INKJET PRINTER HAVING PRINTHEAD AND INK FOR MINIMIZING CORROSION OF EXPOSED CORRODIBLE STRUCTURES WITHIN PRINTHEAD
An inkjet printer includes: an inkjet printhead having an exposed corrodible structure containing silicon nitride, borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG) or silicon oxide; and an ink reservoir containing said ink which is in fluid communication with said printhead. The ink includes: water; a dye; and a metal additive for minimizing corrosion of the exposed structure.
1 . An inkjet printer comprising:
an inkjet printhead comprising at least one corrodible structure comprised of silicon nitride, borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG) or silicon oxide, said corrodible structure having a surface exposed to ink; and
an ink reservoir containing said ink, said ink reservoir being in fluid communication with said printhead,
wherein said ink comprises:
water;
a dye; and
a metal additive for minimizing corrosion of said exposed surface, said metal additive comprising one or more metals selected from the group consisting of: Al(III), Fe(III), Fe(II), Cu(II), Cu(I), Bi(III), Cr(III), Mg(II), Sr(II), Ba(II), Ce(III), Ag(I), Al, Fe, Ce, Cu, Cr, Mg and Ag.
2 . The inkjet printer of claim 1 , wherein metal additive comprises one or metals selected from the group consisting of: Al(III) and Fe(III).
3 . The inkjet printer of claim 1 , wherein said metal additive comprises one or more metals selected from the group consisting of: aluminium nitrate nonahydrate, iron(III) nitrate nonahydrate; iron(III) hydroxide, ammonium iron(III) sulfate, iron (III) sulfate heptahydrate, iron(III) chloride and iron(III) bromide.
5 . The inkjet printer of claim 1 , wherein said metal additive is contained in said ink in a concentration in the range of 0.01 to 200 ppm.
6 . The inkjet printer of claim 1 , wherein said ink comprises 0.01 to 25 wt. % of said dye.
7 . The inkjet printer of claim 1 , wherein said dye comprises one or more sulfonate groups.
8 . The inkjet printer of claim 7 , wherein said dye comprises one or more counterions selected from the group consisting of: ammonium, potassium and sodium.
9 . The inkjet printer of claim 7 , wherein said dye is an azo dye.
10 . The inkjet printer of claim 1 , wherein said metal additive is contained in said ink in particulate form, and wherein an average particle size of said metal additive is in the range of 0.01 to 2 microns.
11 . The inkjet printer of claim 1 , wherein said printhead comprises a plurality of nozzle chambers, each nozzle chamber comprising at least one structure comprised of silicon nitride.
12 . The inkjet printer of claim 11 , wherein a roof of each nozzle chamber defines part of a nozzle plate for said printhead, wherein said nozzle plate is comprised of silicon nitride.
13 . The inkjet printer of claim 1 , wherein said printhead comprises a plurality of nozzle chambers, each nozzle chamber comprising at least one structure comprised of silicon oxide.
14 . The inkjet printer of claim 1 , wherein said printhead comprises CMOS layers having at least one layer of BPSG exposed to said ink.
15 . The inkjet printer of claim 1 , wherein said printhead comprises CMOS layers, having at least one layer of silicon oxide exposed to said ink.
16 . The inkjet printer of claim 12 , wherein said printhead comprises a plurality of ink inlets defined by openings through said CMOS layers.
17 . The inkjet printer of claim 11 , wherein each nozzle chamber comprises an actuator selected from the group consisting of:
a heater element for heating at least some of the ink to a temperature sufficient to cause formation of a bubble in the nozzle chamber; and
a thermal bend actuator comprised of: a passive beam and a thermoelastic active beam fused to the passive beam.
18 . An inkjet ink comprising:
water;
0.01 to 25 wt. % of a dye having one or more sulfonate groups, wherein said dye comprises one or more counterions selected from the group consisting of: potassium, sodium and ammonium; and
a metal additive for minimizing corrosion of corrodible surfaces in an inkjet printhead, said metal additive comprising one or more metals selected from the group consisting of: Al(III), Fe(III), Fe(II), Cu(II), Cu(I), Bi(III), Cr(III), Mg(II), Sr(II), Ba(II), Ce(III), Ag(I), Al, Fe, Ce, Cu, Cr, Mg and Ag.
19 . The inkjet ink of claim 18 , wherein said dye comprises a potassium counterion.
20 . A kit comprising:
a printer having an inkjet printhead, said inkjet printhead comprising at least one structure comprised of silicon nitride, borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG) or silicon oxide, said structure having a surface exposed to ink; and
at least one ink cartridge for installation in said printer, said ink cartridge containing an inkjet ink, wherein said ink comprises:
water;
a dye; and
a metal additive for minimizing corrosion of said exposed surface, said metal additive comprising one or more metals selected from the group consisting of: Al(III), Fe(III), Fe(II), Cu(II), Cu(I), Bi(III), Cr(III), Mg(II), Sr(II), Ba(II), Ce(III), Ag(I), Al, Fe, Ce, Cu, Cr, Mg and Ag.