Magic ink

Ink is the "blood" of inkjet printers. The ink's PH value, viscosity, number of suspended particles, drying time, etc. will have a greater impact on the printing effect and the inkjet head of the printer. The PH value of the original ink is generally maintained at about 7, which is both neutral and moderate in viscosity. The water resistance, smearing resistance and light resistance (anti-fade) of the ink have been repeatedly tested. Compatible ink PH values ​​are all acidic or alkaline. When exposed to air, a small amount of salt will be formed. In addition, the drying time will be slightly longer than that of genuine products, which will make the pattern after spraying unstable.

The influence of ink

Ink plays a decisive role in the accuracy, speed, and quality of color printing on color inkjet printers. The effect of ink on the components of the printhead is particularly important, including the cartridge, nozzle plate, ink flow path, and heater. Ink characteristics include the color of the dye, the number of colors that can be produced (called the full color gamut of the color), water resistance, resistance to light, and printhead performance. In addition, the surface tension, speed, and pH of the ink are the three main characteristics of the ink and play an important role in determining the characteristics of the printer.

Surface tension of the ink

The surface tension of the ink affects many of the printer's performance. For example, the wettability of all print head components that affect ink contact, such as cartridges and ink flow channels. The surface tension and wettability, in turn, affect the back pressure maintained in the cartridge, which in turn severely affects the rate at which the chamber refills the ink after a single ink droplet is heated and ejected. The refill time is a major indicator for determining the nozzle heating frequency, which directly affects the print speed.

Ink surface tension also affects the dot diameter and ink drying time produced by a certain size of ink, which in turn determines the throughput of the printer. The shorter the drying time, the faster the print speed may be. Surface tension also affects the optical density of ink droplets, which in turn affects print quality. Finally, the surface tension affects the activation energy necessary to form a bubble nucleus on the surface of the heater, and the activation energy affects the design of the heater. The ink speed strongly influences the geometric factors of the ink flow passage, and the geometric factors affect the ink refill time. It also affects the size of ink dots formed on the paper surface, which affects the print quality.

The pH of the ink

The required pH of the ink is determined by the ink composition, especially the solubility requirements of the dye. Most of the dyes are soluble in the pH range of 2-10. The inks of various manufacturers have different pH values. Currently, Lexmark's chemists have developed a special black dye that replaces liquid dyes. The dispersant causes the very small carbon particles in the ink to remain suspended without being deposited by gravity. This black dye is very sensitive to pH, showing that the solubility of the dye decreases as the pH value decreases. This maintains that the dye is still soluble when attached to paper; however, as the ink dries, its solubility becomes less. Proofs printed using this type of ink will remain clear even when soaked in water. This is the mystery that the printed manuscript of the Lexmark printer resists blisters and does not fade.

Color inkjet technology involves many disciplines and engineering disciplines from physical to ink chemistry, especially the magic of ink, beyond our imagination, so it can absolutely be regarded as a product of a top technology.