Thermal Recording Material Anti-Sticking Silicone Release Agent

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Thermal recording materials face challenges with sticking issues in low-temperature and low-humidity environments, particularly in small label printers and handy terminals with weak motor torque, along with poor transportability and chemical resistance, leading to image density and stability problems.

Innovation Solution

A thermal recording material comprising a substrate, a thermal coloring layer, and a protective layer with a binder resin, crosslinker, filler, and a spherical and particulate silicone compound (CH3SiO3/2)n, where n is greater than 15, which acts as a release agent to prevent sticking and enhance chemical resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a protective layer with water-soluble resin and crosslinker is used to improve water resistance and chemical resistance, then the recorded image stability improves, but the material sticks to the thermal head in low-temperature and low-humidity environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecorded image stabilityVSAvoidsticking to thermal head

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protective layer uses a composite formulation combining water-soluble resin (polyvinyl alcohol), crosslinker (epichlorohydrin), and silicone compound (polydimethylsiloxane). This composite structure provides both chemical resistance through crosslinking and anti-sticking properties through silicone, resolving the contradiction between image stability and sticking prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The silicone compound acts as an intermediary substance between the protective layer and the thermal head. It prevents direct contact and adhesion between the melted protective layer materials and the thermal head surface, eliminating the sticking problem while maintaining the protective layer's chemical resistance functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If silicone compound is added to improve transportability and sticking resistance, then transportability improves, but recorded image density and stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovetransportabilityVSAvoidrecorded image density

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the silicone compound content to 0.01-5% by weight of the protective layer. This parameter control ensures sufficient transportability improvement while preventing excessive silicone that would interfere with the thermal coloring reaction and degrade image density and stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If high melting point developer is used to improve image stability against plasticizers, then chemical resistance improves, but material quickly solidifies after melting causing sticking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage stability against plasticizersVSAvoidsticking due to quick solidification

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The silicone compound in the protective layer serves as a release agent that prevents adhesion between the quickly solidifying high melting point developer and the thermal head. This intermediary function allows the use of chemically resistant developers without incurring sticking problems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Object-generated harmful factors

If particulate dimethyl silicone resin is used in protective layer, then sticking resistance improves, but abrasion resistance of thermal head is not improved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesticking resistanceVSAvoidabrasion resistance of thermal head

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the particle size parameter of the silicone compound to 1-4 μm and uses polydimethylsiloxane with specific molecular weight. This optimization provides both sticking resistance and sufficient abrasion resistance, unlike larger particulate fillers that only prevent sticking but increase thermal head wear

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 material achieves good high-humidity transportability, low-temperature sticking resistance, adaptability to low-torque printers, and high-sensitivity without background development, ensuring thermostable preservability of recorded images and reduced abrasion of the thermal head.

Implementation Method 1

a release agent; wherein the release agent is a spherical and particulate silicone compound having the following formula: (CH3SiO3/2)n

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRelease agent effect:

Implementation Method 2

high stability against plasticizers and oils and fats included in a organic polymer material used for packaging

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical resistance:

Implementation Method 3

quickly develop images having high density

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal development:

Data Source

PatentUS7476643B2Thermal recording material and thermal recording label

Publication Date: 2009.01.13 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

A thermal recording material is provided including a substrate, a thermal coloring layer located overlying the substrate, and a protective layer located overlying the thermal coloring layer. The protective layer includes a binder resin, a crosslinker, a filler; and a release agent. The release agent is a spherical and particulate silicone compound having the following formula: (CH3SiO3/2)n, wherein n represents an integer greater than 15.