Water-based pigment inks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water-based inks for inkjet printing on non-porous substrates, such as BOPP and PET, lack good jetting performance, printed image quality, ink storage stability, long open time, resolubility, and robust film-forming properties without the need for chemical primers or pre-treatments.
Innovation Solution
A water-based ink formulation using a poly(styrene-maleic acid) co-polymer or poly(styrene-maleamic acid) co-polymer as a dispersant, surfactant, and binder, which does not require additional polymers, allowing direct printing on non-chemically treated substrates with excellent adhesion, resolubility, and film-forming properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If water-based inks are formulated for inkjet printing on non-porous substrates, then adhesion and film-forming properties are improved, but jetting performance and storage stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the ink formulation by using poly(styrene-maleic acid) co-polymer with specific acid number (≥255 mg KOH/g) and molecular weight (3,000-20,000 Daltons), and controlling pigment concentration (0.1-10%) and polymer solids content (0.1-5%), to achieve both good jetting performance and adhesion on non-porous substrates without chemical pre-treatment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite ink formulation combining poly(styrene-maleic acid) co-polymer with specific pigments and water-based vehicle, where the co-polymer serves multiple functions as dispersant, surfactant, and binder, creating a composite material that resolves the contradiction between jetting performance and adhesion
2Strength
If chemical primers or pre-treatments are applied to substrates, then adhesion is improved, but process complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for chemical primer layers or substrate pre-treatments by incorporating adhesion-promoting functionality directly into the ink formulation through the poly(styrene-maleic acid) co-polymer, thereby simplifying the overall printing process while maintaining good adhesion on non-porous substrates
Solution Approach 2:
The ink formulation performs self-service by containing all necessary adhesion-promoting properties within the poly(styrene-maleic acid) co-polymer, allowing the ink to adhere directly to non-porous substrates without requiring external chemical primers or pre-treatment processes
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple polymers are used in ink formulation, then film-forming properties are improved, but ink complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the multi-functionality principle by designing the poly(styrene-maleic acid) co-polymer to simultaneously serve as dispersant, surfactant, and binder in the ink formulation, thereby achieving robust film-forming properties while minimizing ink complexity and eliminating the need for multiple separate polymer additives
4Duration of action of stationary object
If ink formulations are optimized for storage stability, then shelf life is improved, but jetting performance and open time deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the balance between storage stability and open time by carefully controlling the acid number (≥255 mg KOH/g) and molecular weight (3,000-20,000 Daltons) of the poly(styrene-maleic acid) co-polymer, and adjusting pigment to polymer solids ratio, thereby achieving both long shelf life and extended open time with good jetting performance
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 exhibits good adhesion, resolubility, and film-forming properties on non-porous substrates without chemical pre-treatment, ensuring reliable printing with vibrant colors and durability through adhesion, scratch resistance, and resistance to water and alcohol, suitable for industrial applications.
Implementation Method 1
a polymeric dispersant based on a poly(styrene-maleic acid) co-polymer and/or a poly(styrene-maleamic acid) co-polymer
Implementation Method 2
a polymeric dispersant based on a poly(styrene-maleic acid) co-polymer and/or a poly(styrene-maleamic acid) co-polymer
Implementation Method 3
The ink exhibits good adhesion, resolubility, and film-forming properties on non-porous substrates without chemical pre-treatment
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a printing ink composition comprising a polymer selected from a poly(styrene-maleic acid) co-polymer having an acid number of ≥ 225 mg KOH/g, a poly(styrene-maleamic acid) co-polymer having an acid number of ≥ 225 mg KOH/g or a combination thereof, wherein the co-polymer is a lithium, sodium, potassium, ammonium or quaternary ammonium salt or combinations thereof. The printing ink composition is suitable for directly printing onto non-porous substrates particularly without the need for a chemical primer layer or chemical pre-treatment.