Dr Mehtap Deniz at Evonik Operations, reports on the role of AERODISP dispersions in ink-receptive coatings and how they boost inkjet print results
Inkjet printing continues to evolve rapidly, fostered by higher achievable resolutions, faster production speeds and broader substrate compatibility.
Ink-receptive coatings – often referred to as primers – play an important role in the inkjet printing process. These specialised coatings provide a uniform surface texture which is essential for achieving high-quality prints. By controlling the wetting and spreading of ink droplets, these coatings ensure that the ink is applied evenly, resulting in sharp images.
Figure 1: Inkjet prints on primer-treated paper without AERODISP (left) and with AERODISP (right). Inset images additionally show printed letters
Figure 1: Inkjet prints on primer-treated paper without AERODISP (left) and with AERODISP (right). Inset images additionally show printed letters
PRIMER ADVANTAGES
One of the significant advantages of primers is their ability to improve drying times. Additionally, these coatings enhance ink adhesion to various substrates and can significantly improve the durability of prints. Overall, the use of primers enables the production of high-quality inkjet prints on a wide range of substrates.
“AERODISP dispersions in primers significantly improve inkjet print results”
POWERING SUPERIOR INKJET RESULTS
Waterborne silica and alumina dispersions – specifically AERODISP – play an important role in primers and lead to remarkable improvements in inkjet print results. These primers enhance dot sharpness and enable higher achievable resolutions.
AERODISP dispersions – based on silica or alumina – enable a very fast uptake of the liquid components of the ink into their porous structure. As a result, ink droplets are fixed quickly, minimising inter-colour bleeding while ensuring well-controlled dot gain and high print quality.
Figure 2: Compatibility of AERODISP dispersions with different binders
Figure 2: Compatibility of AERODISP dispersions with different binders
Figure 3: Enhanced print results with AERODISP across different substrates
Figure 3: Enhanced print results with AERODISP across different substrates
MODE OF ACTION
What makes these silica and alumina particles particularly effective in delivering exceptional print performance is their well-defined microstructure. These coatings have a well-defined pore and channel structure. When an ink droplet hits the surface, this ink absorbs on these particles in a fraction of a second. This ‘instant dry’ performance of microporous coatings enables the use of high speed printers, while achieving optimum image quality.
SUPERIOR INKJET PERFORMANCE
The incorporation of silica and alumina dispersions into primer formulations results in prints with a high dot sharpness. In contrast, when a primer without particle dispersion is applied to the substrate, significant ink spreading behaviour is observed. By integrating silica and alumina dispersions into the formulation, the desired outcome – well-defined, sharp dots – is consistently achieved. This can be attributed to the unique structural properties of the particles.
Furthermore, this high level of dot sharpness is consistently observed across a range of primer formulations using different binders. These include polyvinyl alcohol, as well as nonionic and anionic polyurethane dispersions. The results demonstrate that AERODISP dispersions work efficiently with many different binders.
AERODISP dispersions demonstrate excellent compatibility with a wide range of binders. Additionally, they offer outstanding performance across diverse substrate types. A high level of dot sharpness is consistently observed on both porous and non-porous substrates. In contrast, primers without AERODISP dispersions show significant ink spreading on all substrates.
When AERODISP dispersions are used in primer formulations, the results improve significantly. Excellent print performance is achieved, characterised by clearly defined and uniform dots. This effect is consistently observed across various substrates, including paper, cotton, BOPP and PVC. It highlights the versatility and effectiveness of AERODISP dispersions in primers.
Figure 4: Product overview – AERODISP dispersions for waterborne primers
Figure 4: Product overview – AERODISP dispersions for waterborne primers
DIVERSE APPLICATION NEEDS
Improved print results can be observed with AERODISP dispersions for different applications. These include textile, packaging and decorative printing. In these application fields, the use of AERODISP dispersions contributes to improved image quality across a variety of substrates. Additionally, it supports consistently high-resolution print results.
“AERODISP dispersions work efficiently with many different binders”
CONCLUSION
The integration of AERODISP dispersions into primers represents a highly effective approach to advancing inkjet print performance. Their use significantly increases dot sharpness and resolution of subsequent inkjet prints. They also enable rapid ink fixation and accelerated drying behaviour.
At the same time, AERODISP dispersions offer clear formulation and processing advantages. They are easy to incorporate, broadly compatible with a wide range of binders and highly suitable for diverse primer concepts.
Primers containing AERODISP dispersions meet the performance requirements of key inkjet markets such as textile, packaging and decorative printing.
The use of AERODISP waterborne dispersions results in improved print performance, characterised by four key benefits:
Full range of AERODISP waterborne dispersions to cover different needs
Significantly increased dot sharpness and achievable resolution of inkjet prints
Easy incorporation and excellent compatibility with various binders
Please sign up to printconnect for exclusive offers on events, a monthly roundup of the latest news, and the latest issue sent directly to you and more.
