Inkjet Recording Medium Coating for Fast Drying and High Gloss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing inkjet recording mediums perform poorly with high-speed inkjet printers using pigmented inks, particularly in terms of drying times and image quality.

Innovation Solution

An inkjet recording medium with an inkjet-receptive coating comprising inorganic oxide particles, a multivalent metal salt, and a binder, applied to a coated paper substrate, which enhances inkjet print properties and achieves high gloss and rapid ink absorption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional inkjet recording mediums are used, then compatibility with offset and laser printing is achieved, but drying times are slow and image quality deteriorates with high-speed inkjet printers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with multiple printing methodsVSAvoiddrying time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a specialized inkjet-receptive coating layer on top of the base paper structure. This coating layer has specific local properties (inorganic oxide particles, multivalent metal salt, binder) that are optimized for high-speed inkjet printing, while the underlying paper structure maintains compatibility with other printing methods. The local quality of the surface coating differs from the bulk paper properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The inkjet recording medium uses a composite structure consisting of a base paper substrate combined with a specially formulated coating layer. The coating layer itself is a composite material containing inorganic oxide particles (98% of pigments), multivalent metal salt (35-133 parts per 100 parts pigment), and binder (3-50 parts per 100 parts pigment). This composite structure enables simultaneous compatibility with multiple printing technologies while optimizing performance for high-speed inkjet printing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional coating formulations are used, then general-purpose printing compatibility is achieved, but gloss and image quality are insufficient for high-speed inkjet printing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinting method compatibilityVSAvoidgloss
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical and physical parameters of the coating formulation by incorporating inorganic oxide particles as the primary pigment component (98% of total pigments), along with specific ratios of multivalent metal salt and binder. This parameter change in the coating composition enables high gloss (75° gloss of at least 60) and excellent image quality while maintaining compatibility with high-speed inkjet printing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If high-speed inkjet printing is implemented, then productivity increases, but drying time and image quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinting speedVSAvoiddrying time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies an inkjet-receptive coating layer in advance on the paper substrate before printing. This preliminary action prepares the surface to rapidly absorb and dry ink from high-speed inkjet printers. The coating layer's specific composition (inorganic oxide particles, multivalent metal salt, binder in controlled ratios) creates surface properties that facilitate rapid ink uptake and drying, enabling high-speed printing without sacrificing image quality or requiring extended drying times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 results in improved inkjet print properties, including fast drying times and high gloss, particularly with pigmented inks, and maintains excellent image quality when used with high-speed inkjet printers.

Implementation Method 1

The coating and coated paper of the instant disclosure are particularly useful with pigmented inkjet inks. The recording medium is highly absorbent for many types of ink. It quickly absorbs ink from several passes of an inkjet printer.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

an inkjet-receptive coating comprising: at least one pigment comprising inorganic oxide particles, wherein the inorganic oxide particles account for 98% of the pigments in the inkjet-receptive coating; a multivalent metal salt present in an amount of 35 to 133 parts based on 100 parts total of the at least one pigment; and, a binder present in an amount of 3 to 50 parts based on 100 parts total at least one pigment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical Bonding: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP2473672B1Inkjet recording medium
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 VERSO PAPER HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

An inkjet recording medium and a coating composition for forming an inkjet recording medium. In accordance with one aspect, an inkjet recording medium is disclosed comprising an inkjet-receptive coating on a coated paper substrate.