Affiliation:
1. School of Materials & Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen Polytechnic University, Shenzhen 518055, China
2. Department of Power Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
3. School of Chemistry Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
Abstract
The formation of single and stable ink droplets is crucial for producing high-quality functional films in drop-on-demand (DOD) inkjet printing. The stability and singularity of droplet formation are significantly influenced by filament breakup behavior, governed by the rheological parameters of the ink formula. This study explores the droplet formation behavior of Poly3-hexylthiophene (P3HT) ink across various Weber numbers (We) and assesses the impact of the Z value on the formation of single ink droplets. Observations reveal that as the We number increases, droplet morphology transitions from single to double, and eventually to sputtered droplets. Results demonstrate that stable, single droplets form when the We number ≤ 13 and 12 < Z < 34, with a pulse duration of approximately 340 μs. When the We number exceeds 13, the molecular chains of P3HT stretch due to high hydrodynamic forces, resulting in the formation of unwanted satellite droplets.
Funder
Shenzhen Polytechnic Research Fund
Post-doctoral Later-stage Foundation Project of Shenzhen Polytechnic
Basic and Applied Basic Research Funding of Guangdong
Provincial Education Department of Guangdong
Shenzhen Science and Technology Program
Provincial High Vocational Education Teaching Reform Research and Practice Project
Key funded projects of special funds for scientific and technological innovation strategy of Guangdong Province
Founding of Shenzhen polytechnic