Sublimatic Printing with Siliconized Sheet and Biodegradable Backing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sublimatic printing methods rely on non-recyclable and non-biodegradable polymeric materials for definitive media, leading to environmental concerns and disposal issues, especially for large-scale applications like promotional banners.
Innovation Solution
A sublimatic printing method using a siliconized sheet and a backing with a compostable or biodegradable polymer, such as polypropylene, Mater-Bi, or PLA, where the graphic subject is transferred in two stages with specific temperature and pressure conditions to ensure precise image reproduction on environmentally friendly media.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional sublimatic printing is used on synthetic polymeric materials, then high quality image reproduction is achieved, but environmental impact increases due to non-biodegradability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter of the definitive medium from traditional synthetic polymers to siliconized paper or biodegradable polymers. This parameter change allows the substrate to be environmentally friendly while still accepting sublimated inks effectively, thus resolving the contradiction between image quality and environmental impact
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite material structures including siliconized paper combined with biodegradable polymers, or multi-layer structures with specific surface treatments. These composite materials provide both the necessary surface properties for high-quality ink transfer and the environmental biodegradability, simultaneously addressing both requirements
2Object-affected harmful factors
If biodegradable polymers are used as definitive media, then environmental impact is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases due to additional process steps
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary action by pre-treating the biodegradable polymer surface with siliconization or other surface modifications before the sublimation process. This preliminary preparation ensures that the surface is ready to receive and hold sublimated inks effectively, simplifying the main sublimation step and making the overall process more manageable despite the additional initial step
3Adaptability or versatility
If siliconized sheet is introduced as intermediate medium, then compatibility with biodegradable materials is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The siliconized sheet acts as an intermediary medium between the transfer paper and the biodegradable polymer substrate. It facilitates the ink transfer process by providing a stable, non-stick surface that can withstand the sublimation temperatures while being compatible with environmentally friendly materials, thus enabling the process without requiring fundamental changes to the sublimation mechanism
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
This method allows for the use of recyclable and biodegradable materials, minimizing environmental impact while maintaining performance and cost-effectiveness, enabling the production of printed products with minimal environmental footprint.
Implementation Method 1
the applied temperature, which can vary from 180°C to 220°C, sublimates the inks that from the solid phase in which they are present on the transfer paper, pass to the gas phase
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention concerns a method for sublimatic printing comprising the steps of - providing a graphic subject 10, a sheet of transfer paper 12, a siliconized sheet 14 and a backing 16; - printing with sublimatic inks the graphic subject on the sheet of transfer paper; - coupling the sheet of transfer paper to the siliconized sheet; - applying a pressure and a first temperature for transferring the graphic subject from the sheet of transfer paper to the siliconized sheet; - coupling the siliconized sheet to the backing; and - applying pressure and a second temperature lower than the first for transferring the graphic subject from the siliconized sheet to the backing, so as to obtain the printed product 22. The invention further concerns a product printed with such method.