Nonaqueous Ink Composition for Vinyl Chloride Resin Fixing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Nonaqueous inks used for low absorption recording media often suffer from poor fixing properties and increased smudging due to their solvent's limited ability to dissolve the recording surface, particularly vinyl chloride resin, leading to inferior front surface drying and health safety concerns.

Innovation Solution

A nonaqueous ink composition incorporating a compound represented by General Formula (1) and a heterocyclic compound such as lactones or lactams, which improves the ink's ability to dissolve vinyl chloride resin, reducing smudging and enhancing fixing and drying properties, while minimizing the use of class-2 organic solvents for better health and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If nonaqueous ink uses class-2 organic solvents (toluene, ethyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, cyclohexane), then the ink can be used for low absorption recording media, but handling becomes difficult due to environmental concentration obligations, local exhaust facilities requirements, and regular medical examinations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with low absorption recording mediaVSAvoidhandling ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the solvent system by replacing class-2 organic solvents with non-class-2 organic solvents (glycol ether acetates and cyclic esters). This parameter change maintains the ink's ability to dissolve vinyl chloride resin and work with low absorption recording media while eliminating the harmful effects and handling restrictions associated with class-2 solvents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes hazardous, regulated solvents with safer, more environmentally friendly alternative solvents. This replacement eliminates the need for expensive safety infrastructure (local exhaust facilities, medical examinations) while maintaining functional performance, effectively treating the solvent system as a disposable component that should be safe and easy to handle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Ease of operation

If nonaqueous ink uses non-class-2 organic solvents (glycol ether acetates, cyclic esters), then health and safety properties improve, but the solvent's ability to dissolve the front surface of low absorption recording medium becomes poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehealth and safety propertiesVSAvoidfixing property
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite solvent system by combining multiple non-class-2 organic solvents (glycol ether acetates and cyclic esters) in specific proportions. This composite approach allows the ink to leverage the complementary dissolving abilities of different solvents, achieving both safety and effective dissolution of vinyl chloride resin for reliable fixing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of the solvent components, specifically setting glycol ether acetate at 5-40 mass% and cyclic esters at 5-40 mass%. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient dissolving power for vinyl chloride resin while maintaining the health and safety advantages of non-class-2 solvents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If nonaqueous ink uses non-class-2 organic solvents (glycol ether acetates, cyclic esters), then health and safety properties improve, but front surface drying properties become significantly reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehealth and safety propertiesVSAvoidfront surface drying time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adjusts the volatility parameters of the solvent system by selecting specific glycol ether acetates and cyclic esters with appropriate boiling points and evaporation rates. This parameter tuning enables the ink to dry adequately on the front surface while maintaining the safety advantages of non-class-2 solvents, resolving the contradiction between safety and drying performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If nonaqueous ink uses non-class-2 organic solvents (glycol ether acetates, cyclic esters), then health and safety properties improve, but smudging of the recorded image becomes prominent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehealth and safety propertiesVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite solvent system combining glycol ether acetates and cyclic esters in optimized ratios. This composite formulation achieves sufficient dissolving power and appropriate drying characteristics that prevent smudging, while maintaining the health and safety benefits of using non-class-2 organic solvents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameters and volatility characteristics of the solvent components to achieve proper drying time and film formation. This parameter optimization ensures the ink dries sufficiently to prevent smudging while maintaining the safety advantages of non-class-2 solvents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 ink composition achieves excellent fixing and front surface drying properties with reduced smudging on low absorption recording media, maintaining image quality and safety by utilizing a synergistic effect between the compounds, thereby improving abrasion resistance and environmental handling.

Implementation Method 1

the solvent included in a nonaqueous ink such as the above has a poor ability to dissolve the front surface of a low absorption recording medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS9028055B2Nonaqueous ink composition for ink jet recording and ink jet recording method
Publication Date: 2015.05.12 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • US9028055B2 patent drawing
  • US9028055B2 patent drawing
  • US9028055B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The nonaqueous ink composition for ink jet printing contains a compound represented by General Formula (1) below, and a heterocyclic compound selected from lactones and lactams.(In Formula (1), R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R2 and R3 represent a methyl group or an ethyl group.)