Sublimating dye ink for ink jets and dyeing method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sublimating dye inks for inkjet recording face challenges in achieving high print density on recording surfaces while maintaining stable recording performance and ink storage stability, and they often result in environmental pollution during the dyeing process.
Innovation Solution
A sublimating dye ink composition that includes a styrene-(meth)acrylic acid-based anionic polymer dispersant with specific acid value and molecular weight, combined with an acetylene glycol-based penetrant, which prevents excessive ink penetration and maintains dispersion stability, reducing environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a high-boiling water-soluble organic solvent such as glycerin is used as a humectant to suppress moisture evaporation and prevent nozzle clogging, then ink ejection stability is improved, but smoky steam is generated during heating treatment which degrades appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing high-boiling organic solvents (glycerin) with alternative humectants such as polyethylene glycol or sugar alcohols that do not generate smoky steam during heating, while maintaining the necessary moisture retention properties for nozzle stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses water as the primary solvent instead of expensive high-boiling organic solvents, accepting that water will evaporate during heating but eliminating the harmful smoky steam issue, effectively replacing a long-lasting but harmful substance with a short-living but clean substance
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional dispersants are used in sublimating dye ink, then ink storage stability is improved, but excessive penetration occurs into the recording medium resulting in lower surface density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the dispersant molecular weight parameter to a specific range (5,000-20,000) and adjusts the surfactant concentration ratio relative to the dye, optimizing the balance between maintaining dispersion stability during storage and controlling penetration depth to achieve high surface print density
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 achieves high-quality, stable recording performance with increased print density on the recording medium surface and reduced environmental pollution, ensuring effective dyeing while maintaining ink storage stability.
Implementation Method 1
the ink including a sublimating dye is inkjet-printed on a sheet recording medium such as transfer paper, and then a printed surface of the recording medium is superposed on an object to be dyed such as a hydrophobic fiber product, and sublimate-transferred by heating
Implementation Method 2
the water-soluble organic solvent is evaporated with water during the heating treatment
Data Source
AI summary
A sublimating dye ink for ink jets of the present invention contains water, a sublimating dye, a humectant and an anionic polymer dispersant. The anionic polymer dispersant is a styrene-(meth)acrylic acid-based copolymer having an acid value of 160 to 250 mgKOH/g and a weight average molecular weight of 8,000 to 20,000. The ink contains further as a penetrant an acetylene glycol-based compound expressed by a chemical formula (I) below. A sublimation transfer dyeing method of the present invention includes: inkjet printing the ink on a sheet recording medium; and superposing a printed surface of the recording medium on an object to be dyed, then heating to sublimate-transfer the sublimating dye to the object to be dyed. Thereby, the present invention provides a sublimating dye ink for ink jets containing a sublimating dye, which has high-quality and stable recording performance, maintains the ink storage stability, and at the same time, the ink has a high print density on a surface of a recording medium, and reduces environmental pollution during a dyeing process.