Ink Composition Silsesquioxane Polymer Stretchability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inkjet systems face issues with insufficient stretchability and impact resistance, leading to cracking and poor punching properties in printed materials, and storage stability of the ink composition is inadequate.
Innovation Solution
An ink composition comprising a polymer with a silsesquioxane structure, a monofunctional polymerizable compound, and a polymerization initiator, which is applied via inkjet recording and cured with actinic energy, enhancing molding and punching properties and storage stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional inkjet systems are used, then productivity and image sharpness are improved, but stretchability and impact resistance are insufficient leading to cracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite polymer system combining polycaprolactone (providing flexibility and stretchability) with polyhydroxyalkanoate (providing strength and biodegradability). This composite material structure allows the printed form to maintain both high productivity benefits from inkjet curing and improved mechanical properties including stretchability and impact resistance, preventing cracking during processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the ink by incorporating specific ratios of polycaprolactone (1-50 wt%) and polyhydroxyalkanoate (45-99 wt%). By adjusting these compositional parameters, the material achieves optimal balance between printability, stretchability, and impact resistance, resolving the contradiction between productivity and mechanical strength.
2Manufacturing precision
If the ink composition is optimized for curability, then image sharpness is improved, but storage stability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molecular weight parameters and compositional ratios of the polymer components. By selecting specific molecular weight ranges and composition percentages, the ink maintains stable storage properties while achieving sharp image formation upon curing. The balanced composition prevents premature polymerization during storage.
3Ease of manufacture
If punching force is applied to fabricated material, then product shaping is achieved, but cracks occur at cut sections due to insufficient anti-impact capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite polymer formulation where polycaprolactone provides toughness and energy absorption capabilities, while polyhydroxyalkanoate contributes to structural integrity. This composite structure enables the material to withstand punching forces without developing cracks at cut sections, simultaneously improving ease of manufacture and anti-impact capacity.
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 excellent molding and punching properties, along with improved stretchability and storage stability, resulting in high-quality printed materials.
Implementation Method 1
an inkjet recording ink which is curable by irradiation with an actinic energy ray
Data Source
AI summary
An ink composition includes (component A) a polymer that has a group containing a silsesquioxane structure and has a weight average molecular weight of 3,000 or more, (component B) a monofunctional polymerizable compound, and (component C) a polymerization initiator; or an ink composition includes (component A′) a compound that does not have an ethylenically unsaturated double bond but has a silsesquioxane structure, and has a molecular weight of 300 or more but less than 3,000, (component B′) a monofunctional polymerizable compound, (component C) a polymerization initiator, and (component D) a coloring agent, wherein a content of the (component B′) monofunctional polymerizable compound with respect to the total content of all the polymerizable compounds is 80% by mass or more.