Water-based, color, pigmented ink jet inks for thermal ink jet printers

摘要

Since the introduction of the first, high resolution, wide format, thermal ink jet (TIJ) graphics color printer by Encad in 1992, end users have been using these printers for a multitude of graphics applications. Until 1996 the performance of theoutput from these printers has proven to be inadequate for applications where the printed graphic was exposed to direct sunlight. The colorants used in the inks in these printers were based on water-soluble dyes used in office ink jet printers that offerinadequate light fastness. Today water based, pigmented, light fast inks are available in the market. Inks are now available which offer excellent light fastness for extended outdoor exposure. With only a minor compromise in color gamut and with the print head reliability required for production of defect free prints, these inks are gaining an increasing share of the ink market. This paper will address some of the technology required to design these inks, the current "state of the art" in pigment ink jetinks in high resolution printing and forecast future technology developments.