Inkjet Printing: Technologies and Droplet Formation

This lecture covers the taxonomy of major inkjet technologies, including continuous and drop-on-demand methods. It explains droplet formation mechanisms in thermal and piezoelectric inkjet printers, as well as the design considerations for nozzles. The lecture also delves into ink formulation, discussing numerical criteria and the importance of viscosity. Additionally, it explores the operation of piezo inkjet printing and the physics behind droplet impact and spreading on surfaces. Breakdown mechanisms observed in different ink types are also analyzed.