UV-Curable Ink Jet Composition for Metal Gloss and Discharge Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for manufacturing ornaments with glossiness, such as metal plating and thermal transfer using metal foil, face difficulties in fine pattern formation and application to curved surfaces, and ultraviolet-curable compositions with metal powders suffer from poor liquid droplet discharge stability and inability to exhibit natural glossiness when used in ink jet methods.
Innovation Solution
An ultraviolet-curable composition is developed that includes a polymerizable compound, metal powder, and a thixotropy suppressing agent, with specific viscosity ratios and surface treatment of the metal powder to enhance discharge stability and glossiness, using agents like phosphoric acid-based dispersing agents and fluorine-containing powders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal powder is simply applied instead of pigment or dye in ink jet method, then the composition can be used, but liquid droplet discharge stability is poor and discharge failures are easily generated
Solution Approach 1:
A surface treatment agent is introduced as an intermediary substance between the metal powder particles and the polymerizable compound. This surface treatment agent modifies the metal powder surface to improve compatibility with the ink jet composition, preventing aggregation and ensuring stable discharge. The surface treatment agent acts as a mediator that enables the metal powder to be properly dispersed and discharged without failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical and chemical parameters of the metal powder are changed through surface treatment. The surface treatment modifies surface energy, surface roughness, and chemical composition of the metal powder particles. These parameter changes improve the wetting and dispersion characteristics of metal powder in the ink jet composition, leading to stable liquid droplet discharge.
2Illumination intensity
If metal powder is used to achieve glossiness, then natural glossiness can be exhibited, but fine pattern formation and application to curved portions are difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Traditional mechanical methods such as metal plating and thermal transfer are replaced with an ink jet printing system. The ink jet method uses controlled liquid droplet deposition followed by UV curing to form patterns. This substitution enables precise digital control of pattern formation, easy application to curved surfaces, and eliminates the limitations of mechanical transfer methods while maintaining metal glossiness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material system consisting of metal powder particles dispersed in a polymerizable compound matrix. This composite formulation allows the metal powder to provide glossiness while the polymerizable compound provides binding and pattern formation capability. The composite nature enables both aesthetic properties and manufacturing flexibility.
3Reliability
If thixotropy suppressing agent is added to improve discharge stability, then discharge stability improves, but the composition complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surface treatment agent on the metal powder performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a dispersing agent to prevent particle aggregation, serves as a thixotropy suppressing agent to maintain discharge stability, and provides adhesion promotion for pattern formation. By combining multiple functions in a single component, the composition complexity is minimized while achieving reliable discharge performance.
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 composition achieves stable discharge and excellent glossiness with improved abrasion resistance and productivity, effectively addressing the challenges of fine pattern formation and curved surface application.
Implementation Method 1
compositions which are cured when irradiated with ultraviolet rays (ultraviolet-curable compositions) have been used
Implementation Method 2
a thixotropy suppressing agent, in which a relationship of η2−η1≤3 is satisfied between a viscosity η1 [mPa·s] at a shearing speed of 1000 sec−1 and a viscosity η2 [mPa·s] obtained by measuring in a state where the shearing speed is set as 10 sec−1 after continuously adding shearing stress for 10 minutes at the shearing speed of 1000 sec−1
Data Source
AI summary
An ultraviolet-curable composition is discharged with an ink jet method and includes a polymerizable compound; a metal powder; and a thixotropy suppressing agent, in which a relationship of η2−η1≤3 is satisfied between a viscosity η1 [mPa s] at a shearing speed of 1000 sec−1 and a viscosity η2 [mPa s] which is determined by measuring in a state where the shearing speed is 10 sec−1 after continuing to add shearing stress for 10 minutes at the shearing speed of 1000 sec−1.