Inkjet Ink for Impermeable Base Materials

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing inkjet inks for impermeable base materials face challenges in achieving excellent drying properties, lamination strength, and re-jettability after jetting pause, particularly when used on non-absorbable recording media.

Innovation Solution

The development of an inkjet ink comprising water, resin-coated pigments, an alkanediol solvent with a boiling point of 180° C to 200° C, and a monoalcohol or glycol monoether solvent with a boiling point of 70° C to 160° C, which enhances drying properties, lamination strength, and re-jettability by ensuring uniform pigment dispersion and preventing solvent separation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional inkjet inks are used on impermeable base materials, then jetting stability is maintained, but drying properties and lamination strength are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying propertiesVSAvoidlamination strength
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the ink by introducing specific organic solvents (alkanediol compounds with 4+ carbon atoms and boiling points of 180-230°C, and (poly)propylene glycol alkyl ethers with boiling points of 100-180°C) in controlled ratios. This parameter optimization enables the ink to achieve both excellent drying properties on impermeable surfaces and strong lamination strength, resolving the contradiction between these two performance aspects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite ink system combining water, pigment, water-dispersible resin fine particles, and multiple organic solvent components. This composite formulation synergistically improves both drying properties and lamination strength, allowing the ink to perform reliably on impermeable base materials while maintaining strong adhesion for lamination applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Manufacturing precision

If ink jetting is paused to ensure drying and lamination, then image quality improves, but re-jettability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidre-jettability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the volatility parameters of the organic solvent mixture, specifically selecting alkanediol compounds with high boiling points (180-230°C) combined with (poly)propylene glycol alkyl ethers with moderate boiling points (100-180°C). This parameter control ensures that the ink maintains stability during pauses without excessive drying that would clog nozzles, while still achieving sufficient drying for quality images upon resumption of jetting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 inkjet ink achieves improved drying properties, strong lamination with the base material, and excellent re-jettability, ensuring consistent printing performance even after pauses in jetting.

Implementation Method 1

an alkanediol solvent with a boiling point of 180° C to 200° C, and a monoalcohol or glycol monoether solvent with a boiling point of 70° C to 160° C, which enhances drying properties

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

ensures uniform pigment dispersion and preventing solvent separation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDispersion: Dispersion (of waves)

Implementation Method 3

strong lamination with the base material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS12054624B2Inkjet ink for impermeable base material, image recording method, and method of producing laminate
Publication Date: 2024.08.06 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

An inkjet ink for an impermeable base material includes water, a resin-coated pigment in which at least a part of the pigment is coated with a crosslinked resin, a solvent A which is an alkanediol compound having a boiling point of 180° C. to 200° C., and a solvent B which is at least one of a monoalcohol compound having a boiling point of 70° C. to 160° C. or a glycol monoether compound having a boiling point of 70° C. to 160° C. An image recording method includes applying of the inkjet ink for an impermeable base material to record an image.