Influence of primers on the optical characteristics of ink-jet imprints

The quality of ink-jet printing depends to a large extent on the technical characteristics of the selected equipment and the surface properties of the printed substrates. It is known that for digital printing it is necessary to use expensive paper with a special coating that determines the degree of gloss of the surface. Therefore, ordinary offset papers before ink-jet printing are covered with primers that ensure good fixation of pigment ink or dye on paper, a wide field of color coverage, characteristic gloss, which generally contribute to high quality of imprints. As you can see, the type of the substrate and the state of its surface has a very great influence on the quality of the imprints. Result of the research, it has been confirmed that not only expensive paper of a special purpose can be used for a drop ink-jet digital printing. High-quality color imprints can also be obtained on ordinary offset and coated paper, coated before printing with special primers based on interpolymeric complexes of polyvinyl alcohol, which will provide sufficient optical density, contrast of images, and expand the possibilities of digital ink-jet printing.

Optimization and evaluation of a blue light photoinitiating system for textile inkjet printing

A blue light curing process was developed to solve the nozzle clogging challenge commonly encountered in conventional textile pigment printing, by using camphorquinone (CQ) and ethyl-4-dimethylaminobenzoate (EDMAB) as a photoinitiator combination and substituting oligomers and monomers for a polymeric binder. High light absorption efficiency was insured by closely matching the spectrum of the photoinitiator with a custom-made blue light light-emitting diode set-up. Kinetic analyses of such a CQ/EDMAB system indicated that the maximum polymerization rate of the monomer was proportional to [PI]0.5 and [I0]0.5, while excessive high photoinitiator concentration (>1 wt%) will decrease the polymerization rate because of the “filter effect.” With optimized blue light curable pigment ink formula and irradiation conditions, the photocurable pigment printed fabrics exhibited uniform and vibrant colors, clear outlines, and excellent wet and dry rubbing fastness of grades 4 and 4–5, respectively.

Synthesis of Emulsion for Water-Based Pigment Ink Jet

The water-based pigment ink jet emulsion whose particle size was less than 100nm was synthesized by the polymerization of methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate and ethylhexyl acrylate, and anionic reactive surfactant and nonionic surfactant were used as the emulsifiers. The effects of particle size and water resistance were studied. The glass transition temperature was tested by differential scanning calorimetry. The average particle size of emulsion was range from 60nm to70nm, zeta potential value was less than -60mv; viscosity was 3.5mps; water absorption was 5.9%.

Synthesis of Styrene-Acrylic Emulsion for Aqueous Glazing Agent

The water-based pigment ink jet emulsion whose particle size was less than 100nm was synthesized by the polymerization of methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate and ethylhexyl acrylate, and anionic reactive surfactant and nonionic surfactant were used as the emulsifiers. The effects of particle size and water resistance were studied. The glass transition temperature was tested by differential scanning calorimetry. The average particle size of emulsion was range from 60nm to70nm, zeta potential value was less than -60mv; viscosity was 3.5mps; water absorption was 5.9%.

Study on Application Performance of Water-Based Pigment Ink on Uncoated Paper

The performances of three kinds of water-based pigment inks were compared and studied, which include self-made ink, original printing ink and compatible ink. Art paper, matte paper and white card paper were used as the substrates. Testing the contact angle of ink droplets, the spreading, wetting, and drying rate of inks were investigated. The color density and CIE L*a*b* values of the printed samples were measured, to evaluate the hue error and color gamut. The water resistance was studied with corresponding experiments. The result indicates: self-made water-based pigment ink has the smallest contact angle on coated paper, showing a faster drying rate. Its color gamut is similar to the original printing ink on art paper, and the hue error is low. Through the water resistance test, the color density measured on art paper and matte paper had no changes, without color dissolving and color fading, showing good water resistance applicability.