Inkjet Nozzle Plate Nonwetting Coating Adhesion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional inkjet printheads face durability issues with ink-phobic coating layers due to weak adhesion, leading to a decrease in the maintenance of a large contact angle with ink over time, affecting the ink ejecting performance.

Innovation Solution

A nozzle plate design featuring a substrate with an ink-philic material layer and sequentially deposited nonwetting coating layers, each comprising an adhesive layer and an ink-phobic material layer, enhances adhesion and durability through a physical vapor deposition process, using silicon oxide and perfluorinated silane.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a single-layer ink-phobic coating is applied to the nozzle plate surface, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the adhesion durability deteriorates over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoating process simplicityVSAvoidcoating adhesion durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The coating is divided into multiple sequential layers: a base ink-phobic coating layer applied first, followed by additional ink-phobic coating layers deposited through physical vapor deposition. This segmentation allows each layer to serve specific functions - the base layer provides initial ink-phobicity while subsequent layers enhance adhesion durability through controlled deposition processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solution employs composite coating structures combining different ink-phobic coating materials with distinct properties. The base layer and subsequent layers use materials with complementary characteristics - one providing strong initial ink repellency while another ensures long-term adhesion stability, creating a composite coating system that achieves both simplicity and durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional single-layer coating is used, then the manufacturing cost is low, but the contact angle maintenance deteriorates over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidcontact angle maintenance duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The base ink-phobic coating layer is applied in advance to establish the fundamental ink-phobic surface properties and initial contact angle characteristics. This preliminary coating creates a stable foundation that maintains consistent contact angle performance over extended periods, preventing degradation that would occur with single-layer coatings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The solution transitions from a single-dimensional coating approach to a multi-dimensional layered structure. By adding temporal dimension through sequential coating applications and using physical vapor deposition to create precisely controlled thin layers, the system achieves prolonged contact angle maintenance while managing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If multiple sequential coating layers are deposited, then the adhesion durability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoating adhesion durabilityVSAvoidcoating structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The solution optimizes coating parameters including layer thickness, deposition rate, and material composition to achieve durable adhesion without excessive complexity. By carefully controlling these parameters during physical vapor deposition, the system creates multiple functional layers that enhance reliability while keeping the overall structure manageable through parameter optimization rather than arbitrary complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 enhanced adhesion and structure of the nonwetting coating layers improve the durability and maintain a consistent contact angle with ink, ensuring improved ink ejecting performance and longevity of the nozzle plate.

Implementation Method 1

a nonwetting coating layer having high durability... sequentially disposed on the ink-philic material layer disposed on the outer surface of the substrate... deposited on the adhesive layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical vapor deposition: Physical Vapour Deposition

Implementation Method 2

an ink-phobic material layer deposited on the adhesive layer... using a physical vapor deposition process, using silicon oxide and perfluorinated silane

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical vapor deposition: Physical Vapour Deposition

Implementation Method 3

Perfluorinated silane is widely used as the ink-phobic material because it is known that perfluorinated silane lowers the surface energy of the nozzle plate 30 to minimize ink-wetting

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface energy reduction: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentUS7883179B2Nozzle plate usable with inkjet printhead

Publication Date: 2011.02.08 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A nozzle plate usable with an inkjet printhead includes a substrate through which a plurality of nozzles are formed, an ink-philic material layer formed on an outer surface of the substrate and inner walls of the nozzles, and a plurality of nonwetting coating layers sequentially formed on the ink-philic material layer formed on the outer surface of the substrate, each nonwetting coating layer including an adhesive layer and an ink-phobic material layer deposited on the adhesive layer.