ImprovInk

Inkjet printing is a fast growing technology with a widespread field of applica-tions and therefore a special challenge for the manufacturers. Due to the widespread applications the production of the inks has to be modifiable. Therefore a detailed observation and control of the process is an essential condition. In the Project ImprovInk the parameters influencing the end product quality will be investigated and defined. Due to a defined online surveil-lance and regulation of the proper parameters the ink properties and long-term stability will be influenced to reach a zero-fault-batch-production. As measurement method NIR spectroscopy will be used to enable the implemen-tation in the production line. This will allow inline process surveillance in real time.

The aim of the project is on the one hand the development of a model based diagnosis system in the production line itself with ad-hoc corrective actions and quality feedback for process optimisation and efficiency increase. On the other hand it will be possible, due to the process model and the online surveil-lance, to optimize resource input to the process, to increase the quality and durability of the produced ink and therefore to ensure an increase through the whole value-chain. The process model will increase a better understanding of the production process, the single processes therein and the influencing pa-rameters based on molecular level. This entails that development cycles will be reduced and a constant and high ink quality will be ensured.

Publications:
Poster am MRS fall meeting 2014 in Boston: Innovations in Inline Quality Surveillance for Inkjet Ink Synthesis based on Near Infrared Spectroscopy, B. Unterauer, J. Kastner, S. Kopp, H-M. Leichtfried, A. Fuchsbauer, R. Löffler, H. Wiltsche, D. Holzinger, W. Märzinger, E. Leitner, O. Lorret

Project Name:
Innovation in quality surveillance of a powerful, resource efficient inkjet production process

Funding:
Cooperative R&D project – Industrial research – 4th Call Production of the Future

Duration:
01.04.2014 – 31.03.2017