Water-Based Ink Viscoelastic Control for Ejection Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ink-jet recording systems face delays in ink ejection due to the drying of water-based inks, which can lead to inefficient recording processes and excessive ink consumption, as the storage elastic modulus of dried inks is not adequately controlled to prevent such delays.
Innovation Solution
A water-based ink composition for ink-jet recording is developed with a loss tangent (tan δ) of 4 or more at a frequency of 100 rad/sec, ensuring a balance between storage and loss elastic moduli to maintain fluidity and prevent ink ejection delays without the need for flushing operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water-based ink is used for ink-jet recording, then the ink dries on the recording medium, but the storage elastic modulus increases causing ink ejection delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the storage elastic modulus (G') of the water-based ink to be 105 dyne/cm² or less under specific drying conditions (50°C for 72 hours at frequency 0.1 rad/sec). This parameter control prevents the ink from becoming too rigid after drying, thereby maintaining ink ejection stability and preventing ejection delays without requiring flushing operations.
2Reliability
If flushing operation is performed to prevent ink ejection delays, then ink ejection stability is improved, but ink consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the need for flushing operations by formulating a water-based ink with controlled storage elastic modulus (G' ≤ 105 dyne/cm²). This formulation allows the ink to maintain adequate fluidity after drying, eliminating the requirement for periodic flushing operations that were previously necessary to prevent ejection delays, thereby reducing ink consumption.
3Stability of the object's composition
If storage elastic modulus is increased to improve ink stability, then ink formulation is improved, but ink ejection delays occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent identifies and controls the storage elastic modulus as a critical parameter, setting it at 105 dyne/cm² or less under standardized drying conditions. This parameter optimization achieves a balance where the ink maintains sufficient compositional stability while preventing excessive rigidity that would cause ejection delays.
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 ensures stable and efficient ink ejection, reducing delays and ink consumption, while maintaining fluidity even when dried, thus enhancing the overall performance of ink-jet recording systems.
Implementation Method 1
the storage elastic modulus (G′) of a water-based ink under a specific drying condition is proposed. In the water-based ink, the storage elastic modulus (G′) after drying at 50° C. for 72 hours is 105 dyne/cm2 or less at frequency of 0.1 rad/sec to 100 rad/sec
Data Source
AI summary
A water-based ink for ink-jet recording includes a coloring agent, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent. In the water-based ink after drying, a tan δ at a frequency of about 100 (1/sec) measured at about 25° C. represented by the following Equation (1) is about 4 or moretan δ=G″/G′ (1)tan δ: loss tangentG′: storage elastic modulusG″: loss elastic modulus.