Pretreatment Liquid for Impermeable Media Printing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Inkjet printing on impermeable media faces issues with component transfer from the printed surface, leading to image quality degradation and curling of base materials, particularly when the printed surface comes into contact with the non-image area, and existing methods do not effectively address these issues during printing.

Innovation Solution

A pretreatment liquid for impermeable medium printing is developed, containing resin particles with a glass transition temperature of 30°C or higher and a water contact angle between 25° to 45°, along with an aggregating agent, which suppresses component transfer and enhances image quality by improving film hardness and adhesiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a pretreatment liquid containing an aggregating agent is applied to an impermeable medium, then image resolution is improved through component aggregation, but component transfer from non-image areas to the printed surface occurs, degrading image quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage resolutionVSAvoidcomponent transfer
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the glass transition temperature parameter of the resin from below 30°C to 30°C or higher, and adjusts the water contact angle to 25°-45°. These parameter changes modify the resin's physical properties to reduce component transfer while maintaining aggregation functionality for high-resolution imaging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite resin system combining multiple resin components with specific glass transition temperatures and water contact angles. This composite approach creates a pretreatment liquid that simultaneously achieves component aggregation for resolution and suppressed transfer to printed areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If the printed surface comes into contact with the non-image area, then component transfer occurs, but this contact is inevitable during handling and winding of the base material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling convenienceVSAvoidcomponent transfer
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-modifying the resin properties (glass transition temperature ≥30°C, water contact angle 25°-45°) before the harmful contact occurs. This preliminary modification creates resistance to component transfer, counteracting the inevitable contact that occurs during handling and winding operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Ease of manufacture

If existing pretreatment liquids are used, then printing can be performed on impermeable media, but image quality degrades due to component transfer and peeling issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinting capabilityVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies key parameters of existing pretreatment liquids by increasing the glass transition temperature to 30°C or higher and adjusting the water contact angle to 25°-45°. These parameter changes maintain the printing capability on impermeable media while eliminating image quality degradation caused by component transfer and peeling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 component transfer and improves image quality by enhancing the adhesiveness and hardness of the printed film, ensuring excellent image reproduction and reducing peeling issues during the printing process.

Implementation Method 1

resin particles which contain a resin having a glass transition temperature of 30°C or higher and a water contact angle of 20° or more

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGlass transition temperature:

Implementation Method 2

resin particles which contain a resin having a glass transition temperature of 30°C or higher and a water contact angle of 25° to 45°

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWater contact angle: Wetting

Implementation Method 3

a pretreatment liquid that contains an aggregating agent which allows components in the ink to aggregate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAggregation: Coagulation

Data Source

PatentEP3647065B1Pretreatment liquid for impermeable medium printing, substrate for printing, method for manufacturing substrate for printing, image recording method, and ink set
Publication Date: 2025.01.15 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP3647065B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3647065B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3647065B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided are a pretreatment liquid for impermeable medium printing which includes resin particles having a glass transition temperature of 30°C or higher and a water contact angle of 20° or greater, at least one aggregating agent selected from the group consisting of a polyvalent metal compound, an organic acid or a salt thereof, and a metal complex, and water; a base material for printing; a method of producing a base material for printing; an image recording method; and an ink set.