Stable Liquid Crosslinker for Heat-Curable Inks
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Solution Overview
Problem
TACT crosslinkers are not soluble in typical ink diluents and their commercial solutions in n-butanol are unsuitable for high-speed offset printing due to boiling point issues and precipitation during storage, affecting printing performance in heat-curable ink formulations.
Innovation Solution
Development of a liquid crosslinker composition using a TACT crosslinker compound mixed with a hydroxy functional polymer and a nonvolatile diluent, with butanol evaporation to create a stable, formaldehyde-free ink vehicle composition suitable for high-speed offset printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If TACT crosslinker is dissolved in n-butanol to achieve solubility, then the crosslinker becomes soluble and usable, but the solution is unsuitable for high-speed offset printing due to butanol's boiling point and causes precipitation during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solvent parameters by replacing n-butanol with a mixed solvent system consisting of polyether glycol and a co-solvent. This parameter change in solvent composition enables the TACT crosslinker to remain soluble while achieving suitability for high-speed offset printing, as the new solvent system has appropriate boiling point and evaporation characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite solvent system combining polyether glycol and a co-solvent (such as alcohol, ketone, or ester) to dissolve TACT crosslinker. This composite approach leverages the solubility-enhancing properties of polyether glycol while the co-solvent provides appropriate volatility and printing performance, resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of operation.
2Reliability
If TACT crosslinker is used in heat-curable ink formulations, then crosslinking functionality is achieved, but solubility issues prevent proper use in typical ink diluents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the solvent parameters by introducing polyether glycol as the primary solvent component. This parameter change in solvent chemistry enables the TACT crosslinker to dissolve properly in the ink vehicle while maintaining its crosslinking functionality, as polyether glycol provides both solubility and compatibility with heat-curable systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses polyether glycol as an intermediary substance that mediates between the TACT crosslinker and the ink diluent system. This intermediary solvent bridge enables solubility of the crosslinker while maintaining compatibility with the overall ink formulation, allowing both crosslinking functionality and solubility to coexist.
3Stability of the object's composition
If butanol is used as solvent for TACT crosslinker, then solubility is achieved, but butanol evaporation during storage causes crosslinker precipitation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solvent parameters by replacing butanol with polyether glycol as the primary solvent. This parameter change addresses the evaporation issue because polyether glycol has lower volatility than butanol, preventing solvent loss during storage and thereby preventing crosslinker precipitation while maintaining solubility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of butanol's high volatility (which causes evaporation and precipitation) into a benefit by using polyether glycol's low volatility. The low volatility, which might be seen as a disadvantage for drying, actually becomes beneficial for storage stability by preventing evaporation-induced precipitation, while the co-solvent system maintains appropriate drying characteristics for printing.
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 solution provides stable, formaldehyde-free, heat-curable inks that maintain printing performance over extended periods without precipitation or stratification, enabling effective printing on hard surfaces like metal.
Implementation Method 1
TACT crosslinkers are solid materials that require dissolution in a solvent
Implementation Method 2
heating the applied thermoset heat-curable ink thereby curing the applied thermoset heat-curable ink
Implementation Method 3
TACT compounds are trifunctional melamine based crosslinkers containing a reactive carbamate functionality
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an ink vehicle composition comprising a crosslinker compound of formula (I); a hydroxy functional polymer; and a nonvolatile diluent, wherein the composition is essentially free of butanol. Also provided are thermoset heat-curable inks including the ink vehicle composition and a method of printing onto a surface of a substrate by applying the thermoset heat-curable ink. The ink vehicle composition and the thermoset heat-curable ink herein may be stable for about 6 to about 24 months at room temperature.