents ink sinking and color bleeding, reduces apparatus size, and enhances productivity by eliminating the need for drying steps.
Implementation Method 1
a second ink containing a white pigment and a resin emulsion, wherein the second ink is gelled by being mixed with the first ink
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The ink set of the present invention comprises a first ink containing a flocculant, a second ink containing a white pigment and a resin emulsion, and a third ink containing a colored pigment. The second ink is gelled by mixing with the first ink.