Phase Change Ink with Aromatic Gellant for UV Curing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing phase change ink compositions lack improved scratch resistance, adhesion to substrates, control of dot spread, and reduced showthrough, while also requiring complex processing steps and post-reaction purification, and they do not efficiently incorporate ultraviolet curable compounds without affecting viscosity or melting point.
Innovation Solution
A phase change ink comprising a colorant, an initiator, and a phase change ink carrier with a radically curable monomer compound and a gellant compound having aromatic end groups, which provides enhanced spectral transmission, gelation properties, and thermal stability, allowing for efficient ultraviolet cure and improved ink performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If existing phase change ink compositions are used, then the basic ink jet printing function is achieved, but the scratch resistance, adhesion, and dot spread control are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite gellant system comprising both aromatic end-group containing gellants (providing structural integrity and scratch resistance) and conventional gellants (providing adhesion to substrates). This composite approach allows the ink to simultaneously achieve improved scratch resistance through the aromatic gellant network and maintained adhesion through the conventional gellant components.
2Manufacturing precision
If complex processing steps and post-reaction purification are implemented, then the ink composition can be refined, but the manufacturing complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The aromatic end-group containing gellants are pre-synthesized with controlled molecular structures before being incorporated into the ink formulation. This preliminary preparation ensures that the gellants possess the desired gelation properties and thermal stability without requiring complex post-reaction purification steps during ink manufacturing.
3Productivity
If ultraviolet curable compounds are incorporated into phase change ink, then the curing efficiency is improved, but the viscosity and melting point are adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates ultraviolet curable compounds at controlled local concentrations within the phase change ink matrix, rather than uniformly throughout. This localized incorporation allows UV curing to occur efficiently in the deposited ink layer while the bulk phase change ink maintains its required melting point and viscosity characteristics for proper jetting performance.
4Speed
If the ink is jetted directly onto the final substrate, then the printing speed is improved, but the dot spread and showthrough are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the phase transition properties of the gellant compounds, which undergo a sharp viscosity increase at a specific transition temperature. When the ink is jetted directly onto the substrate, the rapid cooling induces this phase transition, causing the ink to solidify quickly and confine the deposited dots, thereby reducing dot spread and showthrough while maintaining high printing speed.
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 exhibits improved scratch resistance, adhesion, and reduced dot spread, with enhanced spectral transmission and thermal stability, enabling efficient ultraviolet curing and stable gelation without the need for complex processing or post-reaction purification.
Implementation Method 1
phase change inks (sometimes referred to as 'hot melt inks') are in the solid phase at ambient temperature, but exist in the liquid phase at the elevated operating temperature of an ink jet printing device
Implementation Method 2
a phase change ink carrier which is combined with a phase change ink compatible colorant... an initiator... enabling efficient ultraviolet curing
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a phase change ink comprising a colorant, an initiator, and a phase change ink carrier, said carrier comprising at least one radically curable monomer compound and a compound of the formulawherein R1 and R1′ are the same, and wherein R1 and R1′ are each an aromatic group; and wherein R2 and R2′ and R3 each, independently of the others, are alkylene groups, arylene groups, arylalkylene groups, or alkylarylene groups; or wherein, in embodiments, R1 and R1′ can be the same or different, and wherein R1 and R1′ each, independently of the other is an alkyl group having a least one ethylenic unsaturation, an arylalkyl group having at least one ethylenic unsaturation, an alkylaryl group having at least one ethylenic unsaturation, or an aromatic group, provided that at least one of R1 and R1′ is an aromatic group; and provided that neither of R1 or R1′ is a photoinitiator group. Also disclosed herein is a method of printing with the phase change ink.