Literature Survey: Adsorption of Surfactants and Polymers Used in Ink-Jet Inks on Coated Paper Surfaces

摘要

This literature survey is intended to be a guide to the previous research carried out in the field of interactions between the surfactants and polymers used in ink-jet inks and the minerals used in coated papers. Ink-jet inks are commonly made by dissolving dye molecules, or by dispersing colloidal colorant particles into a mixture of water and some organic solvent. In order to improve the properties of the ink and the print quality, additives are often used. Typical additives used with soluble dyes are, among others, surfactants and water soluble polymers. Surfactants are added to control the surface tension of the ink, thereby affecting wetting of the paper surface and penetration of the ink vehicle into the pores of paper (Hue, 1998). The polymers used with colloidal colorants seem to be mainly dispersants (e.g. US pat. 5,085,698). Coated paper surfaces can be made of various inorganic pigments such as kaolin, calcium carbonate, or talc. Sometimes titania may also be used. In some specialty papers tailor-made for ink-jet printing, various grades of silica and alumina are also used. The inorganic compounds in paper surface may be covered by polymers used as either dispersants in coating color slurries, or specifically added to the coating for some other purpose. Also, polymer lattices are often used as binders in paper coating colors. In this literature survey absorption of various surfactants and polymers on mineral and polymer surfaces is reviewed. The emphasis is on the compounds used in ink-jet inks on the basis of patent and other literature. Examples of systems researched previously are presented, and, if possible, the mechanisms of absorption are briefly described.