Inkjet Ink Set Density Pinning on Non-Permeable Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet inks used in printing on non-permeable recording media face issues with color mixing and bleeding due to the lack of pinning property, where ink droplets fail to stay in place upon landing, requiring specialized inks with improved formulation to address this challenge.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet ink set comprising an undercoat liquid and inks with specific densities and compositions, including binder resin particles and surfactants, that satisfy a particular density relationship and contain pigments and aqueous media to enhance pinning property, preventing ink droplets from spreading on non-absorbent recording media.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional inkjet inks are used on non-permeable recording media, then the printing process can be performed, but the ink droplets lack pinning property causing color mixing and bleeding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the density parameter of the undercoat liquid to be higher than that of the inkjet ink, which fundamentally alters the interaction between the undercoat and ink droplets. This parameter change enables the undercoat to provide adequate pinning property, preventing color mixing and bleeding while maintaining printability on non-permeable media.
Solution Approach 2:
The undercoat liquid is applied to the recording medium before the inkjet ink is ejected. This preliminary action creates a foundation layer with higher density that pre-establishes the pinning property, allowing the subsequent ink droplets to remain in place without spreading or mixing colors.
2Reliability
If the undercoat liquid density is increased to improve pinning property, then color mixing and bleeding are prevented, but the formulation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of fundamentally changing the chemical composition to achieve pinning property, the patent utilizes a parameter change (density) that can be achieved through straightforward formulation adjustments. The undercoat liquid simply needs to have a higher density than the inkjet ink, which can be accomplished by adjusting the concentration of binder resin particles or other dense components, thereby avoiding overly complex formulation developments.
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 exhibits excellent pinning property, ensuring that ink droplets remain at their landing points, thereby preventing color mixing and bleeding, and providing improved adhesion, scratch resistance, and image formation on non-absorbent media like resin and glass surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
a density ρ1 of the undercoat liquid and a density ρ2 of an inkjet ink of the one or more inkjet inks that has the highest density among those of the one or more inkjet inks satisfy a relationship represented by formula (1) below: ρ1-ρ2=0.10
Implementation Method 2
The undercoat liquid contains first binder resin particles, a first aqueous medium, and a first surfactant. The one or more inkjet inks each contain a second pigment, second binder resin particles, a second aqueous medium, and a second surfactant.
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet ink set includes an undercoat liquid and one or more inkjet inks. The undercoat liquid contains first binder resin particles, a first aqueous medium, and a first surfactant. The one or more inkjet inks each contain a second pigment, second binder resin particles, a second aqueous medium, and a second surfactant. At a temperature of 20° C., a density ρ1 of the undercoat liquid and a density ρ2 of an inkjet ink of the one or more inkjet inks that has the highest density among those of the one or more inkjet inks satisfy a relationship represented by formula (1): ρ1−ρ2>0.05 g/cm3 . . . (1).