Reactive Monomer Ink Formulations for Printing Adhesion and Viscosity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current printing ink technologies face challenges in achieving optimal viscosity, adhesion, and color compatibility across various printing processes, which affects the performance and suitability of inks for different applications.
Innovation Solution
Development of reactive monomers containing a lactam moiety, urethane or urea functional group, and a polymerizable moiety, along with reactive co-solvents, to create compositions that can be used in coatings and inks, enabling improved solution viscosity, cure speed, adhesion, and color matching through polymerization processes initiated by energy sources like UV radiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional printing ink components are used, then basic printing functionality is achieved, but optimal viscosity, adhesion, and color compatibility across various printing processes cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops reactive monomer compositions that can be used across multiple printing processes (inkjet, flexography, gravure, screen, offset, lithography) rather than being process-specific. The compositions maintain adaptability to different substrates and printing conditions while providing consistent performance, eliminating the need for separate ink formulations for each printing method.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes reactive monomers with adjustable molecular weights, functional groups, and chemical structures to fine-tune ink properties. By changing parameters such as monomer composition ratios, molecular weight distributions, and functional group types, the ink formulations achieve optimal viscosity, adhesion, and color compatibility for different printing applications.
2Strength
If pre-treatment of substrates is applied to enable adhesion, then good ink performance on substrate is achieved, but added cost in materials and production time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reactive monomer compositions contain built-in adhesion promoters and functional groups that enable the ink to self-adhere to substrates without requiring external pre-treatment processes. The monomers chemically bond to substrate surfaces directly, eliminating the need for separate primer coatings or surface treatment steps, thereby reducing both material costs and production time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite ink formulations combining reactive monomers with specific functional groups (e.g., silanes, epoxies, carboxylic acids) that provide inherent adhesion capabilities. These composite compositions integrate multiple functions (adhesion, flexibility, durability) into a single ink formulation, replacing the need for separate adhesion promoter layers.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple colored inks are mixed to achieve color matching, then color spectrum is expanded, but physical and chemical compatibility of inks is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a homogeneous base composition of reactive monomers that serves as a universal vehicle for all colorants. This homogeneous matrix ensures consistent physical and chemical properties across different colored inks, maintaining compatibility when inks are mixed or overlaid. The uniform reactive monomer base prevents issues such as premature curing, phase separation, or chemical reactions between different ink components.
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 reactive monomer compositions enhance the physical and chemical properties of inks, such as adhesion, impact resistance, and color compatibility, making them suitable for diverse printing processes and applications by forming polymeric materials with controlled molecular weights and structures.
Implementation Method 1
enabling improved solution viscosity, cure speed, adhesion, and color matching through polymerization processes initiated by energy sources like UV radiation
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are compositions comprising a reactive monomer, and, in particular, coating and/or reactive coating compositions. More particularly, compositions containing monomers comprising a lactam moiety, a urethane or urea functional group, and a polymerizable moiety are disclosed.