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High temperature inks and a computerised, reliable, printing system for marking and decoration of products and semi-finished products

Objective


Three new ranges of high temperature resistant ink based on the chemistries outlined above:
1) A new ink solvent based system to meet the lower temperature requirements (250 -300°C) on glass, metals and ceramics, based on inorganic-organic hybrid chemistry. Potential to provide a range of colours
2) A new water/solvent based ink system with the potential to meet temperature resistance requirements across a very wide temperature range (250°C - 800°C) on glass, metals and ceramic, based on inorganic chemistry. Available at present only in white.
3) A new water based white ink system based on a thermally fugitive organic chemistry specifically for marking hot steel surfaces.

A prototype inkjet printer which can cope with potentially fast settling, dense inorganic pigments by eliminating 'dead spots', shortening ink circulation paths and incorporating new printer cleaning systems. Also using new printer components and electronics.
A camera-based 'vision' system to evaluate the quality of the printed output against a pre-set quality baseline.
An overall process with the potential for successful application at each of the end-users in the project.
A process for marking characters and logos on lamps.
A process for marking hot steel coils after the hot milling process.
A process for marking and decorating flat glass.
Improved understanding of the colloidal stability of the new ink systems, and the underlying mechanisms affecting this stability. Conference poster presentation
Improved knowledge of sol-gel systems and their application to high temperature inkjet systems e.g. synthesis of inorganic pigments and glass frits, inkjet printing of stabilized sols.
Objectives and content
Ever-increasing market requirements impose new demands on
fast and flexible marking and decoration of products and
semi-finished products, especially in processes and
products that involve high temperatures (800 C).
Marking is important for tracing purposes during the
manufacturing process, thus allowing quality control and
yield improvement; decorating activities should take
place at the end of the production line, where items can
be given distinctive, customised, markings. To achieve
this a very reliable process is necessary, because the
added value is high. A computer-controlled printing
process will be needed; and for current softwaredriven/computer-controlled printing processes no
satisfactory temperature-resistant inks are available.
For satisfactory high-temperature applications, inks will
require:
high-temperature resistance
mechanical resistance
chemical resistance
resistance to UV light
good adhesion to product surfaces
This project aims to develop a range of inks that are
suitable for marking/decorating glass, ceramics, and
metals; that have the advantages listed above; and that
can be used in software-controlled, non-contact, printing
equipment. Such inks will have to be resistant to high
temperatures over a long period of time.
Nowadays there are a few inks which can satisfy all the
requirements listed above, but they are unsuitable for
use in computer-controlled printing equipment, nor can
they be improved to any great extent in that respect.
The results of the project will be:
a range of inks to fulfil the requirements of
resistance to abrasion, scratching, heat, UV light,
domestic solvents, and cleaning materials. They will
have good adhesion on ceramics, glass, metals (i.e.
materials that can be heated from room temperature up to
600 C over a long period of time (some minutes to 5000
hours), suitable for software driven printing systems.
a production process, comprising a reliable, softwaredriven printing system for the marking and decorating of
finished and semi-finished products.
The scientific approach that will be used to achieve the
objectives will involve nano-particle technology, ink
rheology, sol-gel technology, pigments/dyes, colloid
chemistry, and novel polymers such as polyamides, cyanate
esters, silicon polyesters.
As a result of the background, and the knowledge to be
generated, of the industrial partners and the
Universities, in the last stage of the project, a
demonstration system will be installed in a pilot line to
prove the reliability and flexibility of both the inks
and the printing equipment; this will show the
capabilities of the new inks, equipment, and process.
The total direct and economical benefits of the project
amount to 400MECU/yr for full implementation in European
industry. The consortium comprises the complete chain: a
world-renowned ink manufacturer; an ink pigment
manufacturer; three major end-users in three different
industrial sectors of the developed materials and
equipment; a leading manufacturer of printing equipment;
and two universities for fundamental research.

Fields of science

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Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

Coates Electrographics Ltd
Address
Norton hill
BA3 4RT Bath - avon
United Kingdom

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EU contribution
€ 0,00

Participants (6)

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Last update: 6 June 2003

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/BRPR980732

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