Initial stages of vapor-bubble nucleation in thermal ink-jet processes

Michael P. O'Horo; John R. Andrews

doi:10.1117/12.207575

27 April 1995 Initial stages of vapor-bubble nucleation in thermal ink-jet processes

Michael P. O'Horo, John R. Andrews

Proceedings Volume 2413, Color Hard Copy and Graphic Arts IV; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.207575
Event: IS&T/SPIE's Symposium on Electronic Imaging: Science and Technology, 1995, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

We have taken advantage of the improved time resolution (< 50 ns) of a newly developed laser stroboscopic system to study the early stages of vapor bubble nucleation in a thermal ink jet printhead. A transparent channel printhead provides optical access to vapor bubble formation and drop generation processes. Vapor bubble nucleation was found to proceed from the initial formation of localized microbubbles (< 50 ns) that spread with time until a uniform sheet of vapor covers the entire heater surface. The time duration for this process was 400 to 600 ns, depending on the heater voltage. The critical role of the heater surface is demonstrated clearly by the fact that preferential vapor microbubble nucleation sites are observed to persist over long time periods. The region of the heater surface subjected to vapor bubble collapse exhibits different microbubble properties than the rest of the heater surface.

Citation Download Citation

Michael P. O'Horo and John R. Andrews "Initial stages of vapor-bubble nucleation in thermal ink-jet processes", Proc. SPIE 2413, Color Hard Copy and Graphic Arts IV, (27 April 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.207575

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