Plastic Material Coating for Printability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plastic-based materials are difficult to print due to ink non-adhesion and absorption issues, leading to messy and staining results, and often cause a waving effect on the material surface.
Innovation Solution
A method involving coating the plastic material with a mixture containing a pigment, binder, and alcohol to increase pore volume, allowing for electrical charging and improved ink adhesion, enabling printing using various techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional printing methods are used on plastic-based material, then the printing process can be performed, but the printing ink cannot be adhered and absorbed, resulting in messy and staining impressions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies porous treatment to the plastic material surface to create micro-pores that enable ink absorption. The coating mixture contains pore-forming agents that create a porous structure on the plastic surface, allowing printing ink to be absorbed into the pores rather than remaining on the surface, thereby preventing messy and staining impressions while enabling conventional printing methods to work effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface parameters of the plastic material by applying a coating mixture that modifies the surface energy and porosity. The coating contains binders and pore-forming agents that alter the physical and chemical properties of the plastic surface, making it suitable for ink adhesion and absorption without requiring special printing equipment or methods.
2Productivity
If printing ink is spread on the surface of plastic material, then the printing process can proceed, but it causes a waving effect and cockling in the material
Solution Approach 1:
The porous coating structure acts as a buffer layer that absorbs the printing ink quickly, preventing the ink from accumulating on the surface and causing waving effects. The micro-pores provide immediate absorption capacity, allowing the printing process to proceed smoothly without the ink spreading laterally and creating cockling in the plastic material.
Solution Approach 2:
The coating mixture is applied to the plastic surface before printing to pre-establish the porous structure. This preliminary action prepares the surface to immediately absorb the printing ink when applied, preventing the ink from interacting directly with the smooth plastic surface and causing surface deformation. The pre-formed porous layer ensures proper ink distribution and absorption during the printing process.
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 solution allows for effective ink absorption and adhesion, resulting in smooth, stain-free printing and a tack-free surface, making the plastic material suitable for various printing methods.
Implementation Method 1
coating at least one surface of the plastic material with at least one coating mixture that contains a pigment and a binder and an alcohol to provide a coating layer and to increase pore volume to the surface of the plastic material
Implementation Method 2
the plastic material is selected so as to be able to receive an electrical charge, and the plastic material is charged electrically before coating or after coating
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for processing plastic material in order to print the plastic material. According to the invention, at least one surface of the plastic material is coated with a coating mixture that contains a pigment and a binder to provide a coating layer, and the plastic material is charged electrically. In addition, the invention relates to the corresponding processed plastic material.