A dense transparent ink-jet receptive film that provides instantaneous print drying
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A dense transparent ink-jet receptive film that provides instantaneous print drying Bulent E. Yoldasa) Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213-3890 (Received 15 September 1998; accepted 25 February 1999)
Ink-jet printing is an important image transfer technology. In this technology, the electronic capabilities are often constrained by shortcomings of materials functions. One of the constraints for fast reproduction of high-resolution photographic quality color images is the print dry time. This presents a challenge in the film technology where large quantities of solvent must be rapidly removed without transporting colorants outside the targeted areas. In this work, this is achieved by chemical immobilization of water by organic polymers incorporated into the film matrix. In this dense film, immobilization of large volumes of water becomes possible by a transient local swelling of the matrix— as much as 600–700%. This mechanism of water immobilization not only creates a virtually dry state instantaneously, but also leads to a tighter containment of colorants within the targeted areas, resulting in a significant improvement in edge acuity and image resolution. In addition, the film is printer and ink nonspecific and produces a high gloss on photographic paper. I. INTRODUCTION
Ink-jet printing is widely used for transferring multicolor images onto photographic paper and overhead transparencies by computer printers.1–5 These applications are expected to expand significantly due to the advent of digital cameras. Recently there has been increased recognition that the same technology may be advantageously used to print onto a variety of surfaces including textiles, metals, ceramics, and glass, as suitable coatings for these materials are developed. The coating designed to receive the print largely determines the print dry time, edge acuity, and color fidelity, as well as the optical and chemical stability of the image.6–9 Ink jet printers come under two main types: impulse and continuous printers. In impulse printing droplets of ink, typically 20 mm radius and carrying 20 –40 picoliter of ink, are propelled from a computer-controlled piezoelectric printhead onto the surface of the recording media at high speed. In continuous ink-jet printing electrostatically charged large droplets, e.g., 100 mm, are emitted ultrasonically and deflected in flight to form various patterns on the substrate. Because of the larger droplet size and ultrasonic launching mechanism, this latter method allows use of ceramic colorants and oxides to form three-dimensional components,10–12 and to decorate and transfer images onto ceramic and glass surfaces. High resolution photographic quality image transfer, however, requires computer-driven impulse printers with a high drop density per inch (dpi), delivery, and a coating that does not allow color bleeding. The recording media may receive as many at 600 droplets per inch in a fraction of a second.
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