Triggerable, Anchoring Novel Block Copolymer Dyes for Use in Inkjet Printing

Descripción del proyecto

Imprimir con tintes procesados a partir de agua

Desde imprimir recetas en casa hasta la impresión de muestras de envases de alimentos de alta tecnología, el mercado de la impresión por inyección de tinta está en crecimiento del mismo modo que la necesidad de desarrollar nuevas tintas basadas en tintes (un tipo de tinta estándar usada en impresoras de inyección de tinta). El proyecto TANBCPdyes, financiado con fondos europeos, desarrollará una nueva plataforma tecnológica basada en materiales especialmente diseñados. En concreto, los tintes con copolímero de bloques sintetizados (BCP, por sus siglas en inglés) se procesarán a partir del agua, lo que eliminará el uso de peligrosos disolventes orgánicos volátiles en el proceso. En el marco de este proyecto respaldado por las Acciones Marie Skłodowska-Curie, el beneficiario también desarrollará nuevas habilidades científicas a través de la síntesis y la caracterización avanzada de tintes con BCP.

Objetivo

This project, “Triggerable, Anchoring Novel Block Copolymer Dyes (BCP dyes) for Use in Inkjet Printing” (TANBCPdyes), is an intersectoral multidisciplinary project that will develop a new technology platform based on specially-designed materials. The development of novel inkjet printing materials is greatly needed to satisfy the growing demands of this quickly evolving market which spans applications including simple home & office devices to food packaging and high-tech inkjet printing of displays. The synthesized BCP dyes will be processed from water, an environmentally friendly solvent (thus eliminating the use of hazardous volatile organic solvents in the process), but will become insoluble & water resistant after deposition on the substrate. Therefore, new materials will act as waterborne dyes in a wet state & become fixed onto the substrates after thermal treatment. Success will allow novel BCP dyes to be manufactured on a large scale at high-throughput levels by drawing on the expertise of Aston University, University of Warwick, University of Tubingen & the industrial partner, Domino UK Ltd, which will allow EU industries to reinforce their position in the global technological race in the field of inkjet printing. The Fellow will develop new scientific skills through the synthesis & advanced characterisation of BCP dyes; benefit from the direct mentoring and supervision of a team of renowned EU scientists (Prof Topham, Prof Perrier, Dr Leslie, Prof Peisert and Dr Harries); gain professional training to promote his growth & independence; take significant steps toward establishing his own network of EU researchers, & also enhance his relationships with Aston & the secondment project partners (Warwick, Tubingen & Domino). The Fellow will bring his expertise in polycondensation chemistry, membrane technology, biomolecules (e.g. proteins) separation, and conductive/photoactive nanomaterials to Aston, creating new research avenues in the Topham group.