Inkjet Ink Characterisation Practical Course

Viscosity, dispersions, jetting & surfaces

11-14 July 2022

Meteor Inkjet Laboratory, Harston, Cambridge, UK

COURSE FOCUS

Development of high quality inks and fluids for inkjet applications requires state-of-the-art characterisation equipment and techniques. From fundamental ink properties such as viscosity and surface tension, which have a crucial impact on jetting performance, through analysis of particulates dispersed within the ink, understanding these properties is key to getting the best out of an ink development project. In addition, it is vital to understand how the developed ink actually behaves, both on ejection from the printhead and when landing onto the substrate of choice.

The Inkjet Ink Characterisation Practical course gives an excellent hands-on introduction to these essential areas of study, presented by industry experts from leading suppliers in the field. The course will give you the basic foundations as well as a more detailed understanding of the vital equipment and techniques, while allowing you to understand how the key characterisation equipment works and see it in action.

The course also allows you to bring your own ink samples and get the resident experts to help you with particular characterisation problems you may be having.

Tuesday 12 July

09:00 Session begins

Particle size, dispersion stability, polymer characterisation - Theory
Malvern Panalytical

• Evaluating and improving dispersion stability

10:30 - 11:00 Coffee break

• Characterising the molecular weight, structure and intrinsic viscosity of polymers used in inkjet

Rheology - Theory
Fullbrook Systems

• Bulk rheology and rheological analysis

12:30 - 13:30 Lunch

13:30 Session begins

Particle size, dispersion stability, polymer characterisation - Practical
Malvern Panalytical

• Zetasizer (measuring size and zeta potential of ink dispersions)

15:30 - 16:00 Coffee break

Rheology - Practical
Fullbrook Systems

• Fluidicam

17:00 Session ends

Thursday 14 July

09:00 Open lab session begins

Optional Open Lab Session

10:30 - 11:00 Coffee break

Optional Open Lab Session Continued

12:30 - 13:30 Lunch

13:30 Open lab session ends

COURSE LEADERS

Matthew Pullen, Product Manager – Drop Watching Solutions
Meteor Inkjet, UK

Matt is a veteran of the inkjet industry with more than 15 years’ experience in a wide array of digital print applications including optoelectronics, additive manufacturing, ceramics, labels and packaging.  His work has included formulation and process development for inks and coatings, process scale-up and printhead waveform development.  In 2017, Matt joined Meteor to work on pre-sales technical engagement and customer support.  He now manages Meteor’s DropWatcher and Waveform Development efforts with a keen interest in accelerating OEM time from lab to fab. Prior to Meteor Inkjet, Matt worked for Xaar, Solar Press, Cambridge Display Technology, Plasmon and Huntsman in a variety of technical and customer-facing roles.  He is a chemist by training and holds a Six Sigma Green Belt. 

Dr Andrew Mellor, Technical Consultant
KRÜSS, Germany

Dr Mellor obtained his EngD in Nanoscience from the London Centre for Nanotechnology at University College London, focusing on nanoparticle promoted catalysis. He has spent 7 years in the field of surface science and has experience of several analytical techniques including electron/X-ray spectroscopy and high-resolution microscopy. Andrew joined KRÜSS in 2017 in the role of technical consultant. He provides high-level technical and applications support to both academia and industry on the topics of solid, liquid and interfacial analysis.

Kyle Aldridge, Technical Sales Representative UK & Ireland
KRÜSS, Germany

Kyle Aldridge has a previous background in X-ray Crystallography and Raman Spectroscopy and now supports KRÜSS customers in the UK in regards to their surface science needs. Kyle joined KRÜSS in 2021 as a Technical Sales Representative and is the first point of contact in the UK for anyone wishing to discuss KRÜSS products or applications.

Dr John Ddungu, Product Technical Specialist – Laser Diffraction
Malvern Panalytical, UK

Dr John Ddungu is a Product Technical Specialist for Laser Diffraction at Malvern Panalytical. He obtained an integrated master’s degree in Chemistry at the University of Birmingham, UK followed by a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Strasbourg, France. Here he explored the synthesis and characterisation of silicon-based nanoparticles for medical diagnostic applications. John then joined Malvern Panalytical in October 2019, where he currently provides technical support for the Mastersizer and Spraytec instruments in industries such as paints and pigments, food, pharmaceuticals, minerals, and advanced materials.

Dr Serena Agostini, Product Technical Specialist – Separations
Malvern Panalytical, UK

Dr Serena Agostini is a Product Technical Specialist for separation, GPC/SEC for polymers, at Malvern Panalytical. She studied Industrial Chemistry in Italy at the University of Pisa and continued her studies in UK, where she obtained her PhD in polymer chemistry at Durham University. During her studies she developed an interest in polymer synthesis and characterisation. She exploited several polymerisation techniques, such as living anionic polymerisations, and she characterised the polymers she synthesised by using, among several characterisation techniques, SEC and TGIC. After spending most of her time in academic research, she is now finding new interests in customer support and product development.

Dr Diogo Fernandes, Product Technical Specialist
Malvern Panalytical, UK

Dr Diogo Fernandes has been awarded a Forensic Chemistry BSc degree from ISCSEM, Portugal, in 2013, and a doctoral degree in Materials Science from the University of Central Lancashire in 2017, where he explored different methods to synthesize and characterize novel types carbogenic nanoparticles. He has acquired knowledge and experience in dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering not only during his PhD degree but also since he joined Malvern Panalytical in 2017. As a Product Technical Specialist for Nanomaterials Characterization, his role is to provide global technical support to customers and collaborators on the Zetasizer range of products, as well as supporting the sales and marketing teams.

James Holloway, Technical Sales
Fullbrook Systems Limited, UK

James Holloway studied BSc (Hons) chemistry at Nottingham University. After working in an R&D function, he moved into the field of instrument sales and is now an expert in the use of multiple light scattering for the determination of stability and particle, droplet or bubble, size in concentrated emulsions, suspensions, dispersions and foams. Having worked with Ametek Brookfield for over 20 years he has a great deal of experience in the fields of online/offline viscosity and rheology measurement of inks and related products.

Dr Tri Tuladhar
TriJet, UK

Tri Tuladhar studied Chemical Engineering from RMIT, Australia and received a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cambridge, UK. He has over 20 years’ experience in R&D in academia and industry in several scientific fields. Since 2005, he has focussed on complex rheology of inkjet printing ink and developed novel techniques to link fluid rheology to jetting behaviour. He heads Trijet Limited, a consulting firm specialising in all aspects of inkjet printing, speciality paints and enamels for glass processing, and providing bespoke solutions in formulations, optimisations of inkjet inks and paints, complex rheological characterisations, jetting optimisation and developing customised rheological and visualisation tools for such applications.

Find out more about the presenting companies:

Meteor Inkjet

KRÜSS

Malvern Panalytical

Fullbrook Systems

TriJet