Nozzle Plate Block Copolymer Coating Adhesion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface treatment methods for black matrices in liquid crystal display devices and nozzle plates in inkjet heads face challenges in achieving uniform ink thickness and preventing ink color mixture, due to inadequate adhesion and durability of ink-phobic coating films, which are often compromised by differences in material properties between the coating films and the underlying surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A selective surface treatment method using a block copolymer layer with alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymer blocks is applied, ensuring secure adhesion and forming durable ink-phobic or ink-philic coatings on the surfaces of black matrices and nozzle plates, respectively, to prevent ink mixture and enhance ink ejection performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an ink-phobic coating film is formed on an ink-philic black matrix to prevent ink color mixture, then ink color mixture between pixels is prevented, but the coating film has weak adhesion and is easily separated from the black matrix
Solution Approach 1:
The coating film is segmented into a multi-layer structure consisting of an undercoat layer and an ink-phobic coating layer. The undercoat layer is specifically designed to provide strong adhesion to the black matrix, while the ink-phobic coating layer provides the necessary ink repellency. This segmentation allows each layer to specialize in one function, resolving the contradiction between adhesion and ink-phobic performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The coating film uses composite materials with different properties in each layer. The undercoat layer comprises materials optimized for adhesion to the black matrix, while the ink-phobic coating layer comprises materials optimized for ink repellency. This composite structure enables the coating film to simultaneously achieve strong adhesion and effective ink-phobic properties, preventing both separation and ink color mixture.
2Ease of operation
If an ink-phobic coating film is formed on a nozzle plate surface to improve ink directivity, then ink wetting is prevented and directivity is improved, but the coating film durability deteriorates after maintenance processes
Solution Approach 1:
The coating film is divided into an undercoat layer and an ink-phobic coating layer. The undercoat layer provides strong adhesion to the nozzle plate surface, ensuring durability through maintenance processes, while the ink-phobic coating layer provides the necessary ink repellency for improved directivity. This segmentation allows the film to maintain both durability and functional performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The undercoat layer acts as an intermediary between the nozzle plate surface and the ink-phobic coating layer. It provides a stable, adherent base that enables the ink-phobic coating layer to maintain its properties and durability even after maintenance processes. The undercoat layer mediates the interaction between the substrate and the functional coating, ensuring long-term performance.
3Manufacturing precision
If both upper and side surfaces of the black matrix are made ink-philic to ensure sufficient wetting, then ink can be applied uniformly, but ink color mixture occurs between pixels
Solution Approach 1:
The coating film applies local quality by providing different surface properties in different locations. The ink-phobic coating layer is formed on the upper surface to prevent ink color mixture, while the side surfaces maintain their ink-philic properties for sufficient wetting and uniform ink application. This spatial differentiation of surface properties resolves the contradiction between uniform thickness and prevention of ink mixture.
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 method effectively prevents ink color mixture between pixels and ensures uniform ink thickness in liquid crystal display devices, while improving ink ejection frequency and directivity in inkjet heads by forming stable, durable coating films with excellent adhesion properties.
Implementation Method 1
forming a block copolymer layer including a hydrophilic polymer block and a hydrophobic polymer block on a predetermined surface of the substrate
Implementation Method 2
forming a block copolymer layer including a hydrophilic polymer block and a hydrophobic polymer block on a predetermined surface of the substrate
Implementation Method 3
ensuring excellent adhesion and durability by forming an ink-phobic coating film on ink-philic surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
A selective surface treatment method using a block copolymer, a black matrix and a method of manufacturing the same, and a nozzle plate and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. According to the method of manufacturing a nozzle plate, a block copolymer layer including an ink-phobic polymer block and an ink-philic polymer block may be formed on a stamp, a substrate having nozzles formed therein and an ink-philic coating film formed on an outer surface of the substrate and inner walls of the nozzles may be prepared, and the block copolymer layer formed on the stamp may be transferred onto an upper surface of the ink-philic coating film formed on the outer surface of the substrate.