Ink Jet Recording on Polyolefin Films via Hydrophilic Treatment and Wax Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ink jet recording methods face challenges in achieving excellent fixing properties and image quality on polyolefin-based plastic films, particularly due to poor wetting and adhesion of water-based inks, leading to uneven shading and image deterioration.
Innovation Solution
An ink jet recording method involving a hydrophilic treatment of the target recording surface, using an ink composition with glycol ethers of specific HLB values, and subsequent coating with a wax-based composition to enhance image fixing and quality on polyolefin surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If water-based inks are used for recording on polyolefin based plastic film, then environmental impact is reduced and ease of handling is improved, but wetting and spreading properties are insufficient leading to shading unevenness and poor image quality
Solution Approach 1:
A hydrophilic treatment is performed on the polyolefin based plastic film surface before ink jet recording to improve wetting and spreading properties. This preliminary surface modification enables water-based inks to distribute evenly without shading unevenness, achieving both environmental benefits and high image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The surface energy parameters of the polyolefin based plastic film are changed through hydrophilic treatment, transforming it from a hydrophobic surface to a hydrophilic one. This parameter change allows water-based inks to wet and spread properly on the surface, eliminating shading unevenness while maintaining environmental advantages.
2Reliability
If heating is applied to dry and bond ink on polyolefin based plastic film, then image fixing is improved, but the film's low deformation temperature prevents sufficient heating
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrophilic treatment is performed before ink jet recording to pre-modify the film surface, improving ink wetting and spreading. This preliminary action reduces the need for high-temperature heating to achieve proper image fixing, allowing effective bonding at lower temperatures that do not deform the polyolefin film.
3Reliability
If photocurable ink is used to record on polyolefin based plastic film, then image fixing property is improved, but apparatus size and electric power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The photocurable monomer and photopolymerization initiator components are extracted from the ink formulation, replacing them with water-based ink components. This extraction eliminates the need for photopolymerization equipment while maintaining image fixing properties through hydrophilic surface treatment and controlled drying, thereby reducing apparatus size and complexity.
4Reliability
If photocurable ink is used to record on polyolefin based plastic film, then image fixing property is improved, but electric power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The photopolymerization system is extracted from the ink formulation, eliminating the need for UV irradiation equipment and associated high electric power consumption. The image fixing is achieved instead through water-based ink evaporation and bonding facilitated by hydrophilic surface treatment, which consumes significantly less energy.
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 method significantly improves image fixing and quality on polyolefin surfaces by ensuring better wetting and spreading of the ink, reducing shading unevenness, and enhancing the adhesion of the image to the recording medium.
Implementation Method 1
since the wetting and spreading properties on the polyolefin based plastic film are not sufficient
Implementation Method 2
wetting and spreading properties
Implementation Method 3
Prior to the recording, there is included performing a hydrophilic treatment on the target recording face
Implementation Method 4
After the recording, there is included coating the image with a coating liquid composition containing wax
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet recording method includes recording an image on a target recording face including polyolefin by ejecting an ink composition containing water, a coloring material, and resin from nozzles of an ink jet recording head, in which two or more of the following are satisfied. Condition (A): Prior to the recording, there is included performing a hydrophilic treatment on the target recording face, Condition (B): The ink composition includes glycol ethers of which the HLB value calculated by the Davies method is 4.2 or more to 9.0 or less, and Condition (C): After the recording, there is included coating the image with a coating liquid composition containing wax.