Ink-jet Head Corrosion Protection via Polymer Buffering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Nickel-containing metal ink-jet heads in ink-jet recording apparatuses face corrosion issues due to pH changes in the ink, leading to premature corrosion and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an ink composition that includes water, a coloring agent, and a polymer comprising alkali metal or ammonium salts of polyacrylic acid, along with a benzotriazole derivative, which helps maintain a stable pH and reduces corrosion on nickel-containing metal components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pH adjuster is added to make the ink weak alkaline or neutral, then the initial corrosion resistance is improved, but the ink becomes acidic over time and corrosion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
A polymer containing carboxyl groups (polyacrylic acid or its crosslinked product) is introduced as an intermediary substance between the pH adjuster and the nickel-containing metal. This polymer acts as a buffer that stabilizes pH and prevents direct corrosive interaction, thereby resolving the contradiction between initial corrosion resistance and long-term pH stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters by introducing specific polymers with carboxyl groups that have buffering capacity. This parameter change enables the ink to maintain stable pH over time, preventing the transition from weak alkaline/neutral to acidic state, thus resolving the stability issue while maintaining corrosion resistance.
2Reliability
If the ink pH is adjusted to weak alkaline or neutral, then initial corrosion protection is achieved, but corrosion occurs after pH changes over time
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer with carboxyl groups is added preliminarily to the ink formulation to establish long-term pH stability before corrosion can occur. This preliminary action ensures that the buffering capacity is already in place to prevent pH shifts that would lead to corrosion, thereby extending the service life of the ink-jet head while maintaining corrosion protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer serves as a mediating substance that maintains the chemical environment stable over time. By introducing this intermediary buffer system, the ink maintains its protective pH range throughout the operational life of the ink-jet head, preventing the time-dependent corrosion that occurs in conventional formulations.
3Productivity
If conventional ink formulations are used, then printing performance is maintained, but nickel-containing metal components corrode
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a composite ink formulation by combining conventional ink components with polymers containing carboxyl groups (polyacrylic acid or its crosslinked products). This composite formulation maintains the printing performance of conventional inks while adding corrosion protection through the buffering and protective actions of the polymer components.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer with carboxyl groups acts as an intermediary protective layer in the ink formulation that prevents direct contact between corrosive ink components and the nickel-containing metal. This intermediary substance allows conventional ink formulations to maintain their printing performance while being protected from corrosion by the polymer's buffering and protective effects.
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 solution effectively delays the occurrence and reduces the amount of corrosion on nickel-containing metal components, enhancing the durability and performance of ink-jet heads by maintaining ink stability and preventing material deposition.
Implementation Method 1
a polymer which comprises at least one of an alkali metal salt of a polyacrylic acid and an ammonium salt of a polyacrylic acid
Implementation Method 2
a benzotriazole derivative, which helps maintain a stable pH and reduces corrosion on nickel-containing metal components
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An ink for ink-jet recording that is used in an ink-jet recording apparatus. The ink-jet recording apparatus includes an ink-jet head provided with an ink flow passage formed of nickel-containing metal. The ink contains water, a coloring agent, and a polymer. The polymer contains at least one of -COOM and -SO3M, where M denotes at least one of an alkali metal ion and an ammonium ion.