X-Ray CT Measurement of Ink Penetration Region in Inkjet Printing

Abstract

In inkjet printing, the area of droplet penetration affects both print quality and energy efficiency, making the control of the penetration area crucial for enhancing the performance of inkjet printing. To achieve precise control over ink penetration, it is necessary to elucidate the behavior of ink (droplet) penetration. However, most existing studies have been limited to two-dimensional measurements of the droplet penetration area, either from the surface or in cross-section. Our research group has developed dyes and pigment inks that can be imaged using X-ray CT (computational tomography), along with a high-resolution X-ray CT measurement method, enabling the measurement of the penetration area within various media of single micro-droplets. This paper discusses the X-ray CT imaging technique and explains the penetration characteristics of dye and pigment inks in various media.