Inkjet Ink Set With Polyurethane Binder And Wax Emulsion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current inkjet printing technologies face challenges in maintaining high-speed printing quality and reliability, particularly in terms of nozzle health, coalescence, and durability of printed images, especially when printing high volumes such as hundred pages per minute, due to issues like clogging and ink film damage from media rollers.
Innovation Solution
The development of an inkjet ink set comprising black, yellow, cyan, and magenta inks with a polyurethane binder, non-ionic surfactants, humectant solvents, non-volatile glycol ether co-solvents, and polyethylene wax emulsions, which enhances jettability, decap performance, and image durability by improving ink droplet formation and resistance to mechanical stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-speed printing is implemented to achieve high productivity, then printing speed increases, but nozzle health deteriorates and clogging occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the ink set by incorporating specific surfactants, wetting agents, and co-solvents in optimized concentrations. These parameter changes enable the ink to maintain proper flow characteristics and prevent clogging at high printing speeds while protecting nozzle health
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite ink formulation combining multiple components including pigments, binders, surfactants, wetting agents, and co-solvents. This composite material approach allows the ink to simultaneously achieve high-speed jetability and nozzle health maintenance by leveraging the synergistic effects of different components
2Productivity
If high-speed printing is implemented to achieve high productivity, then printing speed increases, but image durability decreases due to coalescence and ink film damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts critical parameters including surfactant concentration, co-solvent ratios, and wetting agent levels to optimize ink droplet formation and film integrity. These parameter changes prevent coalescence and maintain image durability even at high printing speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces co-solvents and wetting agents as intermediary substances that mediate between the ink components and the substrate. These intermediaries facilitate proper ink deposition and film formation, preventing damage from media rollers while maintaining image quality at high speeds
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional ink formulation is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but decap performance deteriorates and clogging increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of surfactants, wetting agents, and co-solvents in the ink formulation. These parameter changes enhance decap performance and prevent clogging while maintaining reasonable manufacturing simplicity through standardized ingredient specifications
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 achieves improved print quality, reliability, and durability by maintaining image integrity under high-speed printing conditions, with enhanced optical density, gloss, and abrasion resistance, as well as extended decap time and reduced clogging, leading to better nozzle health and image permanence.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the inks further contains a polyurethane binder
Implementation Method 2
non-ionic surfactants
Implementation Method 3
humectant solvent
Implementation Method 4
non-volatile glycol ether co-solvent
Implementation Method 5
a polyethylene wax emulsion
Implementation Method 6
forcing the ink drops through small nozzles by thermal ejection
Implementation Method 7
piezoelectric pressure or oscillation
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present disclosure refers to an inkjet ink set comprising a black ink with a black pigment, a yellow ink with a yellow pigment, a cyan ink with a cyan pigment and a magenta ink with a magenta pigment, wherein at least one of the ink further contains a polyurethane binder; non-ionic surfactants; humectant solvent; non-volatile glycol ether co-solvent; a polyethylene wax emulsion and a balance of water. The inkjet ink set can also comprise an orange ink, a green ink and/or a violet ink. The present disclosure refers also to a system for printing the ink set described herein.