Siloxane Polymer Ink for Print Defect Resolution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional aqueous thermal ink jet or piezo aqueous inks cause issues like cockle, curl, and showthrough when printing on plain paper, and require specialized formulations for non-porous substrates, leading to increased costs and complexity, while existing inks for digital offset lithography are costly and have limited design space.

Innovation Solution

Development of high solids content (greater than 25%) aqueous ink compositions with dispersible polymers or blends of polymers as nano-sized particles, which are water-based, non-soluble in dampening fluids, and include siloxane-containing polymers to enhance print quality and transferability on various substrates with minimal heating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional aqueous thermal ink jet or piezo aqueous inks are used with high water content (>50% by weight), then printing cost is reduced and market applications are expanded, but cockle, curl, and showthrough occur on plain paper

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting costVSAvoidprint quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the ink formulation by incorporating siloxane-containing polymers and controlling water content between 40-70% by weight. This modifies the ink's interaction with paper substrates, preventing cockle and curl while maintaining cost-effectiveness of aqueous-based formulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite material formulation combining aqueous base with siloxane-containing polymers and optional co-solvents. This composite approach provides both the cost advantage of water-based inks and the performance characteristics needed to prevent print defects on plain paper

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional aqueous inks are used for non-porous substrates, then printing capability is achieved, but specialized ink formulations with binders and drying systems are required, increasing cost and complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubstrate compatibilityVSAvoidink formulation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The siloxane-containing polymer formulation provides universal printing capability across both porous and non-porous substrates. The ink achieves adequate drying and adhesion on diverse substrates through its inherent composition, eliminating the need for specialized formulations or additional drying system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If digital offset lithography printing systems use related art inks soluble in dampening fluid, then high speed printing is achieved, but image background occurs and manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprint speedVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potential harm of water-based ink solubility into a benefit by carefully controlling water content and using siloxane-containing polymers that provide adequate drying and adhesion. This eliminates image background while maintaining the cost advantage of aqueous formulation, achieving both quality and productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Reliability

If ink additives are incorporated to improve wetting ability, then wetting performance is enhanced, but surface material swelling occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewetting abilityVSAvoidsubstrate integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts or removes the need for traditional ink additives by incorporating siloxane-containing polymers directly into the base formulation. This provides inherent wetting ability through the polymer's chemical structure without introducing separate additives that could cause substrate swelling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 ink compositions provide improved print quality, reduced manufacturing costs, and enhanced transferability on diverse substrates with low water content, forming robust films and minimizing the need for ink additives, thus addressing the limitations of existing inks.

Implementation Method 1

Dispersible polymers of inks in accordance with embodiments self-coalesce to form a robust film upon drying

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSelf-coalescence:

Implementation Method 2

The incorporation of siloxane components into the dispersible polymers has been found to improve transfer and wetting ability of hydrophobic surfaces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWetting: Wetting

Data Source

PatentEP2886618B1Aqueous dispersible siloxane-containing polymer inks useful for printing

Publication Date: 2020.05.20 XEROX CORP

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AI summary

A siloxane-containing ink composition for variable data lithographic printing includes a nano-particle polymer or blend of nano-particle polymers, wherein the polymer or polymers of the blend are water dispersible at temperatures below 100 degrees Celsius; and solids content is in an amount of greater than 25 percent by total weight.