Phase Change Ink Blends for Scratch and Smear Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solid ink technology lacks robustness against scratch, fold offset, and smear in direct-to-paper printing, despite its advantages in vivid images and substrate latitude.
Innovation Solution
The use of phase change inks formulated with a blend of semi-crystalline materials, one with high amorphous content and the other with high crystalline content, providing specific viscosity ranges at different temperatures to enhance ink robustness and print durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If solid ink technology is used for direct-to-paper printing, then vivid images and substrate latitude are achieved, but robustness against scratch, fold offset, and smear is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite ink formulation containing both amorphous material (providing vividness and low melt viscosity) and crystalline material (providing robustness and high solid viscosity). This composite approach allows the ink to simultaneously achieve image vividness and resistance to scratch, fold offset, and smear that single-material formulations cannot provide.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits changes in physical parameters (viscosity, phase state) at different temperatures. The ink exhibits low viscosity at melt temperature for easy jetting and high viscosity at solid state for robustness. This parameter change with temperature enables the ink to satisfy both printing process requirements and final image durability requirements.
2Ease of operation
If the ink has low viscosity at jetting temperature for easy ejection, then printing processability is improved, but the ink may smear or offset after printing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transition of the ink material between solid and liquid states. At jetting temperature, the ink is in liquid phase with low viscosity for easy ejection. After deposition and cooling, it transitions to solid phase with high viscosity providing resistance to smear and fold offset. This phase transition enables the ink to satisfy both processability and durability requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits temperature-dependent viscosity changes. The ink formulation is designed to have low viscosity at elevated temperatures (jetting conditions) for easy ejection, and high viscosity at ambient temperatures for smear and fold offset resistance. This parameter change with temperature resolves the contradiction between ease of printing and print durability.
3Reliability
If the ink has high viscosity at room temperature for robustness, then resistance to scratch and smear is improved, but the ink is difficult to eject from the printing apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes controlled phase transition by temperature. The ink is heated to melt the crystalline material, transitioning from solid high-viscosity state to liquid low-viscosity state, enabling easy ejection. After deposition, it cools and re-solidifies, restoring high viscosity for robustness. This reversible phase transition resolves the contradiction between ejection ease and robustness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits temperature as a control parameter for viscosity. By heating the ink before ejection, viscosity decreases enabling easy flow and ejection. After ejection, cooling restores high viscosity providing scratch and smear resistance. This parameter control resolves the apparent contradiction between high viscosity for robustness and low viscosity for ejection.
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 blended semi-crystalline material phase change inks achieve robust images with improved resistance to damage, such as scratch and fold offset, by maintaining low viscosity at jetting temperatures and high viscosity at room temperature, ensuring effective print quality and durability.
Implementation Method 1
The phase change ink can then be melted inside the ink jet printing apparatus
Implementation Method 2
a first semi-crystalline material having a higher amorphous content than a crystalline content therein; and a second semi-crystalline material having a higher crystalline content than an amorphous content therein
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary embodiments provide a phase change ink composition including at least a first semi-crystalline material having a high amorphous content; and at least a second semi-crystalline material having a high crystalline content, such that the phase change ink has a viscosity ranging from about 0.1 cps to about 15 cps at a temperature ranging from about 60° C. to about 145° C. and the phase change ink composition has excellent robustness when forming images or printing on a printing substrate.