Sublimation Ink Composition Stabilizing Surface Tension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sublimation transfer ink jet inks face issues with odor generation, storage stability, and image quality due to the interaction between naphthalene-based dispersants and silicone-based surfactants, leading to increased surface tension and decreased filling properties over time.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a solubilizer such as alkyldiphenyl ether disulfonic acid or polyoxyethylene styrenated phenyl ether to suppress the interaction between the dispersing resin and silicone-based surfactant, maintaining surface tension and filling properties, while using a dispersing resin like acrylic, styrene, or urethane-based resins to improve dye dispersibility and odor suppression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a naphthalene-based dispersant is used to disperse disperse dye, then the dye dispersibility is improved, but odor is generated during heating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the naphthalene-based dispersant from the ink composition entirely, replacing it with a dispersing resin. This extraction of the harmful component eliminates the odor generation issue while maintaining the necessary dye dispersibility function through the alternative resin-based dispersing mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dispersing resin that can be easily removed or degraded during the heating process, allowing the dye to be released without leaving harmful residues or odors. The resin serves its temporary dispersing function and then decomposes harmlessly, unlike the persistent naphthalene-based dispersant.
2Ease of operation
If a silicone-based surfactant is added to decrease surface tension, then the filling property into head is improved, but surface tension increases during long-term storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a solubilizer as an intermediary substance that prevents the silicone-based surfactant from interacting with the dispersing resin. This solubilizer acts as a protective mediator, allowing the surfactant to maintain its surface tension-lowering function without undergoing detrimental interactions that would cause surface tension increase over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the surfactant function from the dispersing resin function by using a solubilizer to prevent their interaction. This extraction of the surfactant from the resin matrix allows the surfactant to operate independently and maintain stable surface tension properties throughout storage and usage.
3Ease of operation
If a silicone-based surfactant and dispersing resin are combined, then the initial surface tension is decreased, but the interaction between them causes degraded filling property and ejection stability
Solution Approach 1:
The solubilizer serves as a protective intermediary that prevents direct interaction between the silicone-based surfactant and dispersing resin. This mediator allows both components to coexist in the ink formulation without undergoing harmful interactions, thereby maintaining ejection stability and filling properties over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the functional roles of the surfactant and dispersing resin by introducing a solubilizer that prevents their interaction. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently - the surfactant for surface tension reduction and the resin for dye dispersion - without compromising the other's performance.
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 minimizes odor, maintains excellent storage stability, and ensures consistent image quality by stabilizing the surface tension and filling properties of the ink, even after long-term storage.
Implementation Method 1
a disperse dye, a dispersing resin dispersing the disperse dye
Implementation Method 2
a solubilizer which sets the cloud point of a mixture which includes all the components other than the disperse dye and the dispersing resin
Implementation Method 3
a silicone-based surfactant... although the surface tension is initially decreased
Implementation Method 4
a sublimation transfer type printing method using a sublimation type dye... the dye is transferred from the transfer medium to the medium to be printed
Data Source
AI summary
A sublimation transfer ink jet ink composition includes: a disperse dye; a dispersing resin; a silicone-based surfactant; and a solubilizer. The ink composition has a surface tension of 30 mN/m or less, and a cloud point of a mixture which includes all the components other than the disperse dye and the dispersing resin is 40°C or more.