Ink Composition for Textile Printing Prevents Nozzle Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet textile printing faces issues with ink discharge failure due to solvent properties, leading to nozzle clogging and inhibited dyeing during heat treatment, and challenges in achieving excellent color reproducibility, especially for black tones.
Innovation Solution
An ink composition with specific dyes and solvents, including nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds and alkyl polyols with boiling points between 190°C and 260°C, is used, along with a textile printing method involving pretreatment with alkali or hydrotropy agents to improve dyeing properties and prevent nozzle clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a solvent with low boiling point is used, then the ink dries quickly, but the ink adhered near the nozzles solidifies causing nozzle clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the boiling point parameter of the solvent from low (causing solidification) to a specific range of 190-260°C, which prevents both solidification and excessive thickening. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between drying speed and nozzle reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite solvent system containing multiple solvents including nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds and alkyl polyols in specific proportions. This composite approach balances drying speed with prevention of solidification and thickening, resolving the contradiction between quick drying and nozzle reliability.
2Reliability
If a solvent with high boiling point is used, then the ink does not solidify, but the ink adhered near the nozzles thickens causing nozzle clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the boiling point parameter to a specific range (190-260°C) rather than using high boiling point solvents indiscriminately. This controlled parameter change prevents thickening while avoiding excessive viscosity increase, resolving the contradiction between preventing solidification and maintaining dischargeability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different solvent components with specific functions in different proportions: nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds (5-20 mass%) for preventing solidification and alkyl polyols (5-20 mass%) for controlling viscosity. This localized quality distribution resolves the contradiction between preventing solidification and avoiding thickening.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional solvents are used, then ink storage stability is improved, but occurrence of discharging failure cannot be sufficiently suppressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite solvent system combining nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds and alkyl polyols in specific proportions (each 5-20 mass%). This composite formulation simultaneously achieves storage stability (preventing crystallization) and discharging reliability (preventing solidification and thickening), resolving the contradiction between storage stability and discharging function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the solvent composition parameters from conventional single solvents to a multi-component system with controlled boiling points (190-260°C) and specific proportions. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between storage stability and discharging reliability by preventing both crystallization and solidification/thickening.
4Manufacturing precision
If dyes with wide variety of tones are used, then color reproduction may be improved, but it becomes difficult to find a combination with excellent color reproducibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent selects dyes with specific absorption wavelength characteristics (first dye: 550-750nm, second dye: 450-500nm, third dye: 400-450nm) to target specific color regions. This localized wavelength selection achieves excellent black tone reproduction and color accuracy while simplifying the dye combination selection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the dye combination parameters based on absorption wavelength characteristics rather than using dyes with wide variety of tones indiscriminately. By selecting dyes with specific wavelength ranges and optimizing their proportions, the patent achieves excellent color reproducibility while reducing the complexity of dye selection.
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 ensures excellent discharging properties, color reproducibility, and coloring performance, including reliable black tone reproduction, while minimizing nozzle clogging and maintaining dyeing quality during heat treatment.
Implementation Method 1
when using a solvent having a low boiling point, the ink adhered near the nozzles solidifies, or when using a solvent having a high boiling point, the ink adhered near the nozzles thickens
Implementation Method 2
depending on the boiling point or the type of the solvent included in the ink composition, clogging of the nozzles may occur
Implementation Method 3
there is a case of performing heat treatment such as steaming after forming an image in order to improve a dyeing property of the dye applied to a fabric
Data Source
AI summary
The ink composition for ink jet textile printing according to the invention is an ink composition which includes each dye satisfying the following conditions A, B, and C, two or more kinds of solvent having a boiling point of 190° C. or higher and lower than 260° C. under a pressure of 1 atm, and water, in which the solvent includes 5% by mass or greater of a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound with respect to the total mass of the ink composition and 5% by mass or greater of an alkyl polyol with respect to the total mass of the ink composition.A: Maximum absorption wavelength is in a range of 550 nm and 750 nmB: Maximum absorption wavelength is in a range of 450 nm or greater and less than 500 nmC: Maximum absorption wavelength is in a range of 400 nm or greater and less than 450 nm.