Inkjet Recording Medium Calcium Carbonate Silica Composite
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording media using calcium carbonate as a pigment face challenges with poor ink-drying properties, water resistance, and color development, while also having a texture different from offset printing and poor writing suitability due to the instability of the coating color and low ink absorption of calcium carbonate.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet recording medium with an ink-receiving layer containing 50% or more calcium carbonate, a binder, and an inkjet ink-fixing agent, optimized with specific weight ratios and properties to enhance ink-drying, water resistance, and image quality, while maintaining a texture suitable for offset printing and writing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If calcium carbonate is used as a pigment in the ink-receiving layer, then cost is reduced and texture similar to offset printing is achieved, but ink-drying property and water resistance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite pigment system combining calcium carbonate (50-90 wt%) with silica (10-50 wt%). This composite approach allows the ink-receiving layer to benefit from calcium carbonate's cost-effectiveness and offset-printing-like texture while silica provides the necessary ink absorption and drying properties. The synergistic combination resolves the contradiction between cost reduction and ink-drying performance.
2Ease of manufacture
If calcium carbonate is used as a pigment in the ink-receiving layer, then cost is reduced and texture similar to offset printing is achieved, but water resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The composite pigment system of calcium carbonate and silica provides both cost benefits and water resistance. The silica component contributes to water resistance while calcium carbonate maintains the offset-printing-like texture and reduces cost. Additionally, the binder resin and its specific content ratio (1-10 parts by weight per 100 parts pigment) further enhance water resistance properties.
3Shape
If calcium carbonate is used as a pigment in the ink-receiving layer, then offset printing texture is achieved, but color development deteriorates due to low ink absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite pigment system where silica (10-50 wt%) compensates for calcium carbonate's low ink absorption capability. Silica provides excellent ink absorption properties that enhance color development, while calcium carbonate (50-90 wt%) maintains the desired offset-printing-like texture. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between texture and color development.
4Manufacturing precision
If a coated paper type inkjet recording medium with bulky pigment is used to improve color development, then ink absorption and color development are enhanced, but writing suitability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the particle size parameter of the pigment to resolve the contradiction. By using fine calcium carbonate particles (D50: 0.5-5.0 μm) instead of bulky pigments, the surface becomes smoother and more suitable for writing, while still achieving good color development through the composite pigment system and optimized binder content. This parameter change transforms the surface characteristics from rough to smooth, improving writing suitability.
5Manufacturing precision
If a coated paper type inkjet recording medium is used to improve color development, then ink absorption is enhanced, but the ink-receiving layer easily falls off from the substrate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the binder content parameter (1-10 parts by weight per 100 parts pigment) to achieve the right balance between ink absorption and adhesion. The binder resin provides binding force that prevents the ink-receiving layer from falling off, while still allowing sufficient ink absorption. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between ink absorption enhancement and adhesion strength.
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 achieves excellent ink-drying properties, high color development, and writing suitability, with improved stability and surface strength of the ink-receiving layer, reducing cockling and bleeding, and maintaining the texture of offset printing.
Implementation Method 1
an ink-receiving layer containing a pigment, a binder and an inkjet ink-fixing agent comprising a cationic compound
Implementation Method 2
an inkjet ink-fixing agent comprising a cationic compound... which is fixed by forming an ion complex by ionic bonds with an anionic coloring agent in the inkjet ink
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet recording medium, comprising an ink-receiving layer containing a pigment, a binder and an inkjet ink-fixing agent comprising a cationic compound disposed on at least one surface of a base paper, wherein 50% or more by weight of calcium carbonate is contained in terms of a solid content based on a total amount of the pigment contained in the ink-receiving layer; 75 to 90 parts by weight of the pigment, 1 to 10 parts by weight of the binder and 5 to 20 parts by weight of the inkjet ink-fixing agent are contained based on 100 parts by weight of the ink-receiving layer; the drop water absorbency of the ink-receiving layer (according to the drop water absorbency defined in Japan Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, J. TAPPI, No. 32-2:2000 except that a drop water amount is 0.001 ml) is 200 seconds or less; and a Stockigt sizing degree according to JIS-P-8122 for the inkjet recording medium is 5 seconds or less.