Polyurethane Nail Sticker Recording Medium for Sublimation Printing

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing recording media for sublimation printers, such as those made from void polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polypropylene (PP), lack elasticity and flexibility, making them unsuitable for nail stickers that need to be attached to curved surfaces like nails.

Innovation Solution

A recording medium for nail stickers is developed, featuring a base made of polyurethane material with an ink reception layer, an undercoating layer, and an adhesion layer, which allows for even transfer and adherence to nails without deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a base made from void PET or PP synthetic paper is used, then printing fitness is improved, but elasticity and flexibility are lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting fitnessVSAvoidelasticity and flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite structure consisting of a polyurethane base layer combined with a PET or PP film layer. The polyurethane base provides the necessary elasticity and flexibility for attaching to curved nail surfaces, while the PET or PP film layer provides the stiffness and printing fitness required for sublimation printing. This composite material approach resolves the contradiction by combining materials with complementary properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If a base with elasticity and flexibility is used, then adaptability to curved surfaces is improved, but printing fitness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelasticity and flexibilityVSAvoidprinting fitness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite structure consisting of a polyurethane base layer combined with a PET or PP film layer. The polyurethane base provides the necessary elasticity and flexibility for attaching to curved nail surfaces, while the PET or PP film layer provides the stiffness and printing fitness required for sublimation printing. This composite material approach resolves the contradiction by combining materials with complementary properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If a stiff recording medium is used, then feeding error is prevented, but adaptability to curved surfaces is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeeding errorVSAvoidadaptability to curved surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite structure consisting of a polyurethane base layer combined with a PET or PP film layer. The polyurethane base provides the necessary elasticity and flexibility for attaching to curved nail surfaces, while the PET or PP film layer provides the stiffness and printing fitness required for sublimation printing. This composite material approach resolves the contradiction by combining materials with complementary properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible recording medium is used, then adaptability to curved surfaces is improved, but feeding error occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidfeeding error

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite structure consisting of a polyurethane base layer combined with a PET or PP film layer. The polyurethane base provides the necessary elasticity and flexibility for attaching to curved nail surfaces, while the PET or PP film layer provides the stiffness and printing fitness required for sublimation printing. This composite material approach resolves the contradiction by combining materials with complementary properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 polyurethane-based recording medium provides the necessary elasticity and flexibility for nail stickers, ensuring even dye transfer and adherence during sublimation printing, while preventing deformation and improving print quality.

Implementation Method 1

there is a thermal transfer printer that is configured in such a manner that heat is applied to a thermal transfer ribbon coated with dyes so that the dyes of the thermal transfer ribbon are transferred to a recording medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSublimation: Sublimation

Data Source

PatentUS12296611B2Recording medium for nail sticker and method for manufacturing same

Publication Date: 2025.05.13 DS GLOBAL CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a recording medium for a nail sticker and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a recording medium and a method of manufacturing the same, which show that an ink reception layer is formed on a base of a polyurethane material so that a nail sticker can be printed using a sublimation printer. The recording medium for a nail sticker comprises: a release paper; an adhesion layer formed on the release paper; a base of a polyurethane material attached onto the adhesion layer; an undercoating layer formed on the base; and an ink reception layer formed on the undercoating layer.