Approach for detecting localization of inkjet ink components using dynamic-SIMS analysis

Organic compounds having high boiling points included in inkjet inks remain in the printed media after printing. It has been said that these residual organic compounds influenced the fastness of pigment ink prints, but details of the analytical methods have not been reported, yet. In this paper, a new analytical method was applied for detecting localization of those organic compounds in inkjet prints after printing. Glycerin was chosen as a typical example of those organic compounds. To analyze the position within the printed paper, deuterated glycerin was formulated in the ink as a probe and dynamic secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) was applied to detect the deuterium peak in the whole printed paper thickness. It was found that glycerin remained in the range from the bottom of the pigment ink layer to the pigment coating layer of the printed media. This peak was sufficiently detectable for at least 7 days after printing. The maximum peak of residual glycerin was located at the surface of the coating layer of paper. In addition, existence of a filter cake of pigment ink discussed in other work was not confirmed in this study.