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The fluorescent properties of cadmium telluride (CdTe) containing quantum dots (QDs) have led to novel products and applications in the ink and pigment industry. The toxic effects of the emissions associated to the use of printing ink containing CdTe QDs might differ from those of conventional formulations which do not integrate nanoparticles, as CdTe QDs might be emitted. Within this work, the airborne emissions of a water-soluble fluorescent ink containing polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated CdTe QDs of 3-5 nm diameter have been characterized and studied under controlled conditions during household inkjet printing in a scenario simulating the use phase. Subsequently, the cytotoxicological potential of atomized CdTe QDs ink in an acute exposure regimen simulating an accidental, worse-case scenario has been evaluated in vitro at the air-liquid interface (ALI) using the pulmonary cell line BEAS-2B. Endpoints screened included cell viability, oxidative stress and inflammatory effects. We have observed that CdTe QDs ink at 54.7 ng/mL decreased cell viability by 25.6 % when compared with clean air after 1h of exposure; a concentration about 65 times higher was needed to observe a similar effect in submerged conditions. However, we did not observe oxidative stress or inflammatory effects. The present study integrates the development of scenarios simulating the use phase of nano-additivated inks and the direct cell exposure for in vitro effects assessment, thus implementing a life-cycle oriented approach in the assessment of the toxicity of CdTe QDs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors report no declarations of interest., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

This article is a brief review of the history of printing, centred around the life and inventions of Johannes Gutenberg, who is widely regarded as the father of printing. Starting with what we know of the earliest developments in printing in China, the article will present the little knowledge we have about Gutenberg's life and a summary of his contribution to the invention and development of the printing press and its associated technologies. This will be illuminated by an examination of how his most famous publication, the 42-line Gutenberg Bible, came to be created. Gutenberg's improvements to the chemistry of metal type and printing ink are outlined. The crucial importance of printing on the development of European society in the critical periods of the Reformation and the Renaissance and in the development and culture of science is obvious, but the lasting impact of the language of printing in today's world is surprising. Johannes Gutenberg is widely regarded as the father of printing through his contribution to the invention and development of the printing press and associated technologies such as the chemistry of metal type and printing ink. His work has had a major impact on the development and culture of science and on the language of printing in today's world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Color-jet 3D printing (CJP) technology-based machines are now being developed, and there is a need to identify the successful adoption of this technology for additive manufacturing (AM). Extensive literature review complemented with experts' advice utilized systematically helped in the identification of 12 critical factors for the effective adoption of color-jet printing technology. A hierarchical structural model is developed using interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and analyzed using Matriced Impacts Croise's Multiplication Appliquée a UN Classement (MICMAC). Identified software and the machine cost are primary drivers for this color-jet 3D printing machines (technology). The value of this technology is to provide the product at a lower cost and give useful applications in the area of medical, engineering and concept building. There is a need for developing better quality core material and post-processing material, further supported by enabling machine hardware and software. Accuracy and color texture of the part produced are essential to provide a technological advantage over existing technologies. Post-processing assists in a big way in imparting necessary properties to the part produced. Presently, the infiltrate/post-processing materials are limited, and for large-scale acceptability, one needs extensive multidisciplinary research and development. This research provides a structural model toward the adoption of color-jet 3D printing technology, which can also help users in evaluating this technology in broader AM framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The properties of 2D materials are unparalleled when compared to their 3D counterparts; many of these properties are a consequence of their size reduction to only a couple of atomic layers. Metallic, semiconducting, and insulating types can be found and form a platform for a new generation of devices. Among the possible methods to utilize 2D materials, functional printing has emerged as a strong contender because inks can be directly formulated from dispersions obtained by liquid‐phase exfoliation. Printed graphene‐based devices are shifting from laboratory applications toward real‐world and mass‐producible systems going hand in hand with a good understanding of suitable exfoliation methods for the targeted type of ink. Such a clear picture does not yet exist for hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN), the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), and black phosphorous (BP). Rather, reports of applications of these 2D materials in printed devices are scattered throughout the literature, not yet adding to a comprehensive and full understanding of the relevant parameters. This perspective starts with a summary of the most important features of inks from exfoliated graphene. For h‐BN, the TMDs, and BP, the characteristic properties when exfoliated from solution and strategies to formulate inks are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oils and solvents are the main components of the printing ink, and the chemical composition of the ink could be harmful or toxic to human health and the environment. Therefore, there is an increasing demand to develop inks containing green, biobased, sustainable, and renewable raw materials instead of petrochemical substances. In this study, flaxseed oil (FO), pomegranate seed oil, plum kernel oil (PKO), and grape seed oil (GSO) were selected to produce offset printing inks. Pinus pinaster (P. pinaster) resin was also used in the formulation of inks to examine the effects of natural resin on ink together with vegetable oils. The phenolic content was analyzed for the resin and oils to figure out their potential antioxidant and bioactive characteristics. Optical and rheological tests were applied to evaluate the printability of the inks. L*a*b*, ΔE, density, and gloss tests were performed for optical evaluation. The viscosity, tack, and rub resistance tests were applied to perform rheological analysis. The biobased, environmental friendly, and self‐drying (cold set) offset printing inks were obtained using natural pine resin and three different plant‐based oils FO, PKO, and GSO. The printability analysis of the inks figured out the potential usage of plant‐based oils in the offset printing ink formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The anti-counterfeiting SERS tag (Ag@SiO 2) encoding with flexible information was fabricated. • The anti-counterfeiting Ag@SiO 2 shown high security, excellent stability and anti-interference property. • The Ag@SiO 2 was successfully printing on surface of paper through security ink and shown excellent anti-counterfeiting effect. The core–shell structured Ag@SiO 2 nanomaterial integrated with surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy promises a critical application in anti-counterfeiting. Security labels have been fabricated based on Ag@SiO 2 embedded with Raman reporters. The Ag@SiO 2 nanomaterial shows good stability and excellent anti-interference property for anti-counterfeiting. Multiple kinds of Raman probe molecules have been anchored in the Ag@SiO 2 labels to provide specific and abundant encoding information. The flexible encoding security information could be controlled conveniently by adjusting probe molecules, which not only enrich the SERS information but also improve the level of anti-counterfeiting. Furthermore, the Ag@SiO 2 shown excellent stability in organic solvent, and successfully used in ink for the anti-counterfeiting application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A pyridine-coumarin based probe senses cyanide ion in water. • The probe showed color change from red to blue fluorescence with turn-on response. • The probe used as a digital printing ink material and showed color change for CN− ion. • The developed probe effectively detects cyanide ion in different water samples. The work designed and described here is for the effective recognition of cyanide ion. A novel core (PC) with coumarin moiety as a signaling unit and pyridinium as an acceptor unit and these moieties linked by π-conjugation. In which CN− ion binds in the pyridine ring via nucleophilic addition and produces changes that are captured by different techniques to prove its sensing efficiency. The probe displays a visual color variation to pale orange from purple and also exhibits blue fluorescence from red fluorescence upon cyanide addition. The probe PC sensing ability towards CN− ion has been confirmed by various spectral measurement. In UV–visible technique, a blue shift was observed by the probe with CN− ion. In fluorescence measurements, a peak appeared at 704 nm, which corresponds to the probe encountering a peak enhancement with the added cyanide ion. The binding stoichiometric ratio among the probe and CN− ion is to be 1:1 in jobs method. The probes detection limit and binding constant were calculated to be 0.39 nM and 7.07x104 M. The probe is used as a single component ink and injected into a cartridge and printed on paper which is used as a tool to detect cyanide in water. Besides, the probe successfully senses cyanide ion in various water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With an eye towards improving the safety of the deposition of energetic materials while broadening the scope of materials compatible with inkjet printing, this work demonstrates the use of combinatorial inkjet printing for the deposition of energetic materials. Two largely inert colloidal suspensions of nanoaluminum and nanocopper (II) oxide in dimethylformamide with polyvinylpyrrolidone were sequentially deposited on a substrate using piezoelectric inkjet printing. The materials were deposited in such a way that the aluminum and copper (II) oxide droplets were adjacent, and overlapping, to allow for in situ mixing of the components. The alternating deposition was repeated to create a sample with multiple layers of energetic materials. Energetic performance was subsequently tested on samples printed with 3, 5, and 7 layers of materials using a spark igniter. This ignition event was observed with a high speed camera and compared to representative samples printed with pre-mixed nanothermite. High speed thermal imaging supported a conclusion that the maximum reaction temperature of comparable samples printed with the dual nozzle technique was nominally 200K less than the samples printed with a single nozzle. Scanning transmission electron microscopy images confirmed a claim that the material constituents were comparably mixed with the single and dual nozzle techniques. This work proves the feasibility of reactive inkjet printing as a means for depositing energetic materials from two largely inert suspensions. In doing so, it opens the doors for safer material handling and the development of a wide array of energetic materials that were previously deemed incompatible with inkjet printing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic semiconductors have the potential features to enhance the stability and performance of printed electronic devices. In this work, we present a microcantilever ($\mu \text{C}$) printed device by using zinc oxide (ZnO) and silver nanoparticles (AgNP) ink. Two types of devices have been fabricated on silicon wafers using two methods: (i) the ZnO ink is printed between two $\mu \text{C}$ printed AgNP electrodes separated within a sub- $5~\mu \text{m}$ gap (ii) the ZnO ink have been drop-casted between two $\mu \text{C}$ printed AgNP electrodes. Therefore the first type of devices is a fully printed structure. The measurements of both devices show distinct electrical aspects corresponding to the different additive fabrication approach. Furthermore, the fully printed Schottky diode exhibits a remarkable high on/off current ratio of $1.85\times 10^{{5}}$ at room temperature with a barrier height of 0.49 eV and series resistance of 594 $\text{k}\Omega $. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a new waterborne acrylic copolymer resin (acrylic‐co‐resin) was synthesized to develop water‐based printing inks on polyester (PET) film. The synthesized acrylic resin showed good water solubility, high acid value (120 mg KOH/g), about 57% solid content. The developed water‐based inks (cyan, magenta, and yellow) exhibited small particle size (<1 μm) and optimum surface energy within required values (31.5, 32, and 30 mN/m) for good adhesion of ink upon PET films. The developed inks also showed good storage stability for 30 days. Further, to evaluate the application performance, the inks were printed on corona‐treated PET films at room temperature, and the ink drying time was measured. Further, the inks were printed on the corona‐treated PET film to evaluate the application performance. The developed inks showed a short drying time (7–9 s), which indicates their fast drying nature. Moreover, the developed inks showed good printability, color strength, high adhesion, and excellent rub‐resistant properties. Thus, the overall results demonstrated the potential of water‐based inks in printing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adaptive camouflage refers to the adaptation of an object, such as a military vehicle or soldier, to its surroundings. Although the use of camouflage by military forces dates back to the First World War, this research will address the development of an adaptive color changeable system based on selected thermochromic inks following the colors used in Czech woodland and desert combat uniforms. The printed color pattern mimics leaf design, which transforms into desert design based on thermal conditions (hot air and body temperature). Target colors were prepared using six thermochromic inks, which were combined into a suitable mixture based on measured spectral and colorimetric data. The transition temperature of each thermochromic ink was measured together with the fastness properties of the printed color pattern. The data on rubbing fastness were satisfactory. Nevertheless, at high concentrations, thermochromic ink in the printing paste caused an unacceptable decrease in fastness. The wash property of printed fabrics showed reasonably good fixation of colors to the fabric surface. From the point of view of light fastness, the results confirmed that commercial thermochromic pigments are less resistant against solar radiation, and the resulting light fastness is between 1 and 2 on the blue scale. The special hydrophobic and UV treatment applied by the knife-over-roll method improved light fastness by 3–4 times. In this research, we demonstrated the potential to create a complex and dynamic range of patterns on textiles, with the promise of using one uniform for camouflaging in different types of environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital printing technologies, such as inkjet or aerosol jet, are becoming increasingly interesting for the manufacturing of electronic devices. As a maskless and contactless process, it offers the potential for low-cost deposition of functional materials onto flat, flexible, or 3-D substrates. Common inks used for printed electronics are nanoparticle (NP) metal inks. Silver (Ag) is widely used because of its excellent conductivity, but also gold (Au) inks are of interest for several applications. By using NP inks, it is possible to integrate conductive paths and sensors onto temperature-sensitive substrate materials, such as polymers. Polymers often need a pretreatment, such as a plasma treatment for improving the wetting. Plasma treatment usually changes the wetting behavior of the complete substrate surface. This could be critical for some applications, e.g., fluidic applications, where the original properties of the substrate should be kept. Low-pressure plasma as a vacuum process is also difficult for implementation into an existing process. In this article, laser irradiation for local improvement in wetting of an inkjet-printed gold ink on polymer substrates is investigated. The experiments show that laser irradiation is a very promising technique for the modification of polymer surfaces and suitable for inkjet printing NP inks on hydrophobic polymer surfaces. This offers new opportunities for printed electronics, which could be easily integrated into the existing processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shock‐tube detonators, used in the mining industry to initiate charges of blasting explosives, often contain pyrotechnic delay‐lines for controlling the sequence of blasts. Traditionally, delay‐lines consist of pyrotechnic compounds of toxic metals such as lead which are pressed into the metallic tubing. Since lead is well‐known to be a hazard both to people and the environment, lead‐free alternatives were investigated to create a delay‐line composition. Further, to create delay‐lines cheaply and reproducibly, a composition was developed that could be printed onto a substrate. Screen printing was investigated for this purpose. The pyrotechnic ink that we developed consists of two inert inks (a fuel and an oxidiser) so that it can be stored and transported safely and conveniently without being classified as an energetic. After being transported to its destination, the two inks can be mixed to form an energetic (wet) ink, printed, and used as a delay‐line when dry. A silicon‐bismuth trioxide composition bonded together using nitrocellulose was found to be a suitable ink for screen printing. The burning rate was measured as 52±7 mm s−1 for a thickness of 100 μm. This thickness reduces the raw delay‐line material by over 90 % compared to traditional 3D delay‐lines. The target burning rate was 24 mm/s, but the measured rate is sufficiently close to this that changes in geometry could meet this requirement. The critical thickness for a self‐sustainable burn was measured as 40±5 μm. The thermal output and viscosity of the ink were determined as functions of the particle size. The viscosity of the ink was determined as 7.04±0.05 Pa s, which is suitable for screen printing. Milling was used to reduce the particle size below 1 μm. Ignition of the printed delay‐line using shock tubing was achieved through overprinting with a shock‐sensitive ink. The burning rate of a delay‐line is one of its most defining properties when used in mining applications. Thus the effect on the delay‐line's burning rate of the pyrotechnic composition printed thickness, and the ink solvent was investigated. We found that the burning rate could be modified by changing the silicon content in the pyrotechnic, and to some extent, by adding aluminum. Adding a third, slowly evaporating solvent, to the ink vehicle was found to reduce the critical thickness to less than 40 μm, decrease the burning rate to 46±7 mm s−1, and enhance the ink's flow properties. We found that the width of printed lines did not affect the burning rate for widths between 1–5 mm. This is an interesting result and could be used to determine the most cost‐effective shape to produce printed delay‐lines. Ignition of the printed delay‐line using shock tubing was achieved through overprinting with a shock‐sensitive ink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Varia História is the property of Varia Historia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract This study investigated inkjet-printed vertical interconnect vias with silver ink for ultrathin system-on-package technology. Inkjet-printing parameters such as droplet spacing, jetting frequency, number of droplets, and substrate temperature were determined based on surface morphology of the vias. The interval time between multipass printings was used to evaporate the solvent and avoid ink overflow. Two-step inkjet printing was used to fill a drilled via with aspect ratio of 1 (100 μm depth/diameter) that resembles the frustum of a cone. First, the via is printed on the substrate using 1 kHz jetting frequency and 30 μm droplet spacing at 60 °C and 125 passes. The jetting frequency and droplet spacing are then increased to 3 kHz and 40 μm and the passes up to 200 to increase the printing length for filling up the via. Inkjet-printed vertical interconnection was fabricated for ultrathin packages applications. Highlights • Inkjet-printed vertical interconnect vias with silver ink was developed. • Droplet spacing, jetting frequency, number of droplet, and temperature were determined. • Interval time between multipass printings is required for droplet drying. • Two-step inkjet printing was used to fill up via with 100 μm depth/diameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In printing, the most important element is to obtain the correct substrate and ink combination. Transparent white and opaque white are used for the lightening of printing inks, but they are also an important component for the mixing of inks. The primary objective of this study was to assess the result of using transparent and opaque white in mineral oil-based offset printing inks on the rheological and printability properties of these inks as well as the ideal mixing ratios in terms of print quality. Transparent and opaque white were added into the standard offset magenta ink variable ratios. Differences in ink viscosity, tack, and flow (rheological) values affect such parameters as adhesion, transferability, and printing stability in these inks. Prints were made on matt-coated papers of the same grammage with these inks, and contact angle, solid ink density, color strength, and print gloss values of these ink films were measured. Color differences () of inks in comparison to the standard ink were calculated and the effects of transparent and opaque white on the rheological and printability properties of the ink were presented. Finally, the ideal mixture ratios of transparent and opaque white into the ink were determined in terms of print quality and recommendations were presented. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Solid‐state supercapacitors and micro­supercapacitors are fabricated from a pristine graphene ink by solution casting and inkjet printing. The devices exhibit high performance, with a volumetric device capacitance up to 17.8 F cm−3. With a simple fabrication process and robust tolerance to mechanical deformation, this work represents a promising technology for low‐cost, portable, and flexible energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the possibility of using paper based on lint cellulose with addition of licorice cellulose for printing. The physical, mechanical and printing characteristics of paper, were studied towards this end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers suggestions for implementing the findings of Print Industries Market Information and Research Organization's (PRIMIR), a market research association, study on value-added printing and finishing. It mentions that the appropriate value-added services for existing customers should be explored before choosing ways for embellishing print. It notes that it is helpful to develop a print promotion using scented inks. It also emphasizes the need to know the business of one's client.

Highlights: [•] The conversion in printed ink and varnish layers was determined by NIR spectroscopy. [•] The thickness of the layers was 1.2gm−2 for the ink and 2.8gm−2 for the varnish. [•] Quantitative analysis of the spectral data was based on chemometric methods. [•] In-line monitoring of the conversion was carried out at an offset printing press. [•] The predicting errors were 4.5% for the ink and 4.0% for the varnish. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Determining the sequencing of intersecting ink lines is one of the current problems for forensic document examiners. The way two inks will distribute and interact with each other and the paper at the crossing is a dynamic process that can be affected by many variables. Thus, the main purpose of this manuscript is to visualize and have a more comprehensive understanding of this process as well as study a methodology for determining the correct order of intersecting ink lines. For this, overlapping layers of different types of inks from writing instruments and printers were cross-sectioned and examined with a microscope. Results from pen/pen crossings showed that liquid-liquid and gel-gel intersections tended to form a double layer but oil-oil intersections usually formed mixtures. Additionally, oil-liquid and oil- gel intersections tended to form a double layer whenever the oil ink was on top and liquid-gel intersections tended to form a double layer for almost all crossings with exception of the ones involving a gel pen ink from one manufacturer. Results from pen/printer crossings showed the formation of a double layer only when the printer ink was on top of the pen ink. On the other permutation, the pen ink tended to penetrate through the printer ink producing the mixture of both inks. The inks drying time was found to be an important factor affecting the interaction between two inks in a crossing, particularly crossings involving gel pen inks. On the contrary, the type of paper and the writing pressure showed no significant influence on the inks distribution at the crossing. The methodology developed was reproducible with overlapping layers but there were many experimental difficulties during the validation process of intersections representing real crossings. Moreover, interpretation was dependent on the operator's eye which was a limiting factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermochromic printing inks are known for their low stability under the influence of various external conditions, but the consequences of the phenomenon on dynamic colorimetric properties have not yet been analysed. In this work, thermochromic prints were exposed to light and heated at two different temperatures, 150 and 200 °C, for varying time periods. The changes to the dynamic colour properties of the samples were described. It was found that both exposure to light and heating to high temperatures degrade the dynamic properties of thermochromic inks; however, they have different effects on the colour hysteresis. The corresponding loops contract with light exposure and heating, which is best described by the area of the entire colour loop. Exposure to light broadens the corresponding loop, while heating makes it narrower. The chemical stability of inks after exposure was also analysed by forced oxidation applying weakly ionised oxygen plasma. Stability of thermochromic samples is a combined effect of the binder, the polymeric shell and the active core inside the pigment capsules. The results show that poor stability against light and high temperatures has different origins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract There are a number of plate imaging options for flexographic printing. The type of plate used and the way it is processed affect the trace resolution and ink transfer of the conductive material. The authors have recently completed one of, if not the largest research studies ever conducted in printed electronics. Over 45,000 resistances were measured and nearly 1000 three-dimensional optical profiles were obtained, from which a variety of morphological parameters were measured. Many printing variables were examined, including plate material, imaging and plate processing conditions, trace orientation, anilox cell volume, plate type, line and gap width, and orientation. Aqueous, nano-silver inks were printed on both PET and coated paper. The impact of these printing process variables on the conductivity and resulting printed trace width and minimum reverse will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inkjet printing as a clean printing technology for textile has attracted more and more people's attention. The current situation of the inkjet printing including of printing machine, inkjet printing ink and the method for improving the printing quality was introduced. The key technologies of the preparation of reactive ink, acid ink, disperse ink and pigment ink was illustrated. It is considered that the pigment ink is the most potential coloring agent in the inkjet printing for the future, and the ink which prepared with the polymer-encapsulated pigment is a better way to solve the fastness of the textile printed with pigmented ink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-based ink-jet inks were prepared using press cake samples of two commercially available azo disperse dyes. The suitability of the inks for printing polyester fabric was evaluated via measurement of surface tension, conductivity, viscosity, pH and particle size distribution. Inks prepared by the proposed method fulfill most requirements for an ink-jet ink depending on the colorant structure, the dispersing agent and the alcohol used. The inks were applied to polyester fabric by both printing and dyeing and the fastness of the ensuing coloured samples was assessed. The fastness properties of the dyed and printed polyester samples were found to be very good to excellent and generally meet accepted customer requirements. Oil-in-water microemulsions containing the same colorants were also prepared. Their properties, which are crucial to the suitability for ink-jet ink, were compared with those of the conventionally prepared inks and were found to be improved, with the exception of conductivity, while surface tension remained within acceptable values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blister-actuated laser-induced forward transfer (BA-LIFT) is a direct-write technique, which enables high-resolution printing of sensitive inks for electronic or biological applications. During BA-LIFT, a polymer laser-absorbing layer deforms into an enclosed blister and ejects ink from an adjacent donor film. In this work, we develop a finite element model to replicate and predict blister expansion dynamics during BA-LIFT. Model inputs consist of standard mechanical properties, strain-rate-dependent material parameters, and a parameter encapsulating the thermal and optical properties of the film. We present methods to determine these material parameters from experimental measurements. The simulated expansion dynamics are shown to be in good agreement with experimental measurements using two different polymer layer thicknesses. Finally, the ability to model high-fluence blister rupture is demonstrated through a strain-based failure approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A conductive aqueous polymer suspension of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate), or PEDOT:PSS, was used as the basis for an inkjet-printable and translucent conductive material. Several types of surfactants were used to achieve suitable particle sizes for inkjet printing, with Zonyl™ FS-300 non-ionic surfactant providing suitable surface tension, stability and dispersion. Viscosity was controlled using water and glycerol. Glycerol was also included as a humectant. 10 w/w% polar solvent (dimethyl sulfoxide) was used to increase conductivity, as a co-solvent and as a viscosity modifier. Carbon nanotubes, both single- and multi-walled, were dispersed in the ink to further improve its conductivity. The optimized ink was printed onto coated photo-paper and cellulose acetate (CA) substrates and characterized for ink layer thickness and conductivity. The effect of paper folding and peeling of an adhesive strip from the ink surface on the conductivity of the printed samples was also characterized. Optical microscopy showed that the conductive ink was contained almost entirely in the pores of the photo-paper coating layer and fibres, but remained as a film on the CA surface. In the case of photo-paper, failure occurred primarily at the coating–paper interface. The cohesive failure compromised the conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS layer contained in the coating. In the case of CA (within the coating layer), the PEDOT:PSS film's conductivity was not significantly affected by folding or peeling. This suggests that PEDOT:PSS is a robust conductive material well-suited to applications requiring significant flexibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important concern when developing new inks containing novel, bulk, solid-state additives is to ensure consistency during the printing process. In particular, the additives should not build up on the rollers, blankets or plates during printing. In this work we describe a method for detecting such events and quantitatively monitoring, in real time, the consistency of developmental inks during commercial printing processes. The technique employs a two-component mixture of emissive nanoparticles whose ratio becomes variable in a non-homogeneous environment. Even tiny variations in the ratio can be readily and dynamically detected in real time using a fibre-optic equipped fluorescence microspectrometer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the significance of a well-defined optical properties in determining ink-setting behavior and paper-ink interaction. Printing conditions such as speed, nip geometry, and materials have significant influence. Measurement of print gloss development with time can be a useful tool when investigating paperink interactions, because the gloss of the non-dry ink film correlates with final dry print gloss and paper-ink interactivity. Moreover, high print gloss is a major attribute of quality for offset printing paper grades.

Abstract: Lithographic offset inks are pigment dispersions that behave as pseudoplastic, thixotropic fluids. Printers, who use these fluids in offset printing, judge some aspects of ink quality using a set of practiced visual and tactile perceptions that are referred to collectively as the “ink body.” Measurements of ink flow behavior are routinely performed to validate offset ink quality, but the measurements usually have been restricted to a small number of readings, such as a viscosity and a yield value. These measures, although suitable to provide some level of flow description of the ink, do not sufficiently represent perceptions of the fluid properties. A sequence of tests was developed to correspond more closely to an evaluation of ink body observable through sensory interaction with the fluid by sight and touch. Offset inks with a wide range of different body characteristics were rated by a sensory panel on a scorecard. Measurements in the test sequence were then used to predict the sensory panel ratings according to an algorithm obtained by partial least squares (PLS) regression analysis. Overall, the broader rheological description provides a better representation of the flow properties of offset printing ink. The test is suitable for practical use in a manufacturing environment for quality assurance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Extensive examination of thermal ink-jet cartridges has revealed that their maximum lifetime is limited by two major mechanisms: The first is the deterioration of the heaters caused by the ink-jet propelling bubble combined with the high temperature of operation of the heaters. The second is deterioration caused by direct current leakage from the heater through the ink chamber creating unwanted electrolytic byproducts. To eliminate both of these effects, it is proposed to eliminate the electrical heaters used to generate the propelling bubble and replacing them by electrodes passing a high-frequency current through the printing ink to form a propelling bubble. To evaluate this system, it is necessary to experimentally determine the electrical characteristics of the ink to determine the efficiency of heating by the applied current, in the range from 100 KHz to 200 MHz. It was found that standard ink-jet inks, now in use, can be efficiently coupled to the drive transistors within this range without altering ink composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Teknoloji is the property of Engineering Science & Technology, an International Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article discusses the importance of choosing the right color systems to maximize the benefits of automation and standardization for printing jobs. Refining printed materials usually begins with multicolor printing, which is needed if a client wants its logo printed in the exact spot color as its corporate logo. At Nampak Cartons Europe, using the FMsix color system was a great success. The company was able to change entirely piles automatically, thus decreasing the inventory of spot color inks from 500 to about a little over 100.

The section of "Textile Digital Printing Technologies," focuses on the inks used in textile printing. It is mentioned that inks are comprised of a colorant, a carrier base and various additives. The carrier base may be water, solvent, oil, or phase change fluid. But, nearly all the inks for textile printing are water based because they are designed for heads that require water-based inks. The function of the carrier base is completed after the diposition of ink on the substrate. Colorants bears their importance by putting color on the textile. Also are mentioned the chemical composition and physical properties of inks.

Little is known about the distribution of offset ink components in coated paper, although this is likely to be critical to print quality. This work focused on two fundamental processes that cause differences in distribution of ink constituents into a coating structure during printing. In the first, adsorptive chromatographic fractionation, chemical components of an ink mixture separate on contact with the paper coating due to their different adsorption characters. These differences arise from coating pigment chemistry, surface area, and morphology variables. In the second, latex-oil diffusion, molecular movement due to a concentration gradient takes place as oil molecules penetrate into the polymer latex matrix. Our results indicated that adsorptive chromatographic fractionation, and the resulting distribution of ink constituents in a coating structure after printing, affected print quality parameters such as print gloss and density. Latex-oil diffusion and its constituents' distribution affected ink setting dynamics during printing, but did not influence print gloss or density. The inference is that adsorption onto the paper coating material surfaces delays permeation (sorption into the coating paper) of the slightly polar ink oils, hence delaying the concentration of solved ink resins on the ink-coating interface. Absorption through diffusion of ink oils by the paper coating latex internal matrix usually takes longer. In volumetric terms, it occurs away from the initial critical concentrating region of ink setting and cohesive ink tack build-up. Superimposed on these effects is the capillarity arising from the packing of pigments and binders. Application: Mills, converters, and printers can use the results from this study in optimizing the coating formulations for desired print quality, and in understanding how different coating chemistry changes the printing results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of gravure offset printing methods at an industrial level requires a wide and deep knowledge of the printing properties of the inks. Novel hydrocarbon inks were developed with superior printing properties compared to alternative ethyl cellulose-based inks. There are principal behaviour properties of these inks that can be generally described. In particular, the resistance dependence of printed mass for single and multiprints and on the other hand, the effect of multiprinting on printed area smoothness and line height. This article summarizes the results obtained and describes printing properties and defects: line widening, hair formation, ink flow from the gravure grooves, pinholes, image distortions, ribbing, scooping, streaking and gravure groove blocking. Three different printed samples were demonstrated, which are best suited for this manufacturing method: interdigital capacitor, inductor coil and laser soldering substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of surface friction on the performance of cellulases in the removal of screen printing ink from cotton fabric is investigated. The removal of Ink can be correlated to the amount of ink and the amount of surface friction. It is shown that enzymes are responsible for the removal of ink. The cleavage of cellulose chains and the surface friction have to be simultaneous. On the basis of the experiments, a simple model is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes a set of models that are used to manage the product and process design in a mass placement printed circuit board (PCB) assembly cell. PCBs are found in virtually all electronic equipment manufactured today: computers, audio-video systems and telephones. This mass usage has placed extreme demands on efficient production of PCBS in terms of cost, weight, volume and reliability. This pressure has led to the development of sophisticated manufacturing systems that primarily mount components onto or into the printed circuit boards. Recent developments in electronic circuit card manufacturing have enabled mass placement of components as opposed to single placement of components into printed circuit boards. Mass placement robots conceptually resemble printing machines with color printing capabilities, in which each color is run with a different plate. Similarly, in mass placement, each plate mounts a subset of components defined by the bill of materials. The simultaneous placement of components is a viable manufacturing strategy when there is a high demand for similar board types, that is, high volume but with low variety. The critical issue in the design of a mass placement PCB cell is the minimization of the number of workstations needed to mount the electronic components on the boards. The number of stations depends on the design of the PCBs, primarily the layout of the components and their orientations on the board.

Magnetic nanoparticles with a core/shell structure were fabricated by a sol-gel method and following hydrogen reduction process. The reduction process changed the crystal structure of synthesized nanoparticles from iron-oxide single phase to iron phase covered with an iron-aluminum oxide shell layer. These nanoparticles were dispersed by homogenizing and ultrasonication in order to form ferromagnetic ink. Using synthesized ink, patterns with soft magnetic properties were successfully printed on Si substrates by a direct printing method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the industry advances in ink and toner chemistry which results to improvements in quality of digital printing. Developments in the production and quality of toners and dry inks, the main component for inkjet and laser printing, has stemmed to improved print quality. Manufacturers such as Canon, Ricoh, and Konica Minolta are continuously developing cost-effective and high-quality toners. The high cost of toners and inks has led to the emergence of the aftermarket or remanufacturing industry.

Organic materials offer the possibility of printing flexible electronic devices with large area coverage in a printing press. Usually this vision conflicts with the requirement of high-resolution feature formation. The authors demonstrate here that thin film transistors with 2 μm channel length can be printed using a reel-to-reel compatible process. The development of a dry printing method used in combination with a high-resolution, solvent resistant plates, and sintered metallic nanoinks enables high-resolution printing of functional liquid inks. In addition, dry printing allows for the sequential printing of solid films overcoming the severe solvent incompatibility issues faced by standard printing techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]