Thermosensitive Recording Material Protective Layer Flex Cracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermosensitive recording materials suffer from flex cracking and inadequate scratch resistance despite having high water, solvent, and heat resistance, due to the limitations of protective layers formed from conventional (meth)acrylamide copolymer emulsions.
Innovation Solution
A thermosensitive recording material with a protective layer composed of a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymers and a non-crosslinking urea compound, which provides pliability and flexibility, reducing flex cracking and enhancing scratch resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional (meth)acrylamide copolymer emulsions are used for the protective layer, then water resistance, solvent resistance, and heat resistance are improved, but flex cracking occurs and scratch resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the protective layer by incorporating specific polymers (polyvinylidene chloride or carboxymethyl cellulose) and controlling the content of hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymer components. This parameter adjustment allows the protective layer to achieve both high resistance properties and improved flexibility, eliminating flex cracking while maintaining scratch resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The protective layer is formulated as a composite material system containing multiple components: hydrophobic polymer, hydrophilic polymer, and specific additives (polyvinylidene chloride or carboxymethyl cellulose). This composite structure combines the water and solvent resistance of conventional materials with the flexibility and scratch resistance provided by the composite formulation, resolving the contradiction between durability and flexibility
2Strength
If the protective layer is made more rigid to improve scratch resistance, then scratch resistance improves, but flex cracking increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the flexibility parameters of the protective layer by controlling the content ratios of hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymers and adding specific compounds (polyvinylidene chloride or carboxymethyl cellulose). This creates a balanced formulation where the protective layer maintains adequate scratch resistance while achieving sufficient flexibility to prevent flex cracking during handling and printing
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 high water, solvent, and heat resistance while minimizing flex cracking and improving scratch resistance, making it suitable for various applications such as output sheets for facsimile machines and industrial terminals.
Implementation Method 1
particles formed of a hydrophobic polymer (1) and a hydrophilic polymer (2)
Implementation Method 2
a non-crosslinking urea compound (b) which is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of urea, monoalkylureas, dialkylureas, hydroxyalkylureas, and biuret
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a material that is less likely to cause flex cracking, has high scratch resistance, and is suitable for a protective layer for a thermosensitive material. A thermosensitive recording material according to the present invention includes a base, a thermosensitive recording layer formed on the base, and a protective layer formed on the thermosensitive recording layer, wherein the protective layer is formed from a mixture that contains an emulsion (a) containing particles formed of a hydrophobic polymer (1) and a hydrophilic polymer (2) ;and a non-crosslinking urea compound (b). Preferably, the hydrophobic polymer (1) contains an acrylonitrile-derived constitutional unit. Preferably, the non-crosslinking urea compound (b) is urea or a urea derivative.