Radiation Curable Inkjet Ink for Etching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiation curable inkjet inks for etching processes face issues with high viscosity and decreased stability due to the inclusion of acidic polymerizable compounds, which affect adhesion and curing speed, making them unsuitable for reliable inkjet printing in industrial etching processes.
Innovation Solution
Developing radiation curable inkjet inks with at least 70% polymerizable composition by weight, optimized for low viscosity and improved adhesion without acidic monomers, using specific polymerizable compounds with controlled oxygen content and cross-linking capability, and employing a method that includes UV radiation or e-beam curing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If acidic polymerizable compounds are included in radiation curable inkjet ink to improve adhesion to metal surface, then adhesion is improved, but viscosity increases and ink stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the polymerizable compounds by excluding acidic functional groups (carboxylic acid, phosphoric ester) and controlling oxygen content (OFR > 0.250) and weighted polymerizable functionality (WPF ≥ 0.0050). This parameter optimization maintains adhesion through cross-linking density while reducing viscosity and improving ink stability for reliable inkjet printing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite polymerizable compositions combining multiple non-acidic monomers and oligomers with different functionalities. This composite approach achieves synergistic effects where the combination of compounds provides both adhesion and etch resistance without the harmful side effects of acidic compounds, resolving the contradiction between adhesion strength and ink stability
2Strength
If aromatic acrylate compounds with high viscosity are used to ensure etch resistance and adhesion, then etch resistance is improved, but inkjet printing reliability decreases due to high viscosity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes viscosity parameters by selecting polymerizable compounds with lower inherent viscosity and controlling the overall ink formulation viscosity to be suitable for inkjet printing. The key is maintaining OFR > 0.250 and WPF ≥ 0.0050 while avoiding high-viscosity aromatic acrylates, thus achieving etch resistance through cross-linking density rather than viscosity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a cross-linked polymer network structure that provides etch resistance specifically where needed (in the cured ink layer) without requiring high bulk viscosity. The cross-linking occurs locally upon UV/e-beam irradiation, providing etch resistance only in the protected areas while maintaining low viscosity for inkjet flow
3Strength
If polymerizable compounds with high cross-linking capability are used to improve etch resistance, then etch resistance is improved, but curing speed may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the weighted polymerizable functionality (WPF) parameter to be ≥ 0.0050, which balances cross-linking capability with curing speed. This parameter control ensures sufficient cross-linking density for etch resistance while maintaining reasonable curing speeds under UV or e-beam irradiation, resolving the contradiction between these two parameters
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 results in inkjet inks with excellent etch resistance and strippability, suitable for a wide range of etching conditions, reducing viscosity and maintaining stability, enabling high-speed, high-resolution printing on various metal surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
exposing the etch-resistant ink to actinic radiation and/or particle beam radiation to effect polymerisation
Implementation Method 2
exposing the etch-resistant ink to actinic radiation and/or particle beam radiation to effect polymerisation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is drawn towards methods of inkjet printing radiation curable inkjet inks forming a protective layer during an etching process, wherein the radiation curable inkjet ink includes at least 70 percent by weight of a polymerizable composition based on the total weight of radiation curable inkjet ink, wherein the polymerizable composition has an oxygen fraction OFR > 0.250 and a weighted polymerizable functionality WPF ≥ 0.0050, and wherein the polymerizable composition contains no polymerizable compound with an ethylenic double bond and including a phosphoester group or a carboxylic acid group in the molecule thereof.