Phase Change Ink Viscosity Control for Low-Temperature Jetting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current phase change inks used in ink jet printing, particularly those based on crystalline waxes, face limitations such as high jetting temperatures, contraction and expansion issues, and mechanical robustness challenges, which affect image quality and printing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A radiation curable phase change ink with specific viscosity and rheological properties is developed, allowing for low-temperature jetting and rapid cooling, featuring a phase change agent that changes viscosity significantly over a narrow temperature range, ensuring consistent jetting and image formation without the need for high printhead temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If crystalline wax based phase change inks are used for ink jet printing, then vivid color images can be achieved, but high jetting temperatures are required which cause contraction and expansion issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the ink vehicle, replacing crystalline wax with a non-crystalline composition containing polyol, carboxylic acid, and metallic salt. This parameter change allows the ink to achieve similar image vividness at lower jetting temperatures, resolving the contradiction between image quality and temperature requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite ink vehicle formulation combining polyol, carboxylic acid, and metallic salt components. This composite material approach creates a non-crystalline phase change system that maintains the desirable properties of wax-based inks while eliminating the high temperature and contraction/expansion problems
2Stability of the object's composition
If high printhead temperatures are used for jetting phase change inks, then consistent ink ejection can be achieved, but mechanical stress and robustness challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the viscosity-temperature relationship parameters of the ink by using a non-crystalline composition. The ink exhibits a viscosity of 3-20 cP at jetting temperature and increases to >1000 cP upon cooling, providing jetting consistency without requiring high printhead temperatures that would compromise mechanical robustness
3Manufacturing precision
If the ink is cooled rapidly after jetting, then image quality improves through controlled solidification, but viscosity consistency becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a non-crystalline phase transition mechanism where the ink vehicle transitions from a low-viscosity liquid state during jetting to a high-viscosity gel state upon cooling. This phase transition provides controlled solidification for precise image formation while maintaining viscosity consistency through the specific polyol-carboxylic acid-metallic salt composition
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 enables improved image quality, reduced mechanical stress on the printhead, and enhanced printing efficiency by maintaining consistent jetting performance across a range of temperatures, while preventing image bleed and show-through on substrates.
Implementation Method 1
A radiation curable phase change ink with specific viscosity and rheological properties is developed, allowing for low-temperature jetting and rapid cooling, featuring a phase change agent that changes viscosity significantly over a narrow temperature range
Implementation Method 2
A radiation curable phase change ink with specific viscosity and rheological properties is developed
Data Source
AI summary
The phase change ink a viscosity of from about 4 mPa-s to about 50 mPa-s at a first temperature and has a viscosity of from 104 mPa-s to about 109 mPa-s at a second lower temperature. The second temperature may be below the first temperature by at least 10° C. but by no more than 50° C. The first temperature may be from about 60° C. to about 110° C. and the second temperature may be from about 20° C. to about 70° C. A curve of log10 viscosity of the phase change ink plotted against temperature in degrees Celsius may have a slope having an absolute value less than 0.02 at the first temperature and have a slope having an absolute value greater than 0.08 for at least a region second temperatures.