Inkjet knowledge feed
Inkjet Technology & Printed Electronics
8 March 2013
In recent years, piezoelectric drop on demand inkjet technology has garnered significant interest in the field of printed electronics.
3D printing: from aeroplane parts to organ transplants: Part 2
2 January 2013
Biomedical applications are perhaps the most interesting field for 3D printing technology. Digitally constructed models of human organs are already being used in the field of medicine to allow for ‘practise run’ surgical operations where extreme delicacy is required.
3D printing: from aeroplane parts to organ transplants: Part 1
29 November 2012
Creating three dimensional objects using printing is a relatively new technology, but one that has already provided value in a wide range of markets.
Inkjet Energy Saving Devices
5 November 2012
Ambient electromagnetic energy exists all around us, emitted from sources such as television transmitters, mobile phone networks and satellite communication systems. A team of researchers at Georgia Tech School of Electrical and Computer Engineering are developing a multitude of devices for harnessing this ambient electromagnetic energy.
Inkjet Explosives Detection
1 October 2012
Explosive detection devices are currently installed at hundreds of thousands of locations worldwide from battlefields in Afghanistan to terminals in airports. It is reasonable to expect that demand for such devices will continue to be high for the foreseeable future.
Digital ceramic printing using inkjet technology
23 August 2012
Inkjet printing on ceramic tiles was introduced in the 1990’s and in its infancy struggled to establish itself alongside industry dominant analogue decoration methods. In these early years, inkjet’s penetration into the ceramics market was hampered by the inability to produce inks with stable formulation and printhead technology which could not support reliable jetting of layer pigments required for ceramic tile printing.
Inkjet deposited functional coatings for textiles
30 March 2012
In a wide range of textile applications, fabrics are selected not only for their aesthetic appearance but also for their functional properties. Functional coatings can be deposited in a number of ways, and inkjet deposition (or "digital finishing") is an emerging technology being used in new textile coating applications.
Selecting the right ink and process for digital textile printing - process
11 November 2011
In the previous article we looked at ink selection. Now we will follow the process through to the complete printed fabric.
Selecting the right ink and process for digital textile printing - ink types
4 November 2011
Digital inkjet technology currently accounts for roughly 1% of every metre printed in the textile industry. To get the best results from a digital textile printer, considerations for the production process and its distinct but related stages are essential. This article covers the entire process from start to finish, including ink selection, fabric selection, pre-treatment and fixation, with ink selection covered first.
Mission-specific 'Digital Camouflage' set to hit the battlefield
14 October 2011
Digital camouflage is a promising application for inkjet printing, allowing mission-specific uniforms to be produced rapidly, with a turnaround time of just a few days. This would enable highly specific patterns to be used, reducing detectivity on the battlefield in comparison with the generalised patterns that are used today.
Get functional: applications of inkjet-printed functional fluids
16 September 2011
Today’s inkjet printed fluids can extend far beyond simply providing colour. Many different industry sectors now benefit from advances in inkjet technology, including printed electronics, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical, food, coatings and packaging with processes including deposition, coating and building structure.
Inkjet printed solar cells
2 September 2011
Solar energy is a global issue and many countries are now under obligation to produce a certain proportion of their electricity by clean and renewable means. Reduction in manufacturing costs is essential for mass adoption, and one way of achieving this is using inkjet printing.
Inkjet microneedles
25 August 2011
It’s no secret medical injections have never been very popular amongst children and adults alike. Fortunately, a new technology is being developed for the controlled delivery of medicinal drugs, catering for complex schedules and dosages – all without the potentially daunting need for a hypodermic needle.
Printing onto 3D objects
18 August 2011
Many of the objects in everyday life are not flat, but have a three dimensional structure. Almost all products need to be decorated in some way to make them attractive to buyers, and if the object needs to be decorated with anything more than simple colours, then printing is required.
Inkjet printing in display applications
4 August 2011
Inkjet printing is becoming increasingly important in display applications, due to its scalable nature and ability to deposit materials additively.
Regenerative medicine: inkjet technology’s new horizon
21 July 2011
Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine in collaboration with the United States Army is designing a revolutionary technique for treatment of burns victims using inkjet printing.
Don’t eat your words: food-safe inks are an important issue
7 July 2011
Packaging has traditionally been printed to provide information about the product, such as branding, sell-by date, ingredients and nutritional content. Digital inkjet printing of food packaging is an important potential application, but care must be taken to ensure food safety requirements are understood.
Seeing the light: UV inkjet inks
23 June 2011
UV cure inkjet inks are used in a number of inkjet printing applications, including wide format graphics and packaging, with a wide range of benefits.