Ink Set Gloss Uniformity via Homogeneous Gellant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet recording systems using 5 or 6 color inks, including active ray-curable inks, face issues with varying gloss and insufficient color gamut reproducibility due to differences in color and pigment combinations.
Innovation Solution
An ink set comprising a yellow, magenta, and cyan ink (Set A) and at least two inks selected from orange, green, violet, and blue (Set B), where specific pigments with unique molecular structures and gellants represented by general formulas (G1) and (G2) are used, ensuring consistent gloss and enhanced color gamut reproducibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple active ray-curable inks with different pigments are used to expand color gamut, then color gamut reproducibility is improved, but gloss uniformity deteriorates due to different pigment properties affecting gelation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies homogeneity by using the same gellant (compound of formula G1 or G2) across all ink colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, orange, green, violet, blue). This ensures uniform gelation behavior and gloss characteristics despite different pigments, while maintaining expanded color gamut through diverse pigment selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material strategy by combining specific pigments (cyclic structure with basic moiety for orange, copper phthalocyanine for green, dioxazine for violet) with the common gellant compound. This creates ink formulations that achieve both color gamut expansion and gloss uniformity through controlled material composition.
2Adaptability or versatility
If gellant is added to enhance pinning property and control gloss, then gloss adjustment capability is improved, but color gamut reproducibility deteriorates due to interactions between gellant and different pigments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting a specific gellant compound (formula G1 or G2) with controlled molecular structure and gelation characteristics. This gellant provides consistent pinning properties across all ink colors while maintaining color gamut reproducibility through optimized gelation temperature and viscosity parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by using the same gellant compound across all ink formulations to ensure uniform local gelation behavior. This consistent local property control enables both gloss adjustment capability and color gamut reproducibility to be achieved simultaneously.
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 allows for the formation of images with minimal gloss variation between colors and excellent color gamut reproducibility, improving the overall quality of ink-jet printed images.
Implementation Method 1
the ink gels due to the crystallization of the gellant when landing on a recording medium and cooled
Implementation Method 2
an active ray-curable ink is an ink containing a polymerizable compound that is cured by irradiation with active rays
Data Source
AI summary
Ink sets comprising an ink set A which comprises a yellow ink, a magenta ink, a cyan ink, and a black ink and an ink set B which comprises at least two inks selected from among an orange ink, a green ink, a violet ink, and a blue ink. In the ink set B, the orange ink contains an orange pigment having a cyclic structure and a basic moiety in the cyclic structure, the green ink contains a green pigment having a copper phthalocyanine structure, and the violet ink contains a violet pigment having a dioxazine skeleton. The inks included in the ink set A and ink set B each contain, as a gellant, at last one compound selected from among compounds represented by R1-CO—R2 (general formula (G1)) and compounds represented by R3-COO—R4 (general formula (G2)). In the general formulae (G1) and (G2), R1 to R4 each independently represent a C9-25 chain hydrocarbon group.