Reaction Liquid Surfactant Compatibility High Salt Inkjet Printing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reaction liquids for ink-jet printing exhibit inferior spreading behavior on common print substrates, particularly at high salt concentrations, leading to poor compatibility with surfactants and inadequate application of thin layers, which affects print quality.
Innovation Solution
A reaction liquid comprising 10-60 wt% polyvalent metal salt, an amphoteric surfactant, and a non-ionic surfactant, such as hydrophilic silicones or fluorosurfactants, improves compatibility and spreading behavior by acting as a compatibilizer, allowing for effective application of thin layers without surfactant degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high salt concentration (10-60 wt% polyvalent metal salt) is used in the reaction liquid to enable thin layer application and prevent substrate deformation, then the liquid loading is reduced and substrate deformation is prevented, but the spreading behavior deteriorates and surfactant compatibility is lost
Solution Approach 1:
A non-ionic surfactant is introduced as an intermediary substance that mediates between the high salt concentration environment and the print substrate. This surfactant remains compatible and effective even at high salt concentrations (10-60 wt%), enabling the reaction liquid to spread properly on the substrate without deformation while maintaining the necessary thin layer application. The surfactant acts as a bridge that reconciles the conflicting requirements of high salt content and good spreading behavior.
2Reliability
If high salt concentration is used to improve print quality and prevent substrate deformation, then thin layers can be applied effectively, but commonly used surfactants lose compatibility and spreading behavior worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the parameter of surfactant type from conventional ionic surfactants to non-ionic surfactants that are specifically selected to maintain compatibility at high salt concentrations. This parameter change allows the system to operate reliably at 10-60 wt% salt concentrations while maintaining good spreading behavior and print quality. The non-ionic surfactant's molecular structure remains stable and effective in high ionic strength environments where conventional surfactants fail.
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 enhances the spreading behavior of the reaction liquid on print substrates, enabling the application of thin layers and improving print quality by maintaining surfactant compatibility even at high salt concentrations.
Implementation Method 1
a first surfactant being an amphoteric surfactant and a second surfactant being a non-ionic surfactant... the compatibility of commonly used surfactants with the reaction liquid improves by adding an amphoteric surfactant
Implementation Method 2
the commonly used surfactant in combination with the amphoteric surfactant improves the spreading behavior with respect to reaction liquids comprising an amphoteric surfactant as a single surfactant
Implementation Method 3
the colloidal stability of dispersed pigment particles (present in the ink) is imparted by a metal salt (present in the reaction liquid). Therefore, upon contact between the ink composition and the reaction liquid, the dispersed pigment particles destabilize, agglomerate and are pinned to the print substrate
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an aqueous reaction liquid comprising a salt, a first surfactant being an amphoteric surfactant and a second surfactant being a non-ionic surfactant, preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic silicones (such as polyalkylene oxide modified silicones / polyether modified silicones), alkoxylated alcohols, fluorosurfactants, polyether modified silicone surfactants and polyethyleneoxides. Reaction liquids according to the present invention show improved spreading on print substrates when applied, which is beneficial when the reaction liquid is applied by an ink jet method. The present invention further pertains to an ink set comprising such a reaction liquid and a method of printing using such an ink set.