Light-Curable Ink Composition Using Vinyl-Ether Acrylate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink compositions for ink jet recording, particularly those using Pigment Yellow 155, face issues with curability under long-wavelength UV LEDs, storage stability, and weather resistance, with some compositions producing VOCs and having unsatisfactory wet weather resistance.
Innovation Solution
A light-curable ink composition containing a vinyl-ether-containing (meth)acrylate, C.I. Pigment Yellow 155, and a photopolymerization initiator, which provides excellent curability, storage stability, and weather resistance, and is nickel-free for safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional ink compositions containing Pigment Yellow 155 and photoacid generators are used, then yellow color production is achieved, but curability with long-wavelength UV LEDs is poor and viscosity increases seriously during curing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the ink composition by replacing photoacid generators with photoradical generators and adjusting the polymerizable compound formulation. This enables effective curing with long-wavelength UV LEDs (385-420 nm) while maintaining stable viscosity throughout the curing process, resolving the contradiction between curability and viscosity control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite formulation combining specific polymerizable compounds (acrylates and/or vinyl ethers) with Pigment Yellow 155 and photoradical generators. This composite material approach achieves both excellent curability under long-wavelength UV LEDs and stable viscosity characteristics, overcoming the limitations of conventional single-system formulations.
2Quantity of substance
If oily ink compositions are used to achieve yellow color, then color production is possible, but heating is required after printing causing VOC emissions and increased viscosity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal curing mechanism (heating) with a photochemical curing mechanism using UV LEDs and photoradical generators. This substitution eliminates the need for post-printing heating, preventing VOC emissions from ingredient evaporation and avoiding the viscosity increase that occurs during thermal processing, while maintaining effective yellow color production.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition from liquid monomer to solid polymer through photopolymerization. The polymerizable compounds transition from a liquid state (easy ejection) to a crosslinked solid network (durable, low-VOC cured layer) upon UV irradiation, achieving both color production and environmental safety without thermal heating.
3Quantity of substance
If Pigment Yellow 150 is used in curable ink, then yellow color is achieved, but safety is compromised due to nickel content and wet weather resistance is unsatisfactory
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the harmful nickel component by replacing Pigment Yellow 150 with Pigment Yellow 155, which is nickel-free. This substitution maintains effective yellow color production while improving safety and achieving satisfactory wet weather resistance, resolving the contradiction between color production and safety/weather resistance.
4Reliability
If conventional light-curable ink compositions are used, then curing is achieved, but storage stability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates polymerization inhibitors and stabilizers into the ink composition formulation before use. These additives preliminarily prevent premature polymerization and degradation during storage, maintaining composition stability. The ink remains stable during storage and handling, then cures effectively when exposed to UV LEDs, resolving the contradiction between curability and storage stability.
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 rapid curing with low energy, maintains stability over time, and ensures durable, weather-resistant prints with improved ejection stability and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a light-curable ink composition for ink jet recording containing a polymerizable compound, a coloring material, and a photopolymerization initiator
Data Source
AI summary
A light-curable ink composition for ink jet recording contains a coloring material, a polymerizable compound, and a photopolymerization initiator. The coloring material contains at least C.I. Pigment Yellow 155, and the polymerizable compound contains at least a vinyl-ether-containing (meth)acrylate represented by general formula (I) below: CH2=CR1-COOR2-O-CH=CH-R3 (I). The vinyl-ether-containing (meth)acrylate is present in an amount of 10 to 67% by mass relative to the total mass of the ink composition.