Recording Medium Ink Receiving Layer Fold Crack Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional recording media with ink receiving layers lack sufficient fold crack resistance and ease of page turning, especially when subjected to folding and binding processes, leading to potential cracking and peeling of the ink receiving layer, which degrades the appearance and usability of photo books and albums.
Innovation Solution
A recording medium with a substrate and multiple ink receiving layers, where the polyvinyl alcohol in each layer is crosslinked to a specific extent, and particles with a specific particle size are added to the outermost layer to enhance fold crack resistance, ink absorbency, and page turning ease without compromising glossiness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the ink receiving layer is made with high binder content to improve adhesion and prevent cracking, then the adhesion between substrate and ink receiving layers is increased, but the ink absorbency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the ink receiving layer by introducing specific inorganic pigments (alumina, alumina hydrate, fumed silica) and controlling the binder-to-pigment ratio. This allows the layer to maintain structural integrity for adhesion while creating sufficient porosity and surface area for ink absorption, resolving the contradiction between strength and absorbency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials combining organic binders (polyvinyl alcohol, gelatin, casein) with inorganic pigments (alumina, alumina hydrate, fumed silica) in specific ratios. This composite structure provides both the mechanical strength needed for adhesion and the porous network required for ink absorption, simultaneously achieving both adhesion and ink absorbency.
2Reliability
If the ink receiving layer is made thick to improve ink absorbency, then the ink absorbency is increased, but the ease of page turning is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a layered structure where the ink receiving layer has non-uniform composition - with higher inorganic pigment content and controlled binder distribution. This local optimization allows sufficient ink absorption capacity while maintaining overall layer flexibility and thinness for easy page turning, avoiding the need for uniformly thick layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the ink receiving layer by controlling particle size distribution of inorganic pigments and binder content ratios. This creates a layered structure with optimized porosity and mechanical properties that provides high ink absorbency without excessive thickness, maintaining flexibility for easy page turning.
3Strength
If the crosslinking degree of polyvinyl alcohol is increased to improve fold crack resistance, then the fold crack resistance is increased, but the ease of page turning is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent precisely controls the crosslinking degree parameter of polyvinyl alcohol by adjusting boric acid content and crosslinking conditions. This optimization achieves sufficient fold crack resistance to prevent layer separation while maintaining the flexibility needed for easy page turning, resolving the contradiction between strength and operability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by varying the crosslinking degree across different regions or layers of the ink receiving layer. The inner portions near the substrate have higher crosslinking for fold crack resistance, while outer portions maintain lower crosslinking for flexibility and ease of page turning, simultaneously achieving both fold crack resistance and ease of operation.
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 proposed structure significantly reduces cracking, enhances ink absorbency, and improves the ease of page turning while maintaining high fold crack resistance and color developability, resulting in a more durable and user-friendly recording medium for photo books and albums.
Implementation Method 1
the polyvinyl alcohol in each layer is crosslinked to a specific extent
Implementation Method 2
the polyvinyl alcohol in each layer is crosslinked to a specific extent
Implementation Method 3
the first ink receiving layer contains at least one inorganic pigment selected from the group consisting of an alumina, an alumina hydrate, and a fumed silica
Implementation Method 4
particles with a specific particle size are added to the outermost layer to enhance fold crack resistance, ink absorbency, and page turning ease
Data Source
AI summary
A recording medium includes a substrate, a first ink receiving layer and a second ink receiving layer in that order. The first ink receiving layer contains at least one inorganic pigment selected from the group consisting of alumina, hydrated alumina and fumed silica, polyvinyl alcohol, and a boric acid compound. The second ink receiving layer contains fumed silica, particles having an average particle size in a specific range, polyvinyl alcohol, and a boric acid compound. The boric acid compound content in the first ink receiving layer is in a predetermined range, and the boric acid compound content in the second ink receiving layer is in a predetermined range. The particle content in the second ink receiving layer is in a predetermined range.