Water-Based Inkjet Ink for High-Speed Printing Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet printing methods face challenges in achieving high-speed printing with stable ink ejection and preventing roller transfer contamination and intercolor bleeding, particularly at high printing speeds, due to issues with ink drying and nozzle clogging.
Innovation Solution
A water-based ink formulation containing a glycol ether with specific viscosity and vapor pressure, along with an acetylene glycol-based surfactant, is used, which enhances ejection stability and prevents roller transfer contamination and intercolor bleeding by maintaining adequate ink flow and preventing nozzle clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-speed printing is implemented using line head printing method, then productivity is improved, but ink ejection stability deteriorates and nozzle clogging occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the ink by specifying a particular glycol ether with viscosity of 1.5-6.0 mPa·s and vapor pressure of 0.03-6.0 hPa, combined with a surfactant having specific HLB value (8-16). This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by enabling stable ink ejection at high printing speeds through controlled fluid properties that prevent both nozzle clogging and transfer contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite ink formulation by combining water, pigment, specifically selected glycol ether, and surfactant in defined proportions. This composite material approach allows the ink to simultaneously achieve high-speed printing capability and stable ejection performance by leveraging the synergistic effects of its components, particularly the glycol ether-surfactant combination that controls flow and drying characteristics.
2Productivity
If high-speed printing is performed, then productivity is improved, but roller transfer contamination and intercolor bleeding increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the drying behavior of ink by selecting glycol ether with specific vapor pressure (0.03-6.0 hPa) and viscosity parameters, combined with surfactant having controlled HLB value. This parameter optimization ensures adequate drying speed that prevents ink transfer to rollers and intercolor bleeding, even at high printing speeds where rapid processing is required.
Solution Approach 2:
The surfactant acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the ink components and the printing medium surface. By selecting surfactant with specific HLB value (8-16), the patent controls the ink's interaction with the medium and rollers, preventing unwanted transfer and bleeding while maintaining efficient ink deposition at high speeds.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional water-based ink is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but ejection stability and print quality deteriorate at high speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains ease of manufacture by using water-based ink formulation but improves print quality through precise parameter control of key components. Specifically, selecting glycol ether with viscosity of 1.5-6.0 mPa·s and vapor pressure of 0.03-6.0 hPa, combined with surfactant having HLB value of 8-16, optimizes ejection stability and print quality at high speeds while keeping the formulation process relatively simple.
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-jet printing method achieves excellent ejection stability and produces high-quality printed materials free of roller transfer contamination and intercolor bleeding, even at high printing speeds, by utilizing the water-based ink formulation.
Implementation Method 1
the glycol ether (b-1) has a viscosity of not less than 2.0 mPa·s and not more than 5.5 mPa·s as measured at 20°C and a vapor pressure of not less than 0.03 hPa and not more than 6.0 hPa as measured at 20°C
Implementation Method 2
the surfactant (C) is an acetylene glycol-based surfactant
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to [1] an ink-jet printing method including a printing step of ejecting a water-based ink onto a surface of a printing medium to print characters or images thereon, in which the water-based ink includes a pigment (A), an organic solvent (B), a surfactant (C) and water; the organic solvent (B) includes at least a glycol ether (b-1), and the glycol ether has a viscosity of from 2.0 to 5.5 mPa•s as measured at 20°C and a vapor pressure of from 0.03 to 6.0 hPa as measured at 20°C; a content of a high-boiling organic solvent having a boiling point of not lower than 250°C in the water-based ink is not more than 5% by mass; and a printing speed upon printing the characters or images on the printing medium is not less than 70 m/min in terms of a transportation speed of the printing medium, and [2] a water-based ink used in the ink-jet printing method.