UV Inkjet Ink Adhesion Flexing Tarpaulin
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current UV curable inkjet inks fail to achieve optimal flexing and adhesion on tarpaulins, particularly when subjected to frequent bending, such as during loading and unloading of truck curtains, despite previous compositions that aim to enhance flexibility and adhesion.
Innovation Solution
A UV curable inkjet ink formulation comprising more than 90% monofunctional polymerizable compounds, specifically including vinyl methyl oxazolidinone, heterocyclic acrylate, aromatic acrylate, and alicyclic acrylate in specific weight percentages and ratios, along with a free radical photoinitiator, to maximize adhesion and flexing properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the ratio of polyfunctional monomers to monofunctional monomers is decreased to improve flexibility, then flexing properties are improved, but adhesion to tarpaulins deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the ratio of polyfunctional to monofunctional monomers within specific ranges (0.01-10% polyfunctional, 90-99.99% monofunctional) and by adjusting the content of specific monomer types (N-vinyl lactam at least 10 wt%, ratio of N-vinyl lactam to radically polymerizable compound of 1:8.5 to 1). These parameter optimizations simultaneously achieve good flexing properties and adhesion on tarpaulins.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining multiple specific monomer types (N-vinyl lactam, heterocyclic acrylate, aromatic acrylate, alicyclic acrylate) in specific proportions within the ink composition. This composite approach allows the ink to exhibit both flexibility and adhesion properties that cannot be achieved with a single monomer type.
2Manufacturing precision
If white ink is applied as background for colour inks on dark tarpaulins to obtain vibrant colour image, then image quality is improved, but the lay down amount increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the white ink by incorporating specific monomers (N-vinyl lactam at least 10 wt%, heterocyclic acrylate, aromatic acrylate, alicyclic acrylate) that enable better adhesion to dark substrates. This allows achieving vibrant colour images with reduced white ink lay down amounts compared to conventional white inks.
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 inkjet ink exhibits excellent adhesion and flexing capabilities on tarpaulins, sustaining 100,000 flexes without cracking and demonstrating improved adhesion scores, as demonstrated in the examples provided.
Implementation Method 1
UV curable inkjet inks include a pigment, a free radical photoinitiator and a polymerizable composition
Data Source
AI summary
A UV curable inkjet ink for inkjet printing tarpaulins including an pigment, a free radical photoinitiator and a polymerizable composition containing more than 90.0 wt% of monofunctional polymerizable compounds based on the total weight of the polymerizable composition, wherein the monofunctional polymerizable compounds include more than 5.0 wt% of a N-vinyl oxazolidinone (V); more than 12.0 wt% of a heterocyclic acrylate (H) being a non-aromatic cyclic acrylate with all heteroatoms being oxygen; and more than 23.0 wt% of a mixture of an aromatic acrylate (A) and an alicyclic acrylate (L); wherein the wt% of the monofunctional polymerizable compounds is based on the total weight of the UV curable inkjet ink; and wherein a weight ratio R = (H + A) / (V+ L) is no more than 2.0. An inkjet printing method is also disclosed.