Oil-Based Inkjet Ink Nozzle Adhesion Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Oil-based inkjet inks face issues with nozzle plate adhesion, leading to ink misfires and discharge defects, which are exacerbated by the alignment of pigment and pigment dispersant functional groups with the nozzle plate, limiting ink component selection and affecting storage stability and image density.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a compound with a specific structure, represented by general formula (1), which includes a hindered phenol site and an ester linkage, to reduce ink wettability of the nozzle plate, thereby preventing adhesion and ensuring stable inkjet performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If components with low affinity to the nozzle plate are selected (pigment, pigment dispersant, non-aqueous solvent), then ink wettability of the nozzle plate is reduced and adhesion is prevented, but the range of ink components is limited which restricts storage stability and image density performance
Solution Approach 1:
A fluorine-containing surfactant is introduced as an intermediary substance between the ink components and the nozzle plate. This surfactant specifically adsorbs to the nozzle plate surface, creating a fluorine-rich interface that repels ink components. This allows the use of conventional ink components (pigments, dispersants, solvents) without direct interaction with the nozzle plate, thus maintaining both discharge reliability and component versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The surface energy parameters of the nozzle plate are dynamically changed by controlling the fluorine coating formation. By adjusting the concentration and type of fluorine-containing surfactant, the surface free energy and contact angle can be optimized to achieve optimal ink repellency while maintaining compatibility with various ink formulations
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional antioxidants (hindered phenol-based compounds like BHT and BHA) are added to prevent oxidation, then oxidation of ink components is prevented, but ink adhesion to the nozzle plate is exacerbated due to alignment of functional groups
Solution Approach 1:
The molecular structure of the antioxidant is modified by introducing fluorine-containing groups. This structural parameter change alters the chemical and physical properties of the antioxidant, specifically reducing its affinity for the nozzle plate surface while maintaining its radical-scavenging antioxidant activity. The fluorine substitution changes the electron distribution and steric hindrance, preventing alignment with the nozzle plate
Solution Approach 2:
The antioxidant is designed as a composite molecular structure combining the hindered phenol core (for antioxidant activity) with fluorine-containing substituents (for reduced adhesion). This composite structure integrates two previously separate functions: oxidation protection and adhesion prevention, into a single molecular entity
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 compound effectively prevents ink adhesion to the nozzle plate, maintaining storage stability and achieving high image density without restricting ink component selection, thus enhancing the reliability of inkjet printing.
Implementation Method 1
In the inkjet recording method, it is desirable to reduce the ink wettability of the nozzle plate in order to prevent discharge faults from the inkjet nozzles
Data Source
AI summary
An oil-based inkjet ink can be provided that prevents adhesion of the ink to the nozzle plate, thereby preventing ink misfires and discharge defects from the inkjet nozzles. The oil-based inkjet ink contains a pigment, a non-aqueous solvent, and a compound represented by general formula (1) shown below. (In general formula (1), m represents 1 or 2, each of R1 and R2 independently represents a monovalent saturated hydrocarbon group, R3 represents a single bond or a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group, and R4 represents a monovalent or divalent saturated hydrocarbon group.)