Metallic Ink Composition for Digital Offset Lithography
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital offset printing methods struggle to create metallic special effects on a variety of substrates, including non-smooth surfaces, and are wasteful due to the complexity of metalized cold stamping and the limited applicability of existing metallic inks.
Innovation Solution
A metallic ink composition with specific properties, including metallic effect pigment particles of 90% or more with an average equivalent sphere diameter between 1 micrometer and 150 micrometers, a dispersant, a curable oligomer, and a photo initiator, is developed, offering a viscosity range of 150,000 to 1,000,000 mPa·s at 0.1 rad/s and 25°C, enabling efficient transfer and minimal waste on substrates like textured cardboard and uncoated paper.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metalized cold stamping is used to create metallic special effects, then metallic effects can be achieved on certain substrates, but the construction is complex and wasteful
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the ink composition, specifically using particles with diameters of 1 micrometer or more (comparing to conventional smaller particles), high viscosity (150,000 to 1,000,000 mPa·s), and specific composition ratios to achieve metallic effects through digital offset printing without complex cold stamping construction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical cold stamping system with a digital offset printing system that uses specially formulated metallic ink composition, substituting complex mechanical foil transfer mechanisms with a simpler ink application process
2Reliability
If metalized cold stamping is used, then metallic effects can be produced, but only small amounts of foil are used making it wasteful
Solution Approach 1:
The metallic ink composition serves multiple functions: it provides metallic visual effects, ensures adequate transfer efficiency (90% or more), and reduces material waste by being applicable to various substrates including non-smooth surfaces, replacing the need for excessive foil material in cold stamping
Solution Approach 2:
By changing particle size parameters (1 micrometer or more diameter) and viscosity parameters (150,000 to 1,000,000 mPa·s), the ink achieves better transfer properties that reduce material waste while maintaining metallic effect quality
3Productivity
If existing metallic inks are used, then printing can be performed, but transfer efficiency is insufficient on diverse substrates
Solution Approach 1:
The ink composition is designed to be universally applicable to diverse substrates including smooth and non-smooth surfaces, coated and uncoated papers, plastics, and cardboard, achieving 90% or more transfer efficiency across all these different substrate types
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses different substrate characteristics by optimizing the ink's viscosity and particle size distribution, allowing the same ink formulation to adapt to various surface properties and achieve consistent high transfer efficiency
4Ease of operation
If ink viscosity is low, then anilox take up and delivery is easy, but ink crawls out of the ink loader causing spills and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the viscosity parameter to a specific high range (150,000 to 1,000,000 mPa·s) that balances ink delivery capability with containment, preventing crawling and contamination while maintaining adequate flow for the digital offset printing process
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 metallic ink composition achieves 90% or greater transfer efficiency on diverse substrates with minimal waste, providing effective metallic special effects while being compatible with digital offset printing systems.
Implementation Method 1
at least one photo initiator
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a metallic ink composition for use in digital offset printing, comprising: metallic effect pigment particles, wherein an average equivalent sphere diameter of at least about 90% of the metallic effect pigment particles ranges from greater than 1 micrometer (μm) to 150 μm; at least one dispersant; at least one curable oligomer; and a photo initiator, wherein the metallic ink composition has a viscosity ranging from 150,000 to 1,000,000 millipascal seconds (mPa·s) at 0.1 rad/s at 25° C. Also provided is a method of digital offset printing using the metallic ink composition of the present disclosure.