Inkjet Coating Composition Using Multivalent Salts for High-Speed Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inkjet recording media perform poorly with high-speed inkjet printers like the KODAK STREAM printer, particularly in terms of ink absorption and image quality, due to inadequate porosity and ink drying times.
Innovation Solution
A method for creating an inkjet-receptive coating composition using a combination of primary and secondary pigments, a binder, and a multivalent salt, which includes a primary pigment with a narrow particle size distribution and a cationic secondary pigment, along with a binder and optional co-binder, to enhance porosity and ink absorption, suitable for high-speed inkjet printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional inkjet recording media are used, then they are compatible with many commercial inkjet printers, but they perform poorly with high-speed inkjet printers like the KODAK STREAM printer in terms of ink absorption and image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the coating by incorporating multivalent salts (such as calcium chloride, magnesium sulfate, aluminum nitrate) at specific concentrations (0.1-10% by weight). These parameter changes alter the coating's porosity and ink receptivity, enabling it to work effectively with high-speed inkjet printers while maintaining compatibility with other printer types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite coating formulation combining multiple components: pigments (calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide), binders (starch, gelatin, synthetic polymers), multivalent salts, and optional co-binders. This composite material approach integrates materials with complementary properties to achieve both versatility across printer types and superior performance with high-speed inkjet systems.
2Reliability
If the coating has adequate porosity for ink absorption, then inkjet print properties improve, but drying time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes porous materials as the foundation of the coating, employing pigments like calcium carbonate and titanium dioxide that create a porous structure. This porous network provides numerous pathways for rapid ink absorption, improving print quality by ensuring complete ink uptake even at high printing speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls the porosity parameter within an optimized range by adjusting the coating formulation and application parameters. The multivalent salts modify the pore structure to achieve optimal balance: sufficient porosity for rapid ink absorption but controlled enough to prevent excessive drying time, enabling fast drying (within seconds) while maintaining excellent inkjet print properties.
3Reliability
If the coating is optimized for high-speed inkjet printing, then image quality and drying time improve, but compatibility with other printing methods may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the coating with multi-functional properties to serve multiple printing methods. The coating's composition—featuring a balanced mix of pigments, binders, and multivalent salts—provides characteristics suitable for inkjet printing (rapid absorption, fast drying) while also maintaining compatibility with offset and laser printing processes, making it a universal solution for commercial printing applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts multiple coating parameters simultaneously to achieve a balanced performance profile. By carefully controlling the concentrations of multivalent salts (0.1-10%), pigments (80-95%), binders (5-15%), and other additives, the coating achieves optimal image quality for high-speed inkjet printing while retaining sufficient adaptability for other printing methods, avoiding over-optimization for a single 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 coating composition results in improved inkjet print properties, including rapid ink absorption and high gloss, suitable for both dye and pigmented inks, with enhanced image quality and reduced drying times, particularly with high-speed inkjet printers.
Implementation Method 1
The coating also includes a binder and, optionally, a co-binder. Typically, a multi-valent salt and a dispersant may also be included in the coating formulation.
Implementation Method 2
a dispersant selected from the group consisting of dispersants containing polyether polycarboxylate salts, dispersants containing polyoxyalkylene salts and combinations thereof
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet recording medium and a coating composition for forming an inkjet recording medium. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an inkjet recording medium is disclosed comprising an inkjet-receptive coating on a paper substrate. The inkjet-receptive coating contains a synergistic combination of pigments, binder and a multivalent metal salt such that the inkjet recording medium exhibits improved inkjet print properties, particularly when printed with a high speed inkjet printer using pigmented inks.