Active Energy Ray Curing Inkjet Ink Viscosity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing energy ray curing inkjet printing clear ink composition suffers from image quality issues such as dot missing, line missing, and image blur due to repellence and spreading of ink droplets on the printing target, leading to unclear and unreadable characters, especially when using inkjet printing apparatuses with clogged nozzles.
Innovation Solution
The use of active energy ray curing inkjet ink containing a combination of active energy ray curing monomers/oligomers, photopolymerization initiators, and surface tension adjusting agents, with a viscosity of 3.0 to 6.0 mPa·s at 35° C., which ensures stable ejection and self-leveling properties, preventing image defects and improving image clarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If clear ink composition is used for energy ray curing inkjet printing, then curing function is achieved, but image quality deteriorates due to dot missing, line missing, and blur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the clear ink composition, specifically adjusting viscosity to 3.0-6.0 mPa·s at 35°C and incorporating surface tension adjusting agents, to achieve both reliable curing and high image quality without dot missing or blur
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite clear ink composition by combining active energy ray curing monomers/oligomers with surface tension adjusting agents and photopolymerization initiators, achieving synergistic effects that resolve the contradiction between curing reliability and image quality
2Productivity
If inkjet ink is ejected onto printing target object, then image formation is achieved, but repellence causes dot missing and image defects
Solution Approach 1:
The surface tension adjusting agent acts as an intermediary substance between the inkjet ink and the printing target object, mediating the interaction to prevent repellence and ensure reliable dot placement while maintaining image formation productivity
3Area of stationary object
If ink droplet spreads on printing target object, then coverage is improved, but image clarity deteriorates causing blur and unreadable characters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent precisely controls the spread parameter of ink droplets by adjusting surface tension and viscosity, achieving optimal balance where ink covers sufficient area for complete coverage while limiting excessive spread that causes blur and maintains character readability
4Reliability
If nozzle clogging occurs in inkjet printing apparatus, then printing reliability is reduced, but image line missing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the viscosity parameter to 3.0-6.0 mPa·s at 35°C, which is low enough to prevent nozzle clogging by ensuring smooth ink flow, while maintaining sufficient viscosity to prevent excessive spread and maintain line continuity and image quality
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 described inkjet ink solution prevents image dot and line missing, maintains image clarity, and ensures high-quality printing with neither image dot nor line missing, even when nozzles are clogged, resulting in sharp and clear images with improved ejection stability and self-leveling properties.
Implementation Method 1
active energy ray curing monomer and/or active energy ray curing oligomer; (B) a photopolymerization initiator
Implementation Method 2
a surface tension adjusting agent, and having a viscosity of 3.0 to 6.0 mPa·s at 35° C.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention forms a good unrepellent uniform coating film and an image having neither image missing nor image blur by using an inkjet printing method. Active energy ray curing inkjet ink contains (A) an active energy ray curing monomer and/or an active energy ray curing oligomer, (B) a photopolymerization initiator, and (C) a surface tension adjusting agent, and has a viscosity of 3.0 to 6.0 mPa·s at 35° C.