Paperless transfer printing method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing paperless transfer printing methods face challenges with low dye transfer rates and unstable production quality due to the use of solvent-based inks and the need for surface treatment of metal foils or plastic belts, which leads to decreased printing precision and recyclable material effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
Aqueous ink is printed on a transfer printing temporary carrier made of an elastic polymer material with a specific surface tension, then wetted with an aqueous surface tension increasing liquid to facilitate ink transfer onto fabric, ensuring the ink's surface tension is greater than the carrier but less than the fabric's, allowing for efficient and precise dye transfer without residual ink on the carrier.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If solvent-based ink is used on metal foil or plastic belt, then paperless transfer printing is achieved, but large amount of organic solvent volatilization occurs and environmental pollution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of ink composition from solvent-based to water-based aqueous ink. This parameter change eliminates organic solvent volatilization while maintaining the paperless transfer printing capability through careful control of surface tension relationships between the aqueous ink, elastic polymer carrier, and fabric.
2Manufacturing precision
If surface treatment is applied to metal foil or plastic belt, then printing precision is improved, but surface treatment effect disappears after recycling and printing quality decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adopts an elastic polymer material as a disposable or limited-life carrier that inherently provides the necessary surface properties for high-quality printing without requiring recurring surface treatments. The carrier is replaced when performance degrades, eliminating the cycle of treatment application and effect loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the carrier material parameter from metal foil or plastic belt to elastic polymer material, which possesses inherent surface tension characteristics (25-45 mN/m) that are optimal for aqueous ink reception and transfer, eliminating the need for electrical corona discharging or other surface treatments.
3Productivity
If aqueous ink surface tension is increased above carrier surface tension, then ink transfer efficiency improves, but ink may not properly adhere to carrier during printing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes precise parameter relationships: aqueous ink surface tension (30-50 mN/m) is controlled to be higher than the elastic polymer carrier surface tension (25-45 mN/m) to ensure transfer efficiency, while the ink's surface tension remains lower than that of the fabric to ensure proper adhesion during the transfer process. This dual parameter control resolves the contradiction.
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
This method achieves high precision and quality printing at low costs and energy consumption, with high transfer efficiency and improved output, overcoming the limitations of existing paperless transfer printing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a critical surface tension of the surface of the transfer printing temporary carrier is between 25 mN/m and 45 mN/m, and a surface tension of the aqueous ink is less than the critical surface tension of the transfer printing temporary carrier
Implementation Method 2
wetting the transfer printing temporary carrier by using an aqueous surface tension increasing liquid, so that when the transfer printing temporary carrier is in tight contact with a fabric
Implementation Method 3
the aqueous ink printed on the transfer printing temporary carrier is dissolved or dispersed into the aqueous surface tension increasing liquid to form an aqueous solution or an aqueous dispersion liquid
Implementation Method 4
the aqueous ink printed on the transfer printing temporary carrier is dissolved or dispersed into the aqueous surface tension increasing liquid to form an aqueous solution or an aqueous dispersion liquid
Implementation Method 5
a surface tension of the aqueous solution or the aqueous dispersion liquid is greater than the critical surface tension of the transfer printing temporary carrier and less than a surface tension of fiber of the fabric
Data Source
AI summary
A paperless transfer printing method includes the following steps: (a) printing, by a printing machine, aqueous ink onto a transfer printing temporary carrier in a set pattern, wherein a surface of the transfer printing temporary carrier is made of an elastic polymer material and a surface tension of the aqueous ink is less than the critical surface tension of the transfer printing temporary carrier; (b) drying the to-be-transferred pattern on the transfer printing temporary carrier; (c) wetting the transfer printing temporary carrier by using an aqueous surface tension increasing liquid; and (d) separating the aqueous solution or the aqueous dispersion liquid from the transfer printing temporary carrier at a tight-contact position between the transfer printing temporary carrier and the fabric, so that an aqueous ink dye is transferred onto the fiber of the fabric.