Inkjet-Printed Time Temperature Indicators With Encapsulated Diacetylenes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food and pharmaceutical monitoring systems are expensive, prone to fraud, and unreliable for broad temperature range monitoring, particularly in cold chain logistics, due to issues with solvent-based inks and micelle-based systems.
Innovation Solution
A printing ink utilizing core-shell particles encapsulating diacetylenes, prepared via interfacial polymerization, which are formulated into an aqueous inkjet liquid for reliable and fraud-proof temperature monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If solvent based inkjet inks are used for temperature monitoring, then colour changing indicators can be achieved, but toxicological safety and printing reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, unreliable solvent-based inks with a disposable, food-safe alternative. The aqueous ink formulation uses biocompatible components (water, glycerol, diacetylene molecules) that are inherently safe and reliable, eliminating toxicological concerns while maintaining printing functionality through proper formulation of the aqueous carrier system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the ink carrier from organic solvent to aqueous solution. This parameter change transforms the ink system from toxic and unreliable to food-safe and reliable, while still achieving colour changing indicators through the diacetylene molecules' response to temperature changes in the aqueous environment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If micelle based systems are used for temperature monitoring, then broad temperature range monitoring is achieved, but film formation tendency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic micelle structure from the system while retaining the beneficial broad temperature range monitoring capability. By using free diacetylene molecules dispersed in aqueous glycerol instead of micelle-encapsulated diacetylenes, the system eliminates film formation during printing while maintaining the ability to monitor broad temperature ranges through UV-induced polymerization and colour changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces glycerol as an intermediary substance that mediates between water and diacetylene molecules. This intermediary improves diacetylene solubility and dispersion in the aqueous phase without requiring micelle structures, thereby preventing film formation while enabling broad temperature range monitoring through the diacetylene's stimuli-responsive properties.
3Ease of manufacture
If diacetylene dispersion with additives is used for temperature monitoring, then blue to red transition can be tuned, but film formation upon drying increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the micelle-based system with a simpler, disposable aqueous glycerol solution containing diacetylene molecules. This eliminates the complex micelle structure and additional surfactant additives, reducing film formation tendency while maintaining the ability to achieve blue to red colour transitions through UV irradiation and diacetylene polymerization.
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 provides a cost-effective, reliable, and broad temperature range monitoring system that decouples the sensor function from the ink environment, ensuring stable inkjet printing and accurate temperature tracking.
Implementation Method 1
Polymerization of diacetylenes by irradiation with deep UV radiation results in a blue chromophore
Implementation Method 2
The diacetylenes may be designed in such a way that the resulting polymer becomes stimuli responsive, yielding a magenta chromophore upon responding to the stimulus. The stimulus may be, for example, heat
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a method of preparing a Time Temperature Indicator using inkjet printing. The aqueous inkjet printing liquid includes encapsulated diacetylene compounds.