Inkjet Printing Solubility Parameter Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing on non-porous substrates faces challenges with fixability and stickiness due to the mismatch in solubility parameters between the ink and the substrate, leading to suboptimal drying and image quality.
Innovation Solution
An image forming method using an ink composition with a volatile organic solvent having a solubility parameter of 20 to 25 MPa1/2, acid-functionalized polymer colloid particles with a glass transition temperature of 25 to 85° C., and a polymer-coated pigment, ensuring the absolute difference in solubility parameters between the ink and the non-porous substrate is within 15 MPa1/2, thereby improving fixability and preventing stickiness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional ink formulations are used on non-porous substrates, then drying speed may be acceptable, but fixability deteriorates and stickiness occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the solubility parameter of the ink formulation to match that of the non-porous substrate. Specifically, it uses a volatile organic solvent with a solubility parameter of 20-25 MPa^1/2 and ensures the absolute difference between the substrate solubility parameter and ink solvent solubility parameter is within 15 MPa^1/2. This parameter matching enables proper adhesion and eliminates stickiness while maintaining reliable fixability.
2Manufacturing precision
If ink is ejected onto non-porous substrate, then image formation is achieved, but uniformity and image quality are insufficient due to solubility parameter mismatch
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the solubility parameter of the ink formulation (20-25 MPa^1/2) to match the non-porous substrate, ensuring uniform distribution and high-quality image formation without solubility parameter mismatch issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite ink formulation containing volatile organic solvent, acid-functionalized polymer colloid particles, and polymer-coated pigment. This composite structure ensures both uniformity and high image quality on non-porous substrates through proper solubility parameter matching and component synergy.
3Speed
If high boiling point wetting agents are used in ink, then drying speed is maintained, but adhesive property for non-porous substrates is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes from using high boiling point wetting agents to using a volatile organic solvent with a specifically controlled solubility parameter (20-25 MPa^1/2). This parameter optimization provides both adequate drying speed and superior adhesive property for non-porous substrates through solubility parameter matching.
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 method enhances fixability and reduces stickiness, achieving efficient drying and superior image quality on non-porous substrates like polyethylene terephthalate films by matching the solubility parameters, ensuring uniform image formation and film performance.
Implementation Method 1
ejecting an ink composition including a volatile organic solvent with a solubility parameter (SP value) of 20 MPa1/2 to 25 MPa1/2
Implementation Method 2
the absolute value of the difference between the solubility parameter of the non-porous substrate and the solubility parameter of the volatile organic solvent of the ink composition falls within 15 [MPa1/2]
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming method includes ejecting an ink composition including a volatile organic solvent with a solubility parameter of 20 MPa1/2 to 25 MPa1/2, acid-functionalized polymer colloid particles with a glass transition temperature of 25° C. to 85° C., and a pigment with a surface at least a part of which is coated with a polymer, onto a non-porous substrate by an ink jet method to form an image, and the absolute value of the difference between the solubility parameter of the non-porous substrate and the solubility parameter of the volatile organic solvent of the ink composition falls within 15 MPa1/2.