Triglyceride Solvents in Offset Printing Inks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet-fed offset lithography inks face challenges in minimizing component migration and odor, particularly due to the use of toxic and malodorous solvents, which can contaminate food packaging and affect public health, necessitating the development of food-safe, low-migration, and odorless ink solutions.
Innovation Solution
The use of water-insoluble triglycerides based on saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids as solvents in offset printing inks and varnishes, which are food-safe and do not require low migration properties, offering improved stability and odor performance without the need for sterically hindered molecules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional organic solvents are used in offset printing inks, then the ink provides adequate solvency and drying properties, but the solvent causes strong odour and potential food contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the solvent by using triglycerides with specific saturated fatty acid compositions (primarily caprylic and capric acids) instead of conventional aromatic hydrocarbons. This parameter change eliminates odour and food contamination while maintaining the necessary solvency and drying properties through the specific molecular structure of the triglyceride molecules.
2Loss of substance
If sterically hindered molecules are used to prevent migration, then low migration properties are achieved, but the molecular structure becomes complex and food safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses simple, naturally occurring triglyceride molecules that are inherently food-safe and do not require complex steric hindrance structures to prevent migration. The molecules are designed to be volatile enough to evaporate completely from the printed surface, leaving no residual components that could migrate, thus eliminating the need for complex molecular structures.
3Ease of operation
If water-insoluble solvents are used for offset lithography, then the ink achieves proper offset printing performance, but the solvent becomes toxic and malodorous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite triglyceride molecules composed of glycerol backbone combined with saturated fatty acid chains (caprylic and capric acids). This composite structure provides water insolubility necessary for offset lithography while the saturated nature of the fatty acids ensures food safety and eliminates odour, achieving both printing performance and safety requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
An offset printing varnish, comprising a solvent, is provided. The solvent comprises at least one triglyceride with saturated monocarboxylic acid moieties, which solvent is preferably food safe.