Thermosensitive Recording Medium Substrate with Fatty Acid Amide

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Solution Overview

Problem

Thermosensitive recording media using low density paper substrates face issues with image quality and printability due to reduced paper strength and surface smoothness, leading to problems like picking and print through.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a saturated fatty acid monoamide into the substrate, which enhances inter-fiber bonding and improves the film strength of the coated layer, thereby improving image quality and printability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If low density paper is used as substrate, then color development sensitivity is improved, but paper strength and surface smoothness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor development sensitivityVSAvoidpaper strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameter of the substrate by incorporating fatty acid amides (0.1-5 wt% based on substrate weight), which modifies the physical properties of low density paper to improve strength and surface smoothness while preserving the low thermal conductivity needed for color development sensitivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite substrate structure by combining low density paper with fatty acid amide additives, resulting in a material that exhibits both the low thermal conductivity required for high color development sensitivity and the enhanced mechanical strength and surface properties needed for good printability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If low density paper is used as substrate, then print through resistance is improved, but surface smoothness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprint through resistanceVSAvoidsurface smoothness
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The invention modifies the surface parameters of low density paper by adding fatty acid amides, which improve surface smoothness without compromising the low density structure that provides print through resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies fatty acid amide treatment specifically to the substrate material to create local improvements in surface smoothness while maintaining the overall low density structure and its associated print through resistance properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of energy

If low density paper is used as substrate, then thermal conductivity is reduced, but image quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal conductivityVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the substrate composition by incorporating fatty acid amides, which improve surface smoothness and enable uniform heat distribution across the recording surface, thereby improving image quality while maintaining the low thermal conductivity of low density paper

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Manufacturing precision

If undercoat layer is added, then image quality and picking resistance are improved, but device complexity is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the functions of the substrate and undercoat layer by incorporating fatty acid amides directly into the substrate composition, thereby achieving the surface properties previously requiring a separate undercoat layer while simplifying the overall structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and eliminates the need for a separate undercoat layer by integrating the necessary surface-modifying functions directly into the substrate through fatty acid amide incorporation, thereby reducing structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 use of saturated fatty acid monoamide in the substrate results in better color development sensitivity, image quality, and printability, while maintaining heat insulation and preventing print through, even without an undercoat layer.

Implementation Method 1

Incorporating a saturated fatty acid monoamide into the substrate, which enhances inter-fiber bonding and improves the film strength of the coated layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

a low density paper containing fatty acid amides and the like... by lowering the thermal conductivity of the substrate... maintaining heat insulation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal Insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP2535202B1Heat-sensitive recording matter
Publication Date: 2015.05.13 NIPPON PAPER IND CO LTD
  • EP2535202B1 patent drawingFigure 1(1)~2(4)

AI summary

A thermosensitive recording medium having excellent image quality and surface strength is provided. The thermosensitive recording medium having excellent image quality and surface strength is obtained by containing a saturated fatty acid amide in the substrate to lower the density of the substrate. The thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention has an adequate general printability and problems such as print through are avoided. Furthermore, the thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention can assure adequate image quality and general printability even when an undercoat layer is not installed.