Inkjet treatment solution, and inkjet printing device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing inkjet image forming methods for paper and low-absorbent media fail to provide sufficient aggregation of ink, leading to issues like bleeding and poor image quality on textiles, and require complex pretreatment steps due to high cationic polymer concentrations, which hinder ejection from inkjet heads.

Innovation Solution

An inkjet treatment liquid containing a water-soluble cationic polymer and organic acid salt, with concentrations between 0.1 wt% and 10 wt%, allowing ejection from inkjet heads and enhancing ink aggregation on textiles, improving fastness to rubbing and laundering, and texture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high concentration of water-soluble cationic polymer (10% by mass or more) is used in treatment liquid, then aggregation property of ink is improved, but treatment liquid cannot be discharged from inkjet head

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaggregation propertyVSAvoidejection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the concentration parameter of water-soluble cationic polymer from high (10% or more) to optimal range (0.1% to 10%), which enables the treatment liquid to be properly ejected from inkjet heads while still achieving sufficient ink aggregation and color material fixation on textile substrates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If pretreatment liquid application step is added before ink discharge, then aggregation property is improved, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaggregation propertyVSAvoidprocessing steps
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the treatment liquid and ink into a single composition containing water-soluble cationic polymer, organic acid salt, and color material. This merging eliminates the need for separate pretreatment application step before ink discharge, simplifying the overall printing process while maintaining effective aggregation and fixation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If treatment liquid with high cationic polymer content is used, then color material aggregation is improved, but additional application steps are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor material aggregationVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple functional components (cationic polymer for aggregation, organic acid salt for fixation, and color material) into a single treatment liquid composition that can be discharged from inkjet heads. This eliminates additional application steps and maintains high processing efficiency while achieving good color material aggregation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 enables stable ejection and superior color developability on textiles, enhancing wet friction resistance, fastness to laundering, and improving fabric texture without requiring additional application steps.

Implementation Method 1

the treatment liquid contains a water-soluble cationic polymer and an organic acid salt... which reactively aggregate with the pigment contained in the ink

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic interaction: Electrostatics

Data Source

PatentEP4331855B1Inkjet treatment solution, and inkjet printing device
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 KYOCERA CORP
  • EP4331855B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

One aspect of the present invention relates to an inkjet treatment liquid containing a water-soluble cationic polymer and an organic acid salt, wherein a content of the water-soluble cationic polymer is 0.1 wt% or more and less than 10 wt% with respect to the entire amount of the inkjet treatment liquid.