Two-Layer Printable Recording Media Inkjet Mottle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current inkjet printing technologies face challenges in achieving high-speed printing with excellent image quality, as they often suffer from issues like print mottle, uneven ink absorption, and cockling due to variations in coating thickness and base paper roughness, leading to defects such as ink bleed and coalescence.
Innovation Solution
A printable recording media comprising a substrate with an ink receiving layer formed by two distinct layers: a first layer with an electrical charged substance for ink fixation and a second layer containing polymeric binder and nano-size inorganic pigment particles for ink fusion, optimized for high-speed printing with improved absorptivity and surface smoothness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional single-layer coating is used for high-speed printing, then printing speed can be increased, but image quality deteriorates due to print mottle and uneven ink absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The ink receiving layer is divided into two distinct layers: a lower layer containing hydrophilic colloidal particles for rapid ink absorption and a upper layer with polymeric binder and nano-size inorganic pigment particles for ink fusion and surface smoothness. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally, enabling high-speed printing while maintaining excellent image quality without print mottle or cockling.
2Reliability
If coating thickness is increased to improve ink absorption, then ink absorption performance improves, but surface smoothness deteriorates leading to cockling
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the coating are assigned different functions: the lower layer is optimized for ink absorption with hydrophilic colloidal particles, while the upper layer is optimized for surface smoothness and ink fusion with polymeric binder and nano-size inorganic pigment particles. This local quality differentiation allows the coating to achieve both rapid ink absorption and smooth surface finish without cockling, even at optimized coating thicknesses for high-speed printing.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional coating materials are used to reduce manufacturing complexity, then ease of manufacture improves, but image quality deteriorates due to ink bleed and coalescence
Solution Approach 1:
The ink receiving layer uses a composite structure combining hydrophilic colloidal particles in the lower layer with polymeric binder and nano-size inorganic pigment particles in the upper layer. This composite material approach provides both rapid ink absorption and excellent ink fusion, preventing ink bleed and coalescence while maintaining vivid color gamut and outstanding print quality, despite the increased material complexity.
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 enables high-speed printing with vivid color gamut, low ink bleed, and excellent coalescence performance, reducing print mottle and cockling issues, resulting in outstanding print quality and durability.
Implementation Method 1
a first distinct layer with an electrical charged substance for ink fixation
Implementation Method 2
a second distinct layer containing, at least, a polymeric binder and nano-size inorganic pigment particles for ink fusion
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a printable recording media including a substrate and, at least, an ink receiving layer that includes a first distinct layer and a second distinct layer that is applied on top of the first distinct layer. The first distinct layer includes an electrical charged substance and the second distinct layer includes, at least, a polymeric binder and nano-size inorganic pigment particles. Also disclosed herein is a method for making the printable recording media.