Ink-jet printing is a topic that printers are currently concerned about. It is a kind of digital printing. Using digital data to store images, it can change its output content before output, so it High speed, small amount of copy, easy combination, variable information printing, low pollution, etc. Inkjet printing has expanded the connotation of traditional printing in terms of the printing format, the diversification of ink and printing media, and now has formed a digital inkjet printing, digital proofing, digital inkjet market and so on.
Inkjet printing is a contactless, pressureless, and non-printing printing technology. The earliest development was in 1878. By 1951, Siemens patented the technology of converting liquid ink into ink droplets. There were problems and the results were poor. It was not until 1960 that it officially entered the practical stage. With the continuous development and progress of technology and the continuous expansion of the market, according to the forecast of the United States ITStrategies Company, by 2009, the total revenue of the global inkjet market (including hardware, inkjet printing media and ink) will exceed 57 billion US dollars.
The color performance and high image quality of inkjet printing have satisfied most consumers, but the time for printing is still too slow, and the requirements for paper are also high. Although there are many special inkjet papers on the market, However, the prices are high, and it is difficult for general families and student populations to use them universally. Therefore, inkjet technology can be widely applied to various types of paper. This is the most pressing technology that needs to be developed now, if the special paper for special materials is to be used for parity It is not easy, so developing a new ink composition is a straightforward and effective method.
The ink used for ink-jet printing is a special-purpose ink with a moderate viscosity, and is non-toxic, stable, does not clog the nozzle, has good moisture retention, good jetting properties, and does not corrode the metal components of the head. At present, ink-jet inks are mostly dye-based inks. The ink of the ink-jet printer must have sufficient surface tension to prevent the ink from spattering when ejected. In addition, the ink must be fast-drying to prevent haziness on the paper. Therefore, the ink itself is also one of the factors that affect the print quality. The choice of suitable ink when printing, adjusting the printing parameters in order to get a satisfactory print.
First, the composition of inkjet inks, types
Ink is a very important part of inkjet printing. The development of inkjet ink also explains the development of inkjet printing technology to a certain extent, because ink not only determines the quality of inkjet images, but also determines the ink droplets. Shape and reliability of the printing system. Inkjet inks generally consist of colorants, binders, and additives. The ink binder can be water, oily materials, solvents, resins, etc. It determines the dynamic properties of the ink distribution; in inkjet inks, the binders account for 40%-90%. The colorant plays a role of color development in the ink, generally accounting for 1%-10%. The rest is called additive, which is mainly used to improve the ink viscosity, adhesion strength, thermal stability, light resistance and surface tension.
In general, there are many types of ink used in the inkjet printing process, and there are many classification methods. At present, inks can generally be classified according to their different aspects. In general, inks are classified into water-based inks, oil-based inks, solvent-based inks, and thermosetting inks according to different linking materials.