Textile printing ink
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Solution Overview
Problem
Textile printing inks using inkjet methods face issues with stickiness, poor fastness to rubbing, and color reproducibility due to the use of un-crosslinked latex and high molecular weight urethane polymers, which lead to color loss over time and poor texture.
Innovation Solution
A textile printing ink comprising first and second polymer particles with different weight average molecular weights, crosslinked by a binding aid, where the weight average molecular weight ratio of the second polymer particles to the first is between 0.01 and 0.20, and the binding aid is either contained within or outside the particles, or both, to improve texture and color reproducibility while preventing stickiness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If un-crosslinked latex is used in the ink, then the ink is easy to manufacture and apply, but the fabric exhibits stickiness and poor fastness to rubbing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the molecular weight ratio of polymer particles within 0.01 to 0.20 and adjusting the glass transition temperature to 20°C or higher. These parameter modifications enable the polymer particles to provide adequate binding strength and fastness to rubbing while maintaining ease of manufacture through standard ink formulation processes.
2Strength
If high molecular weight urethane polymer is used in the ink, then the ink provides good initial binding, but color loss occurs after about three years
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces high molecular weight urethane polymer with polymer particles having controlled molecular weight ratios and elevated glass transition temperatures. This parameter change eliminates the color loss issue associated with urethane polymers while maintaining binding strength through the optimized particle composition and crosslinking mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite material system consisting of polymer particles with specific molecular weight distributions and glass transition temperatures. This composite approach combines the advantages of different polymer characteristics to achieve both initial binding strength and long-term color fastness without the degradation issues of single-component systems.
3Device complexity
If one type of latex is used in the ink, then the ink composition is simple, but the fabric exhibits stickiness and poor texture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the polymer component into particles with different molecular weights (ratio of 0.01 to 0.20) and controlled glass transition temperatures. This segmentation prevents stickiness by ensuring proper particle separation and binding behavior while maintaining relatively simple ink composition through the use of standard polymer particle dispersions.
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 effectively prevents stickiness, enhances fastness to rubbing, and improves color reproducibility and texture by controlling the molecular weight ratio and crosslinking of polymer particles, ensuring a stable and vibrant print over time.
Implementation Method 1
a binding aid that crosslinks the polymer particles, on a surface, inside, or outside of the first polymer particles and the second polymer particles
Data Source
AI summary
A textile printing ink including polymer particles, contains: first polymer particles; second polymer particles having a weight average molecular weight different from a weight average molecular weight of the first polymer particles; and a binding aid that crosslinks the polymer particles, on a surface, inside, or outside of the first polymer particles and the second polymer particles, wherein when a weight average molecular weight of a polymer contained in the first polymer particles is denoted by HMw1 and a weight average molecular weight of a polymer contained in the second polymer particles is denoted by LMw2, a ratio (LMw2/HMw1) of the weight average molecular weight of the polymer of the second polymer particles to the weight average molecular weight of the polymer of the first polymer particles is in a range of 0.01 to 0.20.