Potato Starch Ink Extender for Sustainable Flexographic Printing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The use of petroleum-based acrylic polymers in flexographic inks is unsustainable due to volatile supply and pricing, environmental concerns, and competition with biofuel and food uses, necessitating a renewable and environmentally friendly alternative.
Innovation Solution
The development of a flexographic ink composition using potato starch as an extender, which is a by-product of food processing, providing a sustainable and non-competitive source for industrial use, with a formulation that includes potato starch, mono-ethanol amine, antifoam, and solution resin to create a pH-adjusted, water-soluble ink extender.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If petroleum-based acrylic polymers are used in flexographic inks, then good transfer and stability are achieved, but supply volatility and environmental harm occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing petroleum-based acrylic polymers with potato starch-based polymers. This substitution maintains the functional properties of ink transfer and stability while eliminating the environmental harm associated with fossil fuel consumption and supply volatility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes potato starch, a renewable and readily available biopolymer, as a cost-effective alternative to petroleum-based polymers. This approach provides a sustainable, environmentally friendly solution that is not subject to the same supply disruptions and environmental concerns as fossil fuel-based materials
2Stability of the object's composition
If soy protein is used as an alternative polymer, then renewable resource use is achieved, but competition with food and fuel uses increases pricing volatility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes potato starch, a byproduct of the food processing industry, for ink polymer applications. This approach diverts a waste or underutilized material into a valuable industrial application, eliminating competition with food and fuel sectors while ensuring stable, renewable supply
Solution Approach 2:
The patent leverages the existing potato processing infrastructure and byproduct streams to supply starch for ink manufacturing. This creates a self-sustaining system where food processing waste becomes the raw material for industrial applications, reducing dependency on dedicated agricultural production for ink polymers
Data Source
AI summary
An extender for flexographic and other ink compositions and inks using such extender where potato starch serves as the ink carrier and an emulsion resin. The use of potato starch provides for a readily available, cost effective, substantial and environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum and soy based resins.