Porous Transparent Sheet for Inkjet Printed Material Water Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ink jet printed materials face issues with water resistance, as the color material receiving layer absorbs moisture, leading to fissuring of the transparent sheet when immersed in water, due to the concentration of stress during moisture vaporization and contraction.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of pores in the transparent sheet allows moisture to be discharged through the surface, dispersing the stress and preventing fissuring, while the color material receiving layer is designed with inorganic particulates and a water-soluble resin to maintain image quality and durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the color material receiving layer is designed to absorb a large amount of ink to achieve sufficient image density, then the image quality is improved, but the layer becomes thick and absorbs excessive moisture during immersion, leading to fissuring of the transparent sheet

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage densityVSAvoidwater resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The transparent sheet is designed with a porous structure containing numerous pores that allow moisture to escape from the color material receiving layer during immersion. This prevents excessive moisture accumulation that would cause fissuring, while allowing the color material receiving layer to maintain sufficient thickness for good image density

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful moisture that accumulates in the color material receiving layer during immersion is extracted through the pores in the transparent sheet. This removes the harmful factor (excessive moisture) that causes fissuring while preserving the necessary moisture absorption capacity for image formation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Strength

If the transparent sheet is made thicker and stronger to prevent fissuring, then the water resistance is improved, but the stress concentration during moisture vaporization still causes cracking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransparent sheet strengthVSAvoidwater resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The transparent sheet incorporates a porous structure that enables controlled moisture escape pathways. This allows the sheet to maintain adequate strength while preventing stress concentration that leads to cracking, as moisture can gradually escape through the numerous pores rather than building up pressure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

3Reliability

If the color material receiving layer is made thinner to improve water resistance, then the water absorption is reduced, but the image density becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater resistanceVSAvoidimage density
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The porous transparent sheet allows the color material receiving layer to maintain optimal thickness for image density while providing escape routes for excess moisture during immersion. The pores enable the system to achieve both sufficient layer thickness for good imaging and adequate water resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous 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 solution effectively prevents fissuring of the transparent sheet during immersion tests and maintains the water resistance and image quality of printed materials, such as credit cards, by allowing moisture to vaporize evenly and reducing stress concentration.

Implementation Method 1

moisture in the color material receiving layer can vaporize through the pores

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

pores are formed at least in the transparent sheet (52)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPorosity: Porosity

Data Source

PatentEP3398789B1Transfer material, printed material, and manufacturing method for printed material
Publication Date: 2020.02.26 CANON FINETECH NISCA INC
  • EP3398789B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3398789B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3398789B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A transfer material (1), a printed material (73), and a manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method for the printed material are provided in which water resistance of the printed material (73) can be enhanced. A protective sheet (52) contains polyvinyl alcohol with an average degree of polymerization of 1,500 to 5,000.