Water-Based Ink Formulation for High Optical Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water-based inks for ink-jet recording face challenges in improving optical density without increasing colorant concentration, which can lead to increased costs and stability issues.
Innovation Solution
A water-based ink formulation that includes a colorant, water, a surfactant, and a specific compound represented by formula (1), where R is an alkyl ether or alkyl ester group with a carbon chain of at least 6, enhancing optical density without raising colorant concentration, and providing fungus resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the colorant concentration is raised to improve the optical density, then the optical density is improved, but the cost is increased and the stability of the water-based ink is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical composition parameters of the ink formulation. Specifically, it introduces a compound with formula (1) where R is an alkyl ether group or alkyl ester group with at least 6 carbon atoms, and optimizes the concentration ratios of colorant, surfactant, and the formula (1) compound. This chemical parameter optimization enables achieving high optical density (OD≥1.8) while maintaining ink stability without simply increasing colorant concentration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by creating a multi-component ink system that combines colorant, surfactant, water, and the specific compound of formula (1). This composite formulation works synergistically where the surfactant and formula (1) compound together provide both the dispersion needed for high optical density and the stability required to prevent degradation, resolving the contradiction between OD improvement and stability maintenance.
2Illumination intensity
If the colorant concentration is raised to improve the optical density, then the optical density is improved, but the cost is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of all ink components to achieve cost efficiency. By setting the colorant concentration at 0.5-10% by weight (not excessively high) and adding the compound of formula (1) at 0.01-5% by weight, the formulation achieves high optical density without requiring excessive colorant, thereby reducing material costs while maintaining performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The compound of formula (1) acts as an intermediary substance that enhances the effectiveness of the colorant. It improves colorant dispersion and ink performance, allowing lower colorant concentrations to achieve the same optical density, thus reducing the quantity of expensive colorant needed and lowering overall ink cost.
3Reliability
If the colorant concentration is kept low to reduce cost and maintain stability, then the cost and stability are improved, but the optical density cannot be improved
Solution Approach 1:
The surfactant and compound of formula (1) serve as intermediary substances that enhance colorant performance. They improve colorant dispersion and distribution in the water-based medium, enabling low colorant concentrations (0.5-10% by weight) to achieve high optical density (OD≥1.8) while maintaining ink stability, thus resolving the contradiction between low concentration and high OD.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes multiple composition parameters simultaneously: colorant concentration (0.5-10%), surfactant concentration (0.1-10%), and formula (1) compound concentration (0.01-5%). This multi-parameter optimization enables the ink to achieve high optical density with low colorant concentration while maintaining stability, overcoming the limitation of conventional single-parameter adjustments.
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 formulation effectively improves optical density and provides fungus resistance while maintaining low colorant concentration, ensuring excellent discharge performance and vaporization characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
improve the optical density (OD value) of recorded matter
Implementation Method 2
improve the optical density (OD value) of recorded matter
Implementation Method 3
a surfactant... providing excellent discharge performance and vaporization characteristics
Implementation Method 4
provides fungus resistance
Implementation Method 5
vaporization characteristics
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A water-based ink for ink-jet recording includes a colorant, water, a surfactant, and a compound represented by the following formula (1). In the formula (1), R is an alkyl ether group or an alkyl ester group in which a number of carbon atoms of a main chain is not less than 6, and each of an alkyl group of the alkyl ether group and an alkyl group of the alkyl ester group is in a straight chain form or a branched chain form.