UV-Curable Ink Composition for PVC Adhesion and Blocking

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional inkjet recording systems face challenges in achieving high image quality, surface curability, antiblocking properties, and storage stability, particularly when printing on polyvinyl chloride substrates, due to limitations in ink composition formulations and curing processes.

Innovation Solution

A UV-curable inkjet ink composition comprising specific photoinitiators, polymerization inhibitors, and polymerizable compounds, including bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phenylphosphine oxide, 2-methyl-1-(4-methylthiophenyl)-2-morpholinopropan-1-one, and ethylene oxide-modified trimethylolpropane triacrylate, cured using UV light-emitting diodes with a peak wavelength of 350 to 420 nm, ensuring excellent adhesion and image quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional ink compositions are used for UV-curable inkjet recording, then the ink can be discharged and cured, but the surface curability is insufficient and blocking occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface curabilityVSAvoidblocking
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the photoinitiator system by specifying precise compositional ratios (Component A: 2.0-6.0 wt%, Component B: 2.0-6.0 wt%, Component C: 0.01-3.0 wt%) to optimize UV curing performance. This parameter optimization enables complete surface curing and eliminates blocking while maintaining storage stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a composite photoinitiator system combining three different types of photoinitiators (Components A, B, and C with distinct chemical structures and curing mechanisms) to achieve synergistic effects. This composite approach provides both surface curability and prevents blocking by ensuring complete polymerization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Duration of action of stationary object

If conventional ink compositions are used, then the ink can be stored, but storage stability deteriorates over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage stabilityVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of polymerization inhibitors (Component D: 0.01-5.0 wt%) to balance prevention of premature polymerization during storage with ensuring complete curing upon UV exposure. This parameter control maintains ink stability during storage while preserving image quality after curing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates polymerization inhibitors (Component D) and polymerizable compounds (Component E) in advance to prevent premature polymerization during storage. This preliminary protective action ensures the ink remains stable until use, while the controlled curing components ensure complete polymerization upon UV exposure for high image quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Strength

If conventional ink compositions are used for printing on polyvinyl chloride substrates, then the ink can be applied, but adhesion is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesion to polyvinyl chloride substrateVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adjusts the compositional parameters of polymerizable compounds (Component E: 60.0-95.0 wt%) with specific functional groups that enhance affinity for polyvinyl chloride substrates. This parameter optimization improves adhesion strength while maintaining complete curability and image quality through the coordinated photoinitiator system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If the ink composition is optimized for curability, then surface curability improves, but storage stability worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface curabilityVSAvoidstorage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces polymerization inhibitors (Component D) as a preliminary protective measure to prevent premature polymerization during storage. This allows the ink to remain stable during storage while ensuring complete curing occurs upon UV exposure, resolving the contradiction between curability and storage stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent precisely controls the concentration parameters of both photoinitiators (Components A, B, C) and polymerization inhibitors (Component D) to achieve a balanced state. The photoinitiators provide sufficient curing activity when exposed to UV, while the inhibitors prevent premature reaction during storage, maintaining both surface curability and storage stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 exhibits superior surface curability, antiblocking properties, and storage stability, producing high-quality images with excellent adhesion to polyvinyl chloride substrates and maintaining stability over time, while minimizing VOC issues and solvent resistance.

Implementation Method 1

A UV-curable inkjet ink composition comprising specific photoinitiators, polymerization inhibitors, and polymerizable compounds, including bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phenylphosphine oxide, 2-methyl-1-(4-methylthiophenyl)-2-morpholinopropan-1-one, and ethylene oxide-modified trimethylolpropane triacrylate, cured using UV light-emitting diodes with a peak wavelength of 350 to 420 nm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotopolymerisation: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentEP2471880B1Ink composition, inkjet recording method, and printed material
Publication Date: 2014.04.09 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP2471880B1 patent drawing
  • EP2471880B1 patent drawing
  • EP2471880B1 patent drawing

AI summary

An ink composition is provided that includes (Component A) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phenylphosphine oxide and 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide, (Component B) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 2-methyl-1-(4-methylthiophenyl)-2-morpholinopropan-1-one, 2-(dimethylamino)-2-[(4-methylphenyl)methyl]-1-[4-(4-morpholinyl)phenyl]-1-butanone, and 2-benzyl-2-dimethylamino-1-(4-morpholinaphenyl}-1-botanone, (Component C) a thioxanthone compound, (Component D) a polymerization inhibitor, and (Component E) a polymerizable compound, Component C having a content of 0.01 to 5 wt% relative to the total weight of the ink composition, Component D having a content of 0.01 to 5 wt% relative to the total weight of the ink composition, the sum of the content of Component A and the content of Component B being 6.0 to 9.5 wt% relative to the total weight of the ink composition, and the ratio by weight ((A)/(B)) of the content (A) of Component A and the content (B) of Component B being 0.8 to 2.0.