Skip to content

JASCO JASCO

  • News
  • Events
  • E-Store
  • My Account
  • Contact Us
  • Worldwide
Search
Click to view menu
MENUMENU
  • Products
    • Chromatography
      • HPLC
      • RHPLC
      • UHPLC
      • LC-MS
      • Preparative LC
      • Analytical SFC
      • Semi-Preparative SFC
      • Hybrid SFC
      • Fuel Analysis by SFC-FID
      • Preparative SFC
      • Supercritical Fluid Extraction
      • Chromatography Software
    • Molecular Spectroscopy
      • Circular Dichroism
      • High-Throughput CD
      • Vibrational CD
      • Circularly Polarized Luminescence (CPL)
      • Polarimeters
      • FTIR Spectrometers
      • FTIR Microscopy
      • FTIR Portable
      • Raman Microscopy
      • Palmtop Raman Spectrometer
      • Probe Raman
      • UV-Visible/NIR Spectrophotometers
      • UV-Visible/NIR Microscopy
      • Fluorescence Spectrophotometers
      • Film Thickness
      • Spectra Manager™ Suite
    • Refurbished
      • Refurbished HPLC Systems
      • HPLC Switching Valves
      • FTIR Accessories
  • Service
    • Service and Support Plans
    • Service Request Form
  • Applications
  • KnowledgeBase
  • Learning Center
    • Best Practice
      • Circular Dichroism Tips & Tricks for Biological Samples
      • CD Scale Calibration with ACS
      • Fluorescence Tips & Tricks
      • Raman Spectroscopy Tips & Tricks
    • Training Videos
      • ChromNAV
      • SF-NAV
      • Circular Dichroism
      • UV-Visible/NIR
      • Fluorescence
    • Training Seminars
      • Training Registration Form
    • Webinars
    • eBooks
    • Theory
      • Theory of Molecular Spectroscopy
      • Chromatography
  • About Us
    • President’s Message
    • Contact
    • History
    • Careers
  • News
  • Events
  • Worldwide
  • Shop
  • My Account
  • Contact Us

Home / Applications / Dispersive Raman for the Identification of Contaminant Particles in Ink Jet Cartridges

  • Industry

  • Technique

Dispersive Raman for the Identification of Contaminant Particles in Ink Jet Cartridges

By Heather Haffner

PDF IconDownload This Application

August 25, 2022

Introduction

The majority of printing problems are primarily caused by clogged print heads or nozzles, preventing the ink from reaching the paper. Each year billions of dollars in print cartridges are sold, thus, improving the quality and functionality of print cartridges is a priority. Several commercial inkjet cartridges were examined using the Jasco Ventuno Raman system to obtain fundamental data on the blockages of print cartridges and some knowledge as to the possible causes.

Statistics have long supported the dominance of inkjet printing. From sales of $500 million in the early 90?s to a record-breaking $14 billion in inkjet cartridge sales projected in 2001. Today, 7 out of every 10 printers sold is an inkjet. The estimated installed base of ink jet printers stands at 130 million worldwide and the numbers continue to climb.

The basic principle of the inkjet system is comprised of a reservoir of ink held in the cartridge, and a method of moving the ink from the reservoir to the paper via the print head, in a very precise and controlled procedure. Air plays an important part in the whole operation as it replaces the ink as it is used, so there must be a way for the air to get into the cartridge, while not causing the ink to drip out of the cartridge until it is required for printing. The common commercial cartridges all have air vents to allow the passage of air into the cartridge.

To get the ink onto the page, the cartridge print head has many very small (with diameters less than a human hair) nozzles or holes that allow the ink to flow to do the printing. These nozzles hold the ink until an electronic impulse causes the ink to be sent to the paper. The popular method (bubble-jet) is to selectively heat the ink at the nozzles, by resistors. As the ink heats, a bubble forms, the heat source is removed, the formed bubble “bursts” and the resulting ink is transferred to the paper. This is all happening at a very high speed, so that the dots that are being sprayed (up to 6000 per second) onto the paper will form the characters or graphics.

Another method is the “piezoelectric” method, where crystals are subjected to an electric field, which causes them to expand and contract. The movement this generates then allows a precise amount of ink to be put down onto the paper.

Experimental

Jasco NRS Series Ramon Micro-spectrometers
Jasco NRS Series Ramon Micro-spectrometers

The JASCO Ventuno micro-Raman system equipped with a 532nm diode laser and two interchangeable gratings was used to collect the Raman spectra of the print cartridge. An Andor CCD detector cooled to -75C, and an integration time of 60 seconds was used for collection of sample spectra. Samples were visualized using the 100x magnification of the microscope. The Ventuno was also equipped with a MS-2000 motorized joystick controlled sample stage. The typical range for the measurement was from 470 -2,390cm-1 with a 1200g/mm grating.

Figure 1 shows a representative microscope image of one of the printer cartridge nozzles, the contamination around the nozzle clearly visible. The green spot is the laser. Three distinct particle types were collected and identified from the inside of the cartridge openings: organic matter with resolved Raman peaks; an amorphous or highly complex organic mixture, possibly carbonized due to heat; and almost pure crystalline silicon.

Figure 1. Calibration model for quantitative standard mixtures, including 2nd and 3rd week standards analysis.

Figure 2 shows the Raman spectra from one of these particles. The organic material was identified as being polymeric with nitrogen and carboxylic groups. Amide and urea are likely candidates. However, so many organic compounds, including commercial polymers such as poly(chloroprene), have Raman lines in the 1,700-1,000cm-1 region, that making an unambiguous determination is difficult without more information on the processing.

Figure 2. Raman spectrum from 475-2390cm-1 of a typical organic particle in the cartridge opening.

A representative microscope image of a silicon particle found in the cartridge opening is shown in Figure 3. The 2 micron green laser spot highlights the particle which is not much bigger than the laser spot. The Raman spectrum of the particle is shown in Figure 4. The first and second order peaks used to identify the silicon particle are labeled. Silicon is sometimes used in inkjets and this is a likely origin of the small silicon particles.

Figure 3. 20M microscope image of a silica particle found in the opening. Scale (yellow) is 50um.
Figure 4. Raman spectrum from 470-2375cm-1 of a typical silica particle found in the cartridge opening.

One of the major problems faced with refilling ink cartridges is the clogging of ink jets. Many black ink cartridges contain pigmented ink. Pigmented ink is not water soluble (like dye based inks) often contain solid microscopic particles of a carbon-polymer compound. The pigmented ink that remains in a cartridge forms a paste that eventually hardens and strongly adheres to the inside of the cartridge. Every printer cartridge opening that was examined contained some type of particulate matter. Most of these contaminant particles were in the micron size range. Identification of the compounds that create the blockages can lead to their elimination and make ink cartridges less susceptible to clogs.

Conclusion

The Raman spectra and representative microscope images were used to characterize the nozzle contaminants. Preliminary peak assignments for some of the organic materials were suggested and the silicon particles positively identified. Examination of the compounds that create the blockages may provide data to improve the inkjet printing mechanism and enhance the development of inkjet cartridges that are less susceptible to the clogging that plagues most systems.

This document has been prepared based on information available at the time of publication and is subject to revision without notice. Although the contents are checked with the utmost care, we do not guarantee their accuracy or completeness. JASCO Corporation assumes no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage incurred as a result of the use of any information contained in this document. Copyright and other intellectual property rights in this document remain the property of JASCO Corporation. Please do not attempt to copy, modify, redistribute, or sell etc. in whole or in part without prior written permission.

Featured Products:

  • NRS-4100 Confocal Raman Microscopes

  • NRS-5000 Series Confocal Raman Microscope

  • NRS-7000 Series Confocal Raman Microscope

About the Author

JASCO Application Note

Dispersive Raman for the Identification of Contaminant Particles in Ink Jet Cartridges

Introduction

The majority of printing problems are primarily caused by clogged print heads or nozzles, preventing the ink from reaching the paper. Each year billions of dollars in print cartridges are sold, thus, improving the quality and functionality of print cartridges is a priority. Several commercial inkjet cartridges were examined using the Jasco Ventuno Raman system to obtain fundamental data on the blockages of print cartridges and some knowledge as to the possible causes.

Statistics have long supported the dominance of inkjet printing. From sales of $500 million in the early 90?s to a record-breaking $14 billion in inkjet cartridge sales projected in 2001. Today, 7 out of every 10 printers sold is an inkjet. The estimated installed base of ink jet printers stands at 130 million worldwide and the numbers continue to climb.

The basic principle of the inkjet system is comprised of a reservoir of ink held in the cartridge, and a method of moving the ink from the reservoir to the paper via the print head, in a very precise and controlled procedure. Air plays an important part in the whole operation as it replaces the ink as it is used, so there must be a way for the air to get into the cartridge, while not causing the ink to drip out of the cartridge until it is required for printing. The common commercial cartridges all have air vents to allow the passage of air into the cartridge.

To get the ink onto the page, the cartridge print head has many very small (with diameters less than a human hair) nozzles or holes that allow the ink to flow to do the printing. These nozzles hold the ink until an electronic impulse causes the ink to be sent to the paper. The popular method (bubble-jet) is to selectively heat the ink at the nozzles, by resistors. As the ink heats, a bubble forms, the heat source is removed, the formed bubble “bursts” and the resulting ink is transferred to the paper. This is all happening at a very high speed, so that the dots that are being sprayed (up to 6000 per second) onto the paper will form the characters or graphics.

Another method is the “piezoelectric” method, where crystals are subjected to an electric field, which causes them to expand and contract. The movement this generates then allows a precise amount of ink to be put down onto the paper.

Experimental

Jasco NRS Series Ramon Micro-spectrometers
Jasco NRS Series Ramon Micro-spectrometers

The JASCO Ventuno micro-Raman system equipped with a 532nm diode laser and two interchangeable gratings was used to collect the Raman spectra of the print cartridge. An Andor CCD detector cooled to -75C, and an integration time of 60 seconds was used for collection of sample spectra. Samples were visualized using the 100x magnification of the microscope. The Ventuno was also equipped with a MS-2000 motorized joystick controlled sample stage. The typical range for the measurement was from 470 -2,390cm-1 with a 1200g/mm grating.

Figure 1 shows a representative microscope image of one of the printer cartridge nozzles, the contamination around the nozzle clearly visible. The green spot is the laser. Three distinct particle types were collected and identified from the inside of the cartridge openings: organic matter with resolved Raman peaks; an amorphous or highly complex organic mixture, possibly carbonized due to heat; and almost pure crystalline silicon.

Figure 1. Calibration model for quantitative standard mixtures, including 2nd and 3rd week standards analysis.

Figure 2 shows the Raman spectra from one of these particles. The organic material was identified as being polymeric with nitrogen and carboxylic groups. Amide and urea are likely candidates. However, so many organic compounds, including commercial polymers such as poly(chloroprene), have Raman lines in the 1,700-1,000cm-1 region, that making an unambiguous determination is difficult without more information on the processing.

Figure 2. Raman spectrum from 475-2390cm-1 of a typical organic particle in the cartridge opening.

A representative microscope image of a silicon particle found in the cartridge opening is shown in Figure 3. The 2 micron green laser spot highlights the particle which is not much bigger than the laser spot. The Raman spectrum of the particle is shown in Figure 4. The first and second order peaks used to identify the silicon particle are labeled. Silicon is sometimes used in inkjets and this is a likely origin of the small silicon particles.

Figure 3. 20M microscope image of a silica particle found in the opening. Scale (yellow) is 50um.
Figure 4. Raman spectrum from 470-2375cm-1 of a typical silica particle found in the cartridge opening.

One of the major problems faced with refilling ink cartridges is the clogging of ink jets. Many black ink cartridges contain pigmented ink. Pigmented ink is not water soluble (like dye based inks) often contain solid microscopic particles of a carbon-polymer compound. The pigmented ink that remains in a cartridge forms a paste that eventually hardens and strongly adheres to the inside of the cartridge. Every printer cartridge opening that was examined contained some type of particulate matter. Most of these contaminant particles were in the micron size range. Identification of the compounds that create the blockages can lead to their elimination and make ink cartridges less susceptible to clogs.

Conclusion

The Raman spectra and representative microscope images were used to characterize the nozzle contaminants. Preliminary peak assignments for some of the organic materials were suggested and the silicon particles positively identified. Examination of the compounds that create the blockages may provide data to improve the inkjet printing mechanism and enhance the development of inkjet cartridges that are less susceptible to the clogging that plagues most systems.

This document has been prepared based on information available at the time of publication and is subject to revision without notice. Although the contents are checked with the utmost care, we do not guarantee their accuracy or completeness. JASCO Corporation assumes no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage incurred as a result of the use of any information contained in this document. Copyright and other intellectual property rights in this document remain the property of JASCO Corporation. Please do not attempt to copy, modify, redistribute, or sell etc. in whole or in part without prior written permission.
28600 Mary’s Court, Easton, MD 21601 USA • (800) 333-5272 • Fax: (410) 822-7526 • jascoinc.com/applications

Close

Designed in Tokyo. TRUSTED globally.

View our support plans

Connect with JASCO

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • JASCO Sales
  • 800-333-5272

Receive the latest promotions and special offers

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Careers
  • Press Kit
  • JASCO Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Environmental Policy

© , JASCO. All Rights Reserved.