Nano-sized ceramic inks for drop-on-demand ink-jet printing in quadrichromy.
Nano-sized ceramic inks suitable for ink-jet printing have been developed for the four-colours CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) process. Nano-inks of different pigment composition (Co(1-x)O, Au(0), Ti(1-x-y)Sb(x)Cr(y)O2, CoFe2O4) have been prepared with various solid loadings and their chemicophysical properties (particle size, viscosity, surface tension, zeta-potential) were tailored for the ink-jet application. The pigment particle size is in the 20-80 nm range. All these nano-suspensions are stable for long time (i.e., several months) due to either electrostatic (high zeta-potential values) or steric stabilization mechanisms. Both nanometric size and high stability avoid problems of nozzle clogging from particles agglomeration and settling. Nano-inks have a Newtonian behaviour with relatively low viscosities at room temperature. More concentrated inks fulfil the viscosity requirement of ink-jet applications (i.e., < 35 mPa x s) for printing temperatures in between 30 and 70 degrees C. Surface tension constraints for ink-jet printing are fulfilled by nano-inks, being in the 35-45 mN x m(-1) range. The nano-sized inks investigated behave satisfactorily in preliminary printing tests on several unfired industrial ceramic tiles, developing saturated colours in a wide range of firing temperatures (1000-1200 degrees C).
CNR-ISTEC, Institute of Science and Technology for Ceramics, Via Granarolo 64, 48018 Faenza, Italy.
Davide
D
Gardini
Michele
M
Dondi
Anna Luisa
AL
Costa
Francesco
F
Matteucci
Magda
M
Blosi
Carmen
C
Galassi
Giovanni
G
Baldi
Elenia
E
Cinotti
D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry*; D016287:Computer Peripherals; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D007281:Ink; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D010316:Particle Size; D011327:Printing / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties
D046911:Macromolecular Substances