Printed Matter Surface Structures for Fluorine-Free Water Repellency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting devices for recording on media, such as fabrics, face environmental concerns due to the use of chemical materials like fluorine for imparting a liquid repellent function, necessitating an improvement in eco-friendly alternatives.
Innovation Solution
A method of manufacturing printed matter by forming uneven portions on a medium with a distance between protruding portions ranging from 10 μm to 100 μm and a height of 10 μm to 100 μm, using a printing apparatus with a discharging head to create protruding and recessed structures that form an air layer for water repellency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chemical materials such as fluorine are used for surface processing to impart liquid repellent function, then water repellency is achieved, but environmental load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical surface processing (fluorine treatment) with a physical structure-based approach. By forming micrometer-order protruding portions on the medium surface through inkjet printing and drying, the invention creates water repellency through geometric structure rather than chemical modification, thereby eliminating the need for environmentally harmful fluorine chemicals while maintaining effective water repellent functionality
2Reliability
If micrometer-order protruding portions are formed through inkjet printing, then water repellency with contact angle of approximately 100° is achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for the protruding portions to achieve optimal water repellency: distance between adjacent protruding portions of 10 μm to 100 μm, and height of 10 μm to 100 μm. By controlling these parameters within defined ranges rather than requiring exact values, the invention achieves high water repellency (contact angle of approximately 100°) while maintaining practical manufacturability through standard inkjet printing technology
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional inkjet printing is used without specific parameter control, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but water repellency effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains ease of manufacture by using conventional inkjet printing technology while achieving effective water repellency through controlled parameter ranges. By specifying that the distance between protruding portions be 10 μm to 100 μm and height be 10 μm to 100 μm, the invention enables water repellency with contact angle of approximately 100° using standard printing processes, avoiding the need for complex additional equipment or procedures
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 method achieves high water repellency with a contact angle of approximately 100°, reducing environmental impact while providing effective water-repellent properties to the printed matter.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of uneven portions for water repellent... in which a distance between protruding portions adjacent to each other of the plurality of uneven portions falls in a range of 10 μm to 100 μm, and a height of a protruding portion of the uneven portion falls in a range of 10 μm to 100 μm
Data Source
AI summary
A method of manufacturing a printed matter includes: providing, on a medium, a plurality of uneven portions for water repellent, or providing a plurality of the uneven portions for water repellent and provided at an image layer formed at the medium, in which a distance between protruding portions adjacent at the plurality of uneven portions falls in a range of not less than 10 μm and not more than 100 μm, and a height of a protruding portion at the uneven portion falls in a range of not less than 10 μm and not more than 100 μm.