UV-Curable Ink Composition for LED Curing and Adhesion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Active-energy-ray-curable ink jet recording inks face challenges in achieving sufficient adhesiveness and scratch resistance when cured with LED lamps, as traditional formulations often result in insufficient curing and increased viscosity, leading to nozzle clogging and precision issues.
Innovation Solution
The composition uses a balanced ratio of monofunctional and polyfunctional monomers, specifically 10-25% N-vinylcaprolactam and 15-35% 2-(2-vinyloxyethoxy)ethyl(meth)acrylate, to enhance adhesiveness and solvent resistance, allowing effective curing with LED lamps by adjusting the monomer content to maintain low viscosity and improve crosslink density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If adhesive resins or high solubility monomers are used to enhance adhesiveness, then adhesiveness is improved, but viscosity increases causing nozzle clogging and ejection precision problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using specific monomers (N-vinylcaprolactam and 2-(2-vinyloxyethoxy)ethyl(meth)acrylate) with controlled ratios to achieve the required adhesiveness while maintaining low viscosity for proper ink ejection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite monomer system combining N-vinylcaprolactam (providing adhesiveness) and 2-(2-vinyloxyethoxy)ethyl(meth)acrylate (maintaining low viscosity), achieving both high adhesiveness and low viscosity simultaneously
2Reliability
If traditional ink formulations are used for LED curing, then curing is achieved, but scratch resistance and adhesiveness are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the monomer composition parameters specifically for LED curing wavelengths, using N-vinylcaprolactam and 2-(2-vinyloxyethoxy)ethyl(meth)acrylate in controlled ratios to achieve both complete curing and high mechanical properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adapts the formulation to match LED emission characteristics by selecting monomers with appropriate absorption spectra, effectively copying the successful chemistry approach for LED-curable systems
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 well-balanced adhesiveness and solvent resistance, ensuring stable ink ejection and improved curing performance with LED lamps, while maintaining storage stability and abrasion resistance.
Implementation Method 1
active-energy-ray-curable ink jet recording ink composition which enables a printed film to be cured and dried by being irradiated with an active energy ray such as ultraviolet light
Data Source
AI summary
An active-energy-ray-curable ink jet recording ink composition is provided, in which (1) a polymerizable compound having an active-energy-ray-polymerizable group and a polymerizable compound having at least two active-energy-ray-polymerizable groups are used in amounts of 10 to 25 mass % and 75 to 90 mass % relative to the total amount of the active-energy-ray-polymerizable compounds, respectively; (2) the polymerizable compound having an active-energy-ray-polymerizable group includes 10 to 20 mass % of N-vinylcaprolactam; and (3) the polymerizable compound having at least two active-energy-ray-polymerizable groups includes 15 to 35 mass % of 2-(2-vinyloxyethoxy)ethyl(meth)acrylate. Furthermore, a method for forming an image is provided.