Phase Change Inks with Cashew Nutshell Liquid Additives
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for improved phase change inks that utilize ingredients from renewable sources, offer enhanced thermal stability, and reduce costs, while maintaining the benefits of existing phase change inks such as reduced nozzle clogging and improved dot quality in inkjet printing.
Innovation Solution
The development of phase change inks containing cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL)-derived additives, which serve as components of the ink carrier, providing enhanced thermal stability and renewable resource utilization, combined with traditional phase change ink carriers and colorants, and optionally including antioxidants for image protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional phase change ink carriers are used, then the ink provides stable phase change properties, but the thermal stability is insufficient and jetting temperatures are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the ink carrier by incorporating CNSL-derived additives with specific molecular structures (phenolic compounds with long alkyl chains). This changes the thermal properties of the ink, lowering the jetting temperature from typical high values to below 100°C while maintaining phase change functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite ink carrier system combining traditional phase change materials (waxes, fatty acids) with CNSL-derived phenolic compounds. This composite approach leverages the complementary properties of each component: the traditional materials provide phase change stability while the CNSL derivatives enhance thermal stability and reduce jetting temperature.
2Stability of the object's composition
If renewable resources are utilized in ink composition, then environmental sustainability is improved, but the thermal stability and performance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes cashew nutshell liquid, a readily available renewable resource that would otherwise be waste material. This approach replaces expensive or less sustainable traditional ink carriers with a cost-effective, environmentally friendly alternative that maintains or improves performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical structure parameters of the CNSL-derived additives through controlled processing to optimize thermal stability. By adjusting molecular weight distribution and functional group content, the ink achieves both renewable resource utilization and enhanced thermal stability.
3Reliability
If ink viscosity is reduced for easier jetting, then nozzle clogging is reduced, but image quality and dot precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent exploits the phase transition properties of the ink carrier, which remains solid at room temperature (preventing nozzle clogging) but melts into a low-viscosity liquid at jetting temperature (enabling smooth ejection and high dot quality). The CNSL-derived additives sharpens this phase transition, creating a clear solid-liquid transition at the desired jetting temperature.
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 CNSL-derived additives enhance the thermal stability and viscosity characteristics of the inks, allowing for lower jetting temperatures and energy savings, while maintaining image quality and reducing costs, thus addressing the need for improved phase change inks with renewable and cost-effective solutions.
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
melting the ink
Data Source
AI summary
Phase change ink comprising colorant and carrier comprising additive of formulawherein A, E, G, and J are —H, —Cl, —Br, —I, —OH, —COOH, amino, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkylaryl; Z is —H, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkylaryl, —(CH2CH2O)mH,Na, K, —P(X)(OR5)(OR6) wherein X is oxygen or sulfur, or —C(═O)R7, and n is 0, 1, 2, or 3. Also, a process which comprises (1) incorporating into an ink jet printing apparatus a phase change ink as disclosed herein; (2) melting the ink; and (3) causing droplets of the melted ink to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto a substrate.