Liquid Ejection Head Antistatic Liquid-Repellent Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejection heads, such as ink jet recording heads, face issues with ink adhesion to the liquid-repellent layer due to electrostatic charges, particularly when using pigments, which leads to unstable dispersion and aggregation, affecting recording quality.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection head with a liquid-repellent layer containing a fluorine-containing compound, metal oxide particles, and an amphiphilic compound is developed, where the amphiphilic compound stabilizes the dispersion of metal oxide particles, preventing ink adhesion by maintaining an antistatic property over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a liquid-repellent layer containing a fluorine-containing compound is used, then liquid repellency is improved, but electrostatic charge accumulates causing ink adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid-repellent layer is formed as a composite material containing both a fluorine-containing compound (for liquid repellency) and an antistatic agent (for electrostatic dissipation). This composite structure allows the layer to simultaneously achieve low liquid adhesion and electrostatic charge elimination, resolving the contradiction between liquid repellency and electrostatic charge accumulation.
2Quantity of substance
If pigment is dispersed in ink, then coloring strength is improved, but dispersion stability deteriorates due to charge interaction with liquid-repellent layer
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful electrostatic interaction between charged pigment particles and the charged liquid-repellent layer into a beneficial effect by incorporating an antistatic agent. The antistatic agent eliminates excess electrostatic charge, preventing pigment aggregation and maintaining stable dispersion even at high pigment concentrations required for strong coloring.
3Productivity
If liquid ejection head operates for long time, then productivity is improved, but liquid-repellent layer becomes charged causing ink adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The antistatic agent in the liquid-repellent layer provides continuous electrostatic charge dissipation throughout operation. This ensures that the liquid-repellent layer maintains its charge-neutral state continuously, preventing ink adhesion and aggregation even during prolonged operation, thereby maintaining consistent recording quality and productivity over time.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively suppresses ink adhesion to the liquid-repellent layer, ensuring stable recording quality and long-term antistatic performance, even with pigment-based inks, by stabilizing the dispersion of metal oxide particles within the layer.
Implementation Method 1
an amphiphilic compound stabilizes the dispersion of metal oxide particles
Implementation Method 2
maintaining an antistatic property over time... suppresses ink adhesion to the liquid-repellent layer
Implementation Method 3
a liquid-repellent layer containing a fluorine-containing compound... to suppress the attachment of the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection head includes an ejection opening member having an ejection opening therein through which a liquid is ejected, and a liquid-repellent layer over the ejection opening member. The liquid-repellent layer contains a fluorine-containing compound, metal oxide particles, and an amphiphilic compound.