Pseudoplastic Pattern-Containing Liquid for Stable In-Liquid Drawing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 3D printing techniques for in-liquid drawing face challenges in maintaining pattern stability due to fluid viscosity and pseudoplasticity, particularly when discharging ink into highly viscous liquids, leading to pattern distortions and failures.

Innovation Solution

A pattern-containing liquid is developed using a pseudoplastic fluid as the liquid matrix, which exhibits viscosity changes with shear rate, ensuring stable pattern formation by incorporating microparticulates or colorants within a predetermined shear-rate range, and utilizing water-soluble thickening agents like xanthan gum, gellan gum, locust bean gum, and carrageenan to achieve pseudoplasticity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If ink is discharged through a nozzle into a highly viscous liquid for in-liquid drawing, then pattern formation is attempted, but the flow generated by nozzle movement distorts the pattern causing drawing failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepattern formation accuracyVSAvoidflow-induced pattern distortion
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the rheological parameters of the liquid matrix by selecting materials with specific pseudoplastic characteristics. The liquid exhibits high viscosity at low shear rates (when stationary) to maintain pattern stability, and low viscosity at high shear rates (when ink is discharged) to minimize flow distortion. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between pattern stability and flow-induced distortion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite liquid matrices formed by combining multiple materials that exhibit pseudoplastic behavior. Examples include combinations of xanthan gum and gellan gum, or locust bean gum with carrageenan. These composite materials provide enhanced pseudoplasticity, allowing the liquid to resist pattern distortion while remaining workable during the drawing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If a gel with high viscosity (20000-50000 mPa·s) is used as the liquid matrix, then pattern stability is improved, but the application range is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepattern stabilityVSAvoidapplication range
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic viscosity adjustment through pseudoplastic materials. The liquid matrix viscosity changes dynamically based on shear rate: maintaining high viscosity at rest for pattern stability, and reducing viscosity during nozzle movement for ease of operation. This dynamic behavior allows application across a broader range of viscosities (100-10000 mPa·s) compared to static high-viscosity gels, expanding adaptability while preserving stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the viscosity parameter to a specific range (100-10000 mPa·s) that balances pattern stability with operational versatility. By selecting pseudoplastic materials and controlling their concentration, the liquid matrix achieves sufficient viscosity for stability while remaining workable for various drawing applications, thus expanding the application range beyond limited high-viscosity gels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If viscosity is increased to stabilize patterns in liquid phase 3D printing, then pattern stability is improved, but pseudoplasticity properties are not considered leading to suboptimal results

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepattern stabilityVSAvoiddrawing success rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes from considering only viscosity magnitude to considering the full rheological profile, specifically pseudoplasticity. By selecting materials that exhibit pseudoplastic behavior and optimizing their concentration, the liquid matrix achieves the viscosity needed for pattern stability while maintaining the pseudoplastic characteristics necessary for successful drawing operations, thereby improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Stability of the object's composition

If a thickening agent is added to increase liquid viscosity for pattern stabilization, then pattern stability is improved, but the specific pseudoplasticity properties of the liquid phase are not controlled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepattern stabilityVSAvoidpattern formation precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of pseudoplastic materials to achieve a specific viscosity range (100-10000 mPa·s) with controlled pseudoplasticity. By carefully adjusting thickening agent concentrations and selecting materials with appropriate pseudoplastic characteristics, the liquid matrix achieves both pattern stability and formation precision, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.

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 provides a pattern-containing liquid with stable patterns that can provide color, taste, or tactile sensations, maintaining pattern integrity and stability even in dynamic fluid environments.

Implementation Method 1

the liquid matrix being a pseudoplastic fluid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPseudoplasticity: Non-Newtonian Fluids

Implementation Method 2

a fluid that exhibits pseudoplasticity at least within a predetermined subrange of a shear-rate range from 0.3 to 130 s-1

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectShear rate-dependent viscosity: Shear Thinning

Implementation Method 3

utilizing water-soluble thickening agents like xanthan gum, gellan gum, locust bean gum, and carrageenan to achieve pseudoplasticity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThickening:

Data Source

PatentEP4643651A1Liquid with pattern and production method for same
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 SUNTORY HLDG LTD
  • EP4643651A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4643651A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4643651A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention aims to provide a pattern-containing liquid that contains, in a liquid matrix, a pattern that can provide color, taste, or tactile sensations such as mouthfeel and texture, and that has good stability, as well as a method for producing a pattern-containing liquid capable of stably forming the above pattern in a liquid matrix. The present invention relates to, for example, a pattern-containing liquid containing a pattern formed from at least one of a microparticulate or a colorant in a liquid matrix, the liquid matrix being a pseudoplastic fluid and contained in a container.