Reactive Dye Ink Composition for pH-Stable Textile Printing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current ink compositions for textile printing, such as those using C.I. Reactive Red 31, experience pH changes over time, leading to hue variations and inadequate compatibility with different fabric types, making it difficult to achieve stable and consistent color results across various fabrics.

Innovation Solution

An ink composition comprising specific dyes like C.I. Reactive Red 141, C.I. Reactive Violet 1, and C.I. Reactive Violet 33, along with a pH-adjusting agent, maintains pH stability between 6.0 and 8.5, ensuring compatibility with cellulose and polyamide fabrics and providing a wide color gamut.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If C.I. Reactive Red 31 is used in aqueous ink for textile printing, then the ink can color both cotton and silk fabrics, but the pH of the ink decreases over time causing hue variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with fabric typesVSAvoidpH stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the dye composition by selecting specific reactive red dyes (formula I) and reactive violet dyes (formula II) with particular molecular structures that resist pH degradation. This parameter change in dye chemistry resolves the contradiction by maintaining pH stability while preserving fabric compatibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite dye system by combining multiple dye components (reactive red dye of formula I and reactive violet dye of formula II) in specific proportions. This composite approach stabilizes the overall pH while maintaining the ability to color different fabric types, resolving the contradiction between versatility and stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If dyes are mixed to extend color gamut, then the color range is widened, but it becomes difficult to maintain stability in pH, hue, light fastness, and color gamut simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor gamutVSAvoidhue consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of each dye component within specific ranges (reactive red dye: 0.1-20% by mass, reactive violet dye: 0.1-10% by mass) to achieve a balance that maintains both wide color gamut and stable hue consistency across different storage conditions and fabric types

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent develops a composite ink formulation combining reactive red dye (formula I) and reactive violet dye (formula II) in controlled proportions, creating a stable multi-component system that achieves wide color gamut while maintaining consistency in pH, hue, and light fastness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Productivity

If different production lots of polyamide fabrics are dyed with the same ink, then productivity is maintained, but the fabric is dyed in different hues due to insufficient compatibility range

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedyeing efficiencyVSAvoidhue uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the dye molecules (formulas I and II) to enhance their affinity and reactivity characteristics, allowing consistent color fastness and hue uniformity across different polyamide fabric lots while maintaining efficient dyeing productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3409734B1Ink composition, ink set, and recording method
Publication Date: 2022.03.09 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP3409734B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3409734B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3409734B1 patent drawing

AI summary

An ink composition contains a first dye represented by formula (I) and a second dye represented by formula (II).