Silicone Capsule Inkjet Inks for Textile Property Tuning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pigment-based aqueous inkjet inks for digital textile printing face challenges in achieving a broad range of physical properties such as soft touch, high crock fastness, flexibility, chemical resistance, and dry clean resistance, as existing reactive chemistry options like blocked isocyanates limit the scope of obtainable properties.
Innovation Solution
Development of a dispersion of capsules with a polymeric shell surrounding a core containing a silicone compound, where the silicone is incorporated either in the core or shell, and a thermal crosslinker like blocked isocyanate, allowing for controlled reaction upon heat application, enhancing the ink's properties through interfacial polymerization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If blocked isocyanates are used as reactive chemistry in pigment based inkjet inks, then crosslinking and fabric binding are achieved, but the scope of obtainable physical properties is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the reactive chemistry into separate functional components: silicone-containing capsules (providing soft touch and flexibility) and blocked isocyanates (providing crosslinking and binding). This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific properties, enabling a broader range of physical properties without increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The silicone-containing capsules serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide soft touch properties, maintain flexibility, and can be incorporated with blocked isocyanates for crosslinking. This multi-functionality expands the scope of obtainable physical properties while using a single versatile component rather than multiple specialized chemicals.
2Adaptability or versatility
If reactive binder technology is introduced to bind pigments to different fibres, then compatibility with various fibres is achieved, but the formulation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The silicone-containing capsules act as an intermediary between the pigment particles and the fabric fibres. The capsules provide a flexible, silicone-based matrix that can accommodate different pigment types while the blocked isocyanate crosslinks to the fabric, creating a versatile binding system that works with various fibre types without requiring multiple specialized binders.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple reactive chemistry components are combined to achieve broad physical properties, then property tuning is enabled, but the risk of unwanted reactions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the reactive components into spatially separated capsules, where the silicone-containing capsule and blocked isocyanate are delivered as separate entities that only react upon thermal fixation. This segmentation prevents unwanted reactions during storage and handling while enabling controlled property tuning after application.
Solution Approach 2:
The silicone-containing capsules are pre-formed with the silicone compound encapsulated, but the reactive crosslinking function is held in reserve until thermal fixation is applied. This preliminary preparation allows the system to be stable during storage while enabling controlled reactions only when needed, preventing unwanted side reactions.
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 use of silicone-containing capsules in inkjet inks enables tuning of printed image properties post-thermal fixation, improving soft touch and crock fastness while maintaining flexibility and chemical resistance, thus addressing the limitations of previous technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal crosslinker like blocked isocyanate, allowing for controlled reaction upon heat application
Implementation Method 2
post-thermal fixation
Data Source
AI summary
An aqueous dispersion of a capsule composed of a polymeric shell surrounding a core, wherein the core contains a silicone containing compound. The dispersion is suitable for pre-treatment liquids and inkjet inks in textile printing.