Abstract:
This invention relates to an inkjet printing method comprising providing a liquid inkjet ink which contains a thermally responsive material and applying the liquid ink jet ink onto an inkjet recording element in an imagewise fashion, wherein the inkjet recording element has been heated to a temperature higher than the temperature of the liquid inkjet ink.
Abstract:
A drop-on-demand ink jet printing system includes an ink channel having a nozzle orifice through which ink droplets are ejected when ink in the ink channel is subjected to a momentary positive pressure wave. An ink feed passage opens into the ink channel to transport ink into the channel from an ink reservoir. A selectively-actuated valve, associated with the ink feed passage, restricts the flow of ink through the ink feed passage when actuated. The valve is actuated in timed association with the momentary pressure wave, whereby flow of ink past the valve from the ink channel towards the reservoir is inhibited. The ink feed passage may be a microfluidic channel, and the selectively-actuated valve a heater in thermal contact with at least a portion of the associated microfluidic channel, whereby thermally-responsive ink in the ink feed passage can selectively be heated by the heater such that the thermally-responsive ink will be caused to increase in viscosity to thereby restrict backward ink flow through the ink feed passage. The ink may be comprised of a carrier having a tri-block copolymer of poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide).
Abstract:
A microfluidic valve for controlling the flow of a material through a microfluidic channel comprising: a) a microfluidic channel comprising a passageway, b) a heater in contact with at least a portion of the microfluidic channel, c) a carrier fluid comprising the material and an amount of thermally-responsive material so that the carrier fluid can be thickened by heat from the heater to cause a reduction in flow of the carrier fluid through the microfluidic channel.
Abstract:
Methods for forming nanoparticles under commercially attractive conditions. The nanoparticles can have very small size and high degree of monodispersity. Low temperature sintering is possible, and highly conductive films can be made. Semiconducting and electroluminescent films can be also made. One embodiment provides a method comprising: (a) providing a first mixture comprising at least one nanoparticle precursor and at least one first solvent for the nanoparticle precursor, wherein the nanoparticle precursor comprises a salt comprising a cation comprising a metal; (b) providing a second mixture comprising at least one reactive moiety reactive for the nanoparticle precursor and at least one second solvent for the reactive moiety, wherein the second solvent phase separates when it is mixed with the first solvent; and (c) combining said first and second mixtures in the presence of a surface stabilizing agent, wherein upon combination the first and second mixtures phase-separate and nanoparticles are formed.
Abstract:
A composition comprises at least one silver nanoparticulate material, at least one conductive microparticulate material, and less than about 3% wt of an organic or polymeric resin. The composition provides a low curing temperature and upon cure good film properties. Also provided herein is a method of using an ink or paste, comprising: (i) providing the ink or paste comprising at least one silver nanoparticulate material, at least one conductive microparticulate material, and less than about 3% wt of an organic or polymeric resin; and (ii) curing the ink or paste at a temperature at lower than about 200° C. to decompose the organic resin.
Abstract:
A method of fabricating a device, comprising a ink or paste on a silicon based semiconductor material, wherein the ink or paste comprises a mixture of inorganic conductive and additive nanoparticles and wherein the semiconductor material is silicon. An example is a mixture of silver and palladium nanoparticles.
Abstract:
A method of forming a pattern of electrical conductors on a substrate (18) consists of forming metal nanoparticles on a conductive material. A light absorbing dye is mixed with the metal nanoparticles. The mixture is then coated on the substrate. The pattern is formed on the coated substrate with laser light (14). Unannealed material is removed from the substrate.
Abstract:
A method of measuring absolute static pressure in a microfluidic device transporting a working fluid that is immiscible in a first selected gas environment, includes providing a first fluid conducting channel having an atmosphere provided by the first selected gas environment in a sealed environment and in communication with the microfluidic device at a first point of communication; providing a first sensing mechanism that is electrically interrogated, disposed adjacent to the first fluid conducting channel; and transporting the working fluid under pressure conducted by the microfluidic device into the first fluid conducting channel such that the volume transported into such first fluid conducting channel varies depending upon the absolute static pressure of the working fluid.
Abstract:
A method for correcting the performance of a continuous ink jet print head having a nozzle plate with a plurality of nozzles each having an orifice, at least one of the nozzles being a malfunctioning nozzle, the method including: a) determining which nozzle of the nozzle plate is malfunctioning; b) applying a heat-activatable material over the surface of the nozzle plate; c) applying heat to the malfunctioning nozzle, thereby causing the heat-activatable material to flow into the orifice of the malfunctioning nozzle to block it; and d) removing any excess heat-activatable material.
Abstract:
A method for treating a metallic oxide or metallic nitride ink jet printhead nozzle plate comprising stamping the front surface thereof with an anti-wetting agent using an elastomeric stamp.