Stray Light Resistant UV Inkjet Inks Using Nitroxy Inhibitors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Energy curable inkjet inks are susceptible to stray light, leading to build-up of cured material at the nozzle, which affects jet straightness and printing quality, and traditional stabilizers do not adequately address this issue without compromising the cure process.
Innovation Solution
The use of a nitroxy inhibitor in energy curable inkjet ink formulations, which includes a compound with an ethylenic unsaturated bond, a photoinitiator, and a coloring agent, enhances the stray light resistance index by reducing the build-up of cured ink caused by low levels of UV light, maintaining good water and solvent resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional stabilizers are used in energy curable inkjet inks, then the cure process is maintained, but the stray light resistance is insufficient leading to build-up of cured material at the nozzle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter by introducing a nitroxy inhibitor with specific molecular structure (containing N-O bond) into the ink formulation. This chemical parameter change enables the ink to achieve stray light resistance index of at least 7 while maintaining proper cure characteristics, resolving the contradiction between stray light resistance and cure stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite ink formulation that integrates multiple components: compound having ethylenic unsaturated bond, photoinitiator, coloring agent, and nitroxy inhibitor. This composite approach allows the ink to simultaneously achieve high stray light resistance and maintain reliable cure process, as each component contributes specific functional properties
2Productivity
If energy curable inkjet inks are used with high sensitivity to UV light, then curing efficiency is improved, but susceptibility to stray light increases causing nozzle build-up
Solution Approach 1:
The nitroxy inhibitor acts as an intermediary substance that selectively interacts with stray light UV photons. It absorbs or blocks the harmful UV radiation before it can cause premature curing in the ink channel, while allowing the intended curing process to proceed efficiently when full UV exposure is applied
3Duration of action of moving object
If inkjet inks are stored for extended periods, then printing capacity increases, but build-up of cured material at nozzle reduces printing quality
Solution Approach 1:
The nitroxy inhibitor performs preliminary protective action by being present in the ink formulation from the beginning. It proactively prevents stray light-induced curing during storage and transport, maintaining ink jetability and printing quality throughout the extended storage period without requiring intermediate maintenance
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 nitroxy inhibitor significantly reduces the susceptibility of inkjet inks to stray light, improving printing quality and extending the life of printheads by maintaining high stray light resistance, water resistance, and solvent resistance, with the ink compositions showing enhanced performance even under prolonged use.
Implementation Method 1
the nitroxy inhibitor significantly reduces the susceptibility of inkjet inks to stray light... by reducing the build-up of cured ink caused by low levels of UV light
Implementation Method 2
the energy curable inkjet ink comprises a compound having an ethylenic unsaturated bond, a photoinitiator
Data Source
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AI summary
An energy curable inkjet ink includes a nitroxy inhibitor, a compound having an ethylenic unsaturated bond, a photoinitiator, a coloring agent, and a stray light resistance index of at least 7. A method of preparing an energy curable inkjet ink with stray light resistance includes providing a nitroxy inhibitor; providing a mixture of a compound having an ethylenic unsaturated bond, and a photoinitiator, and a coloring agent; combining the nitroxy inhibitor and the mixture to obtain the energy curable inkjet ink and thereby to increase a stray light resistance index of the energy curable inkjet ink to at least 7.