Printable Medium With Fabric Substrate and Polymer Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large format printing substrates face challenges in durability and environmental sustainability, particularly when used for wall coverings, as they often lack mechanical resistance and contain harmful materials like PVC, and existing solutions do not adequately address the need for high durability and eco-friendliness.
Innovation Solution
A composite printable medium with a laminated structure comprising a fabric layer, a fiber layer, an image receiving layer, and an external protective layer, which includes polymeric networks and particles, designed to meet or exceed Type-II wall covering standards for durability and be free of PVC, while also being flame-resistant and suitable for inkjet printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional substrates are used for large format printing, then printing application is enabled, but mechanical resistance and durability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a fabric layer (providing mechanical strength) with a coating layer containing polymeric networks and particles (providing durability and image protection). This composite structure resolves the contradiction by integrating the advantages of both materials: the fabric provides mechanical resistance while the coating ensures image durability and scrubbability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a coating layer as a thin film applied over the fabric substrate. This coating layer, containing polymeric networks and particles, acts as a protective shell that enhances the mechanical resistance of the fabric while providing the durability needed for long-lasting printed images, thus resolving the contradiction between strength and reliability.
2Strength
If PVC-containing substrates are used, then mechanical strength is improved, but environmental sustainability deteriorates due to harmful materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates harmful PVC materials from the substrate composition. Instead of using PVC, it employs a fabric layer combined with a coating containing alternative polymeric networks and particles that provide similar mechanical strength without the harmful environmental factors, thus resolving the contradiction between strength and environmental sustainability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material composition parameters by replacing PVC with alternative polymers in the coating layer. This parameter change maintains the mechanical strength requirement while eliminating harmful materials, achieving both mechanical performance and environmental sustainability.
3Reliability
If existing substrate solutions are used, then printing is enabled, but durability standards are not met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials consisting of a fabric layer and a coating layer with polymeric networks and particles. This composite structure achieves high image permanence and durability while maintaining ease of manufacture through a systematic lamination process, resolving the contradiction between reliability and manufacturing complexity.
4Strength
If a protective external layer is added, then scrubbability and abrasion resistance are improved, but layer complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a thin film coating layer containing polymeric networks and particles as a protective external layer. This thin film provides enhanced scrubbability and abrasion resistance while adding minimal complexity to the laminated structure, resolving the contradiction between durability improvement and structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A printable medium with a printable medium comprising a composite supporting substrate having a first fabric layer and a second layer containing fibers laminated to the first layer; an image receiving layer coated on the second layer; and an external layer, coated over the image receiving layer, comprising, at least, two polymeric networks and polymeric particles. Also disclosed are the method for making such printable medium and the method for producing printed images.