Printing Ink Binder Curing via Chemical Reaction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current printing inks and varnishes face challenges in achieving rapid curing without relying on thermal or radiation-based methods, which can be energy-intensive or involve toxic chemicals, limiting their efficiency and applicability in offset printing.
Innovation Solution
A printing ink or varnish with a binder composition that includes liquid alcohols and amines with 12 or more carbon atoms, combined with solid carboxylic acids, which react to form esters or amides, facilitating quick curing without the need for thermal treatment or irradiation, thereby enhancing abrasion resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If heatset process is used to accelerate curing, then curing speed is improved, but energy consumption increases and thermal stress on printing material occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the binder by incorporating functional groups (isocyanate, carboxylic acid, hydroxyl, amine) that enable spontaneous chemical reaction curing. This eliminates the need for thermal energy input while achieving rapid curing through chemical transformation of the binder components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal curing system (heatset process) with a chemical curing system. Instead of using external heat energy to evaporate solvents and dry the ink, the binder components undergo spontaneous chemical reactions (polymerization, crosslinking) that release binding energy and achieve curing without thermal input.
2Speed
If UV radiation curing is used to achieve short curing times, then curing speed is improved, but toxic binder components and photoinitiators are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the curing mechanism from radiation-based (UV) to spontaneous chemical reaction-based. The binder contains functional groups that automatically react upon contact with the substrate, eliminating the need for UV photoinitiators and toxic monomers while achieving rapid curing through exothermic chemical reactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful exothermic heat released during polymerization into a beneficial effect by using it to drive the curing process without external heating. The chemical reaction energy that could cause thermal stress is instead used productively to complete curing at ambient temperature, avoiding the need for toxic UV components.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional binder composition is used, then formulation simplicity is maintained, but curing speed is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite binder system combining multiple functional components (resin, solvent, and at least one functional group from isocyanate, carboxylic acid, hydroxyl, or amine). This composite formulation maintains ease of manufacture through conventional mixing while achieving rapid curing through the synergistic chemical reactions between the functional groups.
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 enables rapid curing and improved abrasion resistance of the printing ink, allowing for increased efficiency and reduced energy consumption in the printing process, while avoiding the use of toxic chemicals.
Implementation Method 1
curing can be based to a certain extent on chemical processes, in particular on crosslinking and/or polymerization of binder components
Implementation Method 2
curing can be based to a certain extent on chemical processes, in particular on crosslinking and/or polymerization of binder components
Implementation Method 3
curing often results at least in part from the solvent components of the binder being broken down, i.e. the solvent diffusing into the absorbent printing material
Implementation Method 4
Another physical process is curing by evaporation of the solvent, i.e. drying of the printing ink in the true sense
Implementation Method 5
curing can be based to a certain extent on chemical processes, in particular on crosslinking and/or polymerization of binder components, as well as on oxidative processes
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
AI summary
The present invention relates to a printing ink or a printing lake, in particular for offset printing, comprising a binder and optionally one or more pigments, the binder comprising: one or more solvent components selected from liquid alcohols and/or amines which can be saturated or unsaturated and linear or branched, the content of alcohols and/or amines having 12 or more C atoms being at least 25 wt% in relation to the binder; and at least 15 wt%, in relation to the binder, of one or more resin components selected from solid carboxylic acids having 12 or more C atoms. The printing ink or printing lake has an OH number and an amine number the sum of which is above 100 mg(KOH)/g.