UV-Curable Inkjet Ink Composition for Cardboard Bending and Gliding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printed corrugated cardboard often experiences poor gliding and cracking upon bending, despite the use of existing UV curable inks.
Innovation Solution
A UV curable inkjet ink composition is formulated with specific ratios of monofunctional and polyfunctional monomers and oligomers, including ethoxylated polyfunctional acrylates, acylphosphine oxide photoinitiators, and amine synergists, to enhance bending and gliding properties while maintaining UV curability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV curable inkjet inks are used for printing on corrugated cardboard, then UV curability is improved, but gliding performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the UV curable ink by incorporating specific ratios of flexible polymers (10-30 wt%), controlling monomer functionality distribution, and adjusting photoinitiator types to achieve both good UV curability and flexibility for gliding performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material formulation by combining multiple polymer types (flexible polymers, rigid polymers), various monomers (monofunctional, difunctional, trifunctional), and photoinitiators to create an ink composition that simultaneously provides UV curability, flexibility, and gliding performance
2Reliability
If UV curable inkjet inks are used for printing on corrugated cardboard, then UV curability is improved, but bending performance deteriorates (cracking occurs)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the physical-chemical parameters of the cured ink layer by incorporating flexible polymers with specific glass transition temperatures, controlling the ratio of monofunctional to polyfunctional monomers, and adjusting crosslinking density to prevent cracking while maintaining UV curability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material strategy by formulating an ink system that combines flexible polymer modifiers, various functionality monomers, and photoinitiators to create a cured coating that is both UV-curable and flexible enough to bend without cracking
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 ink composition achieves improved bending and gliding performance of corrugated cardboard, ensuring smooth stacking and reducing cracking, while maintaining excellent UV curing properties.
Implementation Method 1
UV curable inkjet inks... jetting of a UV curable varnish... 12.0 wt% or more of an acylphosphine oxide photoinitiator
Implementation Method 2
UV curable inkjet as defined in claim 1... maintaining good UV curability
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A UV curable inkjet ink including a) 20 to 45 wt% of monofunctional monomers or oligomers including a monofunctional acrylate methacrylate; b) 5 to 55 wt% of an ethoxylated polyfunctional acrylate monomer or oligomer; c) 12.0 wt% or more of an acylphosphine oxide photoinitiator and optionally an amine synergist; wherein the ratio R1 of the wt% of ethoxylated polyfunctional acrylate monomer or oligomer over the wt% of non-ethoxylated polyfunctional acrylate monomer or oligomer is between 0.1 and 4.0; wherein the ratio R2 of the wt% of monofunctional methacrylate over he wt% of monofunctional acrylate is no more than 1.2; and wherein all wt% are based on the total weight of the UV curable inkjet ink. Inkjet printing methods with the UV curable inkjet ink are also disclosed.