Intaglio Printing Ink Using Dendritic Polymers to Reduce VOC
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intaglio printing inks rely heavily on volatile organic solvents to achieve the necessary viscosity for printing, which is environmentally detrimental and subject to regulatory restrictions, necessitating a reduction or elimination of these solvents while maintaining ink performance and resistance properties.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating high-molecular-weight dendritic polymers as binder components, which reduce the ink's viscosity and allow for chemical drying to form high-viscosity aggregates, thereby reducing the need for solvents and enhancing mechanical and chemical resistance, while also enabling water-dispersible inks suitable for water-wipe printing presses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If volatile organic solvents are used to adjust ink viscosity, then printing performance is maintained, but environmental harm increases and VOC content becomes high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the molecular weight parameter of the binder polymer to high molecular weight (≥10,000 g/mol), which fundamentally alters the viscosity characteristics of the ink. This allows the ink to achieve appropriate viscosity without relying on volatile organic solvents, thereby reducing VOC content while maintaining printing performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates volatile organic solvents from the ink formulation by using high molecular weight polymers as the primary viscosity-controlling component. This removal of harmful substances is achieved through the specific polymer selection and formulation approach described in the patent
2Object-generated harmful factors
If high molecular weight polymers are used as binders, then VOC content is reduced, but ink viscosity becomes too high for printing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the specific parameter of molecular weight (≥10,000 g/mol) to achieve a unique viscosity profile. High molecular weight polymers provide thickening power without the need for additional solvents, and the patent optimizes this parameter to balance viscosity reduction with adequate printing viscosity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite binder systems combining high molecular weight polymers with specific pigment and additive combinations. This composite approach allows the formulation to achieve the desired rheological properties for printing while maintaining low VOC content through the synergistic interaction of components
3Object-generated harmful factors
If solvent amount is reduced to lower VOC, then environmental compliance improves, but ink viscosity becomes insufficient for printing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental approach to viscosity control by using molecular weight parameters of the polymer rather than solvent quantity. This parameter substitution allows the ink to maintain adequate viscosity for printing while having significantly reduced solvent content, thus complying with environmental regulations
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 use of dendritic polymers in intaglio inks significantly reduces volatile organic solvent content, maintains printing performance, and improves the mechanical and chemical resistance of the printed ink film, aligning with environmental regulations and enhancing market viability.
Implementation Method 1
Dendrimers are high molecular weight polymers, whose molecules have a compact, sphere like shape, rather than the form of an extended molecular chain. Such polymers have a low viscosity/molecular weight ratio
Implementation Method 2
a 'chemical drying', either by catalytic oxypolymerisation under the influence of air oxygen, or by energy-activated (UV, E-beam) polymerization of a binder component
Implementation Method 3
the sphere-like molecular units can be crosslinked through a chemical drying mechanism, so as to form, in relatively few crosslinking steps, extended aggregates
Implementation Method 4
a mere 'physical drying' by the evaporation of a volatile solvent from the ink
Data Source
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AI summary
An ink for the engraved copperplate intaglio printing inks is disclosed, which comprises high-molecular- weight dendritic polymer as a binder component. Inks comprising such polymer can be formulated so as to contain a significantly reduced amount of organic solvent (volatile organic components, VOC) whilst still being in the appropriate viscosity range required by the intaglio printing process. The printed and cured intaglio ink of the present invention has improved chemical and mechanical resistance properties.