Printed Polymer Floor and Wall Coverings With Sharp Aqueous Prints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital printing technologies face challenges in achieving high-quality prints on thermoplastic surfaces, particularly with aqueous inks, which tend to bleed and result in low-quality prints due to environmental concerns with solvent-based inks.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a blend of specific polymers, including polyvinyl chloride and copolymers, with reduced plasticizer content, combined with aqueous ink compositions, and a cross-linked topcoat, to enhance print quality on thermoplastic surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If aqueous ink is used for digital printing on thermoplastic substrate, then environmental compliance is improved, but print quality deteriorates due to ink bleeding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the thermoplastic substrate by incorporating specific polar groups (carboxyl, hydroxyl, carbonyl) and adjusting the polymer blend ratio (PVC with vinyl alkanoate copolymer in 95:5 to 50:50 range). These parameter changes increase the surface polarity and ink receptivity, allowing aqueous ink to adhere properly without bleeding while maintaining environmental compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system by blending PVC with vinyl alkanoate copolymer (containing 50-80% vinyl acetate) in specific proportions. This composite structure combines the structural integrity of PVC with the polar surface characteristics of vinyl alkanoate, enabling both environmental compliance through aqueous ink usage and high print quality through improved ink adhesion and reduced bleeding.
2Manufacturing precision
If solvent based ink is used for printing on thermoplastic substrate, then print quality is improved, but environmental compliance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the surface energy and chemical composition parameters of the thermoplastic substrate by incorporating polar groups and optimizing polymer blend ratios. These modifications enable the substrate to accept aqueous ink (environmentally compliant) with print quality comparable to or exceeding traditional solvent-based printing, thereby eliminating the need for harmful solvents while maintaining or improving print quality.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If aqueous ink is used on conventional PVC substrate, then environmental compliance is improved, but ink adherence deteriorates resulting in low quality print
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the PVC substrate by copolymerizing vinyl chloride with vinyl alkanoate monomers (acrylic, methacrylic, or their esters) in 95:5 to 50:50 ratios. This introduces polar functional groups (carboxyl, hydroxyl, carbonyl) that enhance chemical affinity for aqueous ink, dramatically improving ink adherence while maintaining environmental compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent develops a composite polymer material combining PVC with vinyl alkanoate copolymer in specific proportions. This composite structure provides both the mechanical properties of PVC and the enhanced surface polarity needed for aqueous ink adhesion, resolving the contradiction between environmental compliance and ink adherence strength.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is related to printed floor or wall coverings comprising one or more polymer layer(s) and a print obtained by ink composition printing directly on at least one surface of said one or more polymer layer(s), said polymer layer(s) comprising a polyvinyl chloride homo- and/or copolymer in a blend with one or more polymer(s) selected from the group consisting of the homo- or copolymers of one or more vinyl alkanoate(s), the copolymers comprising one or more alkenes and one or more vinyl alkanoate(s), the copolymers comprising one or more alkyl (meth)acrylates, and mixtures of said homo- and/or copolymers.