Inkjet 3D Printing Ink Set Composition for Surface Texture and Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
The optical molding method by an inkjet system faces challenges in enhancing the appearance quality and strength of molded objects, particularly due to surface roughness and color changes associated with the use of clear and color inks during photocuring.
Innovation Solution
A model material ink set comprising a color ink and a clear ink with specific compositions, including ethylenically unsaturated monomers, polymerizable oligomers, and pigments, is developed to improve the strength and prevent color changes of the molded objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If clear ink is used together with color ink to improve surface texture and appearance quality, then the appearance quality is improved, but color change of the molded object becomes noticeable during photocuring and with lapse of time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the composition ratios of ethylenically unsaturated monomers in both clear and color inks. The clear ink contains 30-80% by mass of (meth)acrylate and less than 10% by mass of nitrogen-containing ethylenically unsaturated monomer, while the color ink contains 30-75% by mass of (meth)acrylate and 10-50% by mass of nitrogen-containing ethylenically unsaturated monomer. This compositional parameter control prevents color change during photocuring while maintaining appearance quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining specific types of ethylenically unsaturated monomers including (meth)acrylate, nitrogen-containing ethylenically unsaturated monomers, and polymerizable oligomers in defined proportions. This composite approach creates an ink system that simultaneously achieves good appearance quality and color stability during photocuring and over time.
2Manufacturing precision
If clear ink is used to improve surface texture, then appearance quality is improved, but strength of the molded object is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by formulating the clear ink with a specific combination of 30-80% by mass (meth)acrylate and polymerizable oligomers. This composite composition provides both the surface texture improvement from the (meth)acrylate component and the necessary strength enhancement from the oligomer component, resolving the contradiction between appearance quality and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the concentration and type of polymerizable oligomers in the clear ink formulation. This parameter optimization ensures that the clear ink layer provides both smooth surface texture and adequate mechanical strength to the molded object.
3Strength
If color ink contains high proportion of nitrogen-containing ethylenically unsaturated monomer to improve strength, then strength is enhanced, but color change becomes more noticeable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the nitrogen-containing ethylenically unsaturated monomer content in the color ink to be within 10-50% by mass, with the (meth)acrylate content at 30-75% by mass. This balanced compositional parameter control ensures that strength is enhanced through adequate nitrogen-containing monomer while color stability is maintained by preventing excessive nitrogen monomer that would cause noticeable color change during photocuring.
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 enhances the strength and appearance quality of the molded objects while preventing color changes, ensuring improved surface texture and dimensional stability.
Implementation Method 1
a photocurable resin composition is irradiated with ultraviolet rays and the like, and thus cured to form a cured layer having a predetermined shape
Implementation Method 2
a photocurable resin composition is ejected from a nozzle, irradiated with ultraviolet rays and the like immediately thereafter, and thus cured to form a cured layer having a predetermined shape
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a model material ink set for use in an optical molding method by an inkjet system, wherein the ink set comprises a color ink and a clear ink containing an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, as a model material ink, wherein the color ink contains, as the ethylenically unsaturated monomer, 30 to 75% of a (meth)acrylate and 10 to 50% of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer that is not a (meth)acrylate and that contains a nitrogen atom, based on a total amount of the color ink, the clear ink contains, as the ethylenically unsaturated monomer, 30 to 80% of a (meth)acrylate based on a total amount of the clear ink, provided that a content of the ethylenically unsaturated monomer that is not a (meth)acrylate and that contains a nitrogen atom is less than 10% based on the total amount of the clear ink.