Ink Set Brightness on Plain Paper via Treatment Agent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink-jet recording methods struggle to achieve satisfactory brightness and smoothness on recording media with poor surface smoothness, such as plain paper, due to uneven distribution of bright pigment ink, which results in blur and unevenness.
Innovation Solution
An ink set comprising a treatment agent containing 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol-1-monoisobutyrate or its derivatives and a bright pigment ink with urethane resin, where the blending ratios of urethane resin and 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol-1-monoisobutyrate are optimized to ensure effective film formation and dispersion, thereby improving the brightness and smoothness of recorded images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If resin ink is applied to smooth the surface of recording medium with poor surface smoothness, then surface smoothness is improved, but the solvent of bright pigment ink cannot permeate the recording medium, causing blur and unevenness
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment agent is applied in advance to the recording medium before discharging the bright pigment ink. This preliminary action prepares the surface by forming a resin layer with controlled permeability, allowing subsequent bright pigment ink to be disposed smoothly without blur while maintaining surface smoothness improvement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for the treatment agent composition (urethane resin 0.1-10% by weight, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol-1-monoisobutyrate 5-50% by weight) and blending ratios (Y/X where Y is the amount of 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol-1-monoisobutyrate and X is the amount of urethane resin, with 0.2≤Y/X≤2). These parameter optimizations control the permeability and film formation properties to resolve the contradiction between surface smoothing and ink permeation
2Device complexity
If bright pigment ink is discharged directly on recording medium with poor surface smoothness, then recording process is simple, but the bright pigment is not disposed smoothly, causing diffuse reflection of light and poor brightness
Solution Approach 1:
A treatment agent containing urethane resin and 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol-1-monoisobutyrate is applied in advance to the recording medium. This creates an optimized surface layer that enables smooth pigment disposal and bright reflection without requiring complex additional processing steps
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment agent acts as an intermediary substance between the recording medium and the bright pigment ink. It mediates the interaction by providing a surface layer with controlled permeability and smoothness, allowing the bright pigment to be disposed evenly while maintaining simple two-step recording process
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 effectively inhibits blur and unevenness, achieving good brightness on recording media with poor surface smoothness, including plain paper and matte paper, by optimizing the blending ratios of urethane resin and 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol-1-monoisobutyrate in the treatment agent and bright pigment ink.
Implementation Method 1
the resin components of the resin ink prevent the solvent of the bright pigment ink from permeating the recording medium, which makes it impossible to dispose the bright pigment on the surface of the recording medium smoothly
Implementation Method 2
the solvent of the bright pigment ink from permeating the recording medium
Implementation Method 3
The treatment agent contains 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol-1-monoisobutyrate or a derivative thereof... the film-forming aid contains 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol-1-monoisobutyrate (TPM) or a derivative thereof
Data Source
AI summary
An ink set including: a treatment agent containing 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol-1-monoisobutyrate or a derivative thereof; and a bright pigment ink containing a bright pigment and water, wherein the treatment agent or the bright pigment ink contains urethane resin; and the ink set satisfies the following conditions (A) and (B):1≦X≦6 (A)0.2≦Y/X≦2 (B)X: the sum of a blending amount (% by weight) of the urethane resin in the treatment agent and a blending amount (% by weight) of the urethane resin in the bright pigment inkY: a blending amount (% by weight) of the 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol-1-monoisobutyrate and the derivative thereof in the treatment agent.