Polymeric Colorant Inks for Textile Inkjet Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current inkjet printing technologies for fibrous substrates face challenges with low yield of colorant fixation, inferior washfastness, and lower tinctorial strength due to the use of dyes and pigments, which result in significant ink discharge into wastewaters and environmental concerns.
Innovation Solution
Development of water-based ink compositions using polymeric colorants with free hydroxyl, thiol, or amino groups that covalently bind to substrates, enhancing fixation and washfastness, and combining with acid functional polymers for improved adhesion and sustainability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If dyes are used for inkjet printing on fibrous substrates, then tinctorial strength is improved, but fixation yield deteriorates (only about 70% fixation)
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses polymeric colorants that combine multiple functional groups within a single molecular structure. These polymers contain both chromophoric groups for coloration and reactive groups (carboxyl, sulfonic acid, or phosphonic acid) for covalent bonding to substrates, creating a composite functional material that achieves both high tinctorial strength and high fixation yield
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the colorant by using polymeric structures with specific reactive functional groups instead of traditional dye molecules. This parameter change enables covalent bonding to substrates while maintaining strong light absorption properties, resolving the contradiction between fixation yield and tinctorial strength
2Reliability
If pigments are used for inkjet printing on fibrous substrates, then washfastness is improved through physical trapping, but tinctorial strength deteriorates (much less vibrant than dyes)
Solution Approach 1:
The polymeric colorants function as composite materials that integrate the light-absorbing properties of dyes with the binding capabilities of pigments. The polymer structure allows individual colorant molecules to bind covalently to substrates while maintaining vibrant coloration, eliminating the need for physical trapping and achieving both high washfastness and high tinctorial strength
3Illumination intensity
If traditional dye-based inks are used, then tinctorial strength is achieved, but environmental harm deteriorates (significant discharge into wastewaters)
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical reactivity parameters by incorporating carboxyl, sulfonic acid, or phosphonic acid groups that enable covalent bonding to substrates. This parameter change increases fixation yield to 90% or greater, dramatically reducing the amount of colorant discharged into wastewaters while maintaining vibrant tinctorial strength
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 compositions achieve 70% or greater fixation of colorants to substrates, reducing environmental impact, and demonstrate superior washfastness and tinctorial strength, making them suitable for industrial textile applications.
Implementation Method 1
the colorant is required to bind to a substrate... a reaction occurs at the dye-textile interface to form a chemical covalent bond
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to water-based ink composition comprising one or more polymeric colorant(s) and one or more an acid functional polymer(s) that are suitable for inkjet printing, particularly suitable for inkjet printing of fibrous substrates such as textiles.