Recording method and composition set

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pigment textile printing in ink jet methods lags behind dye textile printing in terms of wet rubbing fastness and texture, and maintains a simpler process to reduce environmental impact, necessitating improvements in these areas.

Innovation Solution

A recording method involving a softening liquid composition with a high content of softening agents like organopolysiloxane and anionic resin particles in the coating liquid composition, applied using ink jet or spray methods to enhance wet rubbing fastness and color developability on various recording media, including fabrics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If pigment textile printing is used in ink jet methods, then the process simplicity and environmental load are improved, but wet rubbing fastness and texture quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess simplicityVSAvoidwet rubbing fastness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by using a softening liquid composition containing organopolysiloxane before the pigment ink is applied. This softening treatment modifies the fabric surface in advance, improving its affinity for pigment particles and enabling better fastness properties without complicating the overall printing process. The softening agent prepares the substrate to receive and hold the pigment more effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite materials by combining organopolysiloxane softening agents with pigment particles in a coordinated manner. The organopolysiloxane forms a matrix or coating that binds pigment particles to the fabric, creating a composite structure that maintains both process simplicity and improved wet rubbing fastness. This composite approach allows the pigment to adhere more strongly while the overall process remains straightforward.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If pigment textile printing is used in ink jet methods, then the process simplicity and environmental load are improved, but texture quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess simplicityVSAvoidtexture quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The softening liquid composition is applied in advance to modify the fabric surface properties, creating optimal conditions for pigment deposition. This preliminary treatment enhances the fabric's ability to hold pigment particles, thereby improving texture quality without adding complex post-processing steps or complicating the overall manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the surface parameters of the fabric by introducing organopolysiloxane, which alters the surface energy, smoothness, and affinity characteristics. These parameter changes enable the fabric to better accommodate pigment particles, resulting in improved texture quality while maintaining the simplicity of the ink jet printing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If high content of softening agent is used, then wet rubbing fastness is improved, but composition complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewet rubbing fastnessVSAvoidcomposition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameter of the softening agent in the softening liquid composition, setting it to a specific range that achieves maximum wet rubbing fastness improvement. By carefully controlling this parameter, the patent achieves high fastness properties without unnecessarily complicating the composition or requiring multiple different chemical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies the softening agent locally to the fabric surface areas that will receive pigment deposition. This localized application ensures that the softening effect is concentrated where needed for fastness improvement, rather than uniformly treating the entire fabric, thereby reducing overall composition complexity while maintaining effective fastness properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Manufacturing precision

If high content of resin particles is used, then color developability is improved, but composition complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor developabilityVSAvoidcomposition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameter of resin particles in the coating liquid composition, establishing a specific content range that maximizes color developability. By controlling this single critical parameter, the patent achieves superior color properties without introducing multiple different resin types or complex compositional structures, thereby maintaining relative compositional simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 method significantly improves the wet rubbing fastness and color developability of printed images on fabrics while maintaining a simple process, reducing environmental impact and preventing yellowing, thereby enhancing the overall quality and durability of the printed textiles.

Implementation Method 1

a softening liquid composition containing a softening agent and water, in which a content of the softening agent is 60% by mass or more with respect to a total amount of non-volatile components in the softening liquid composition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSoftening agent action:

Implementation Method 2

a coating liquid composition containing anionic resin particles and water, in which a content of the resin particles is 80% by mass or more with respect to a total amount of non-volatile components in the coating liquid composition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP4474568A1Recording method and composition set
Publication Date: 2024.12.11 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP4474568A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4474568A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4474568A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A recording method including a softening liquid attachment step of attaching a softening liquid composition containing a softening agent and water to a recording medium, and a coating liquid attachment step of attaching a coating liquid composition containing anionic resin particles and water to the recording medium, in which a content of the softening agent is 60% by mass or more with respect to a total amount of non-volatile components in the softening liquid composition, a content of the resin particles is 80% by mass or more with respect to a total amount of non-volatile components in the coating liquid composition, the coating liquid attachment step is performed by an ink jet method, and the softening liquid attachment step is performed by an inkjet method or a spray method.