Ink Jet Ink Formulation

Poly-Fine® XLD Filter Cartridges for Digital Ink Formulation

Ink jet ink cleanliness is critical to the proper operation of an ink jet printer. Properly filtered ink will assure printer output quality and long run periods between purge cycles.

Whether the ink is a dye-based aqueous ink for office printing or pigmented UV curable ink, Pall has a cost-effective solution to meet the needs of the ink jet ink formulator.

With the wide variety of ink jet ink chemistries, several different filtration technologies are used to achieve superior cleanliness.

Read about techniques for evaluating filtration in the lab in:

Selecting Filtration for Ink Jet Ink Formulation

Products by Application for Ink Jet Ink Filtration

Please review the sections below to determine the correct Pall filtration technology for your ink needs.

Aqueous Ink Jet Inks for Thermal Ink Jet Printing
Solvent-Based Inks for Industrial Marking
Ink Jet Inks for Piezo Printing
Filtration of Ink Jet Colorants
Filtration Products for the Ink Jet Laboratory

Aqueous Ink Jet Inks for Thermal Ink Jet Printing

Pigmented Inks

The key objective in filtration of pigmented ink for thermal ink jet printing is to remove oversized pigments and agglomerates, while classifying the dispersion for maximum printhead performance. It is imperative to keep filtration costs low while meeting this goal.

Recommended Filters for Prefiltration
and Final Filtration of Pigmented Inks:

(Final filtration requirements typically range from 0.3 to 1.0 micron.):

Profile^® II Ink Jet Filter Cartridges
Profile II Ink Jet Filter Cartridges This filter has been customized for use in ink jet ink formulation, where absolute-rated filtration is a requirement.

Profile Star Filter Cartridges for Ink Jet Ink Formulation
This filter is an all-polypropylene pleated depth filter that combines the exceptional dirt-holding capacity of the Profile II medium with the high flow rates of the HDC^® II pleated medium.

Dye-Based Inks

Dye-based inks differ in chemical composition from pigmented inks, and thus have different filtration requirements. In addition to insoluble dye elements, gelatinous residues and other contaminants, the potential presence of bacteriological matter may cause premature printhead failure. Pall recommends two-stage filtration.

Prefiltration:

Nexis^® A Series Filter Cartridges for Ink Jet Formulation
Nexis A Series Filter Cartridges for Ink Jet Ink Formulation This filter cartridge is a high performance depth filter which has been optimized with a graded pore structure for outstanding dirt holding capacity and long service life.

Profile^® II Ink Jet Filter Cartridges
Profile II Ink Jet Filter Cartridges This filter has been customized for use in ink jet ink formulation, where absolute-rated filtration is a requirement.

Final Filtration:

WATER-FINE Filter Cartridges for Ink Jet Ink Formulation (0.2 µm membrane)

This is a highly asymmetric membrane filter designed for filtration of aqueous fluids, including ink jet inks. The patented polysulfone membrane features a tapered pore structure for high flow rates and long on-stream life.

Solvent-Based Inks for Industrial Marking

Industrial Marking Inks for General Use

Industrial marking systems require high-efficiency filtration for contaminant removal that ensures proper operation without nozzle deflections or plugging. Therefore, ink filtration to 1 µm absolute is essential to assure printer performance.

Recommended for Most Aqueous, Ketone and Alcohol Formulations:

Profile^® II Ink Jet Filter Cartridges
Profile II Ink Jet Filter Cartridges This filter has been customized for use in ink jet ink formulation, where absolute-rated filtration is a requirement.

Inks for High-Resolution Industrial Marking Applications

Pall has a wide range of filtration options for fine filtration of high-resolution inks. For a recommendation for your specific ink chemistry, please contact the Pall Graphic Arts team.

Ink Jet Inks for Piezo Printing

Pigmented Solvent-Based Inks

For filtration of pigmented solvent-based ink jet inks for piezo printing, Pall recommends filtration to 1.5 µm absolute. This provides for excellent protection of the printhead and outstanding ink shelf life.

POLY-FINE^®XLD Filter Cartridges for Digital Ink Formulation
Poly-Fine XLD Filter Cartridges for Digital Ink Formulation The Poly-Fine® XLD filter is an innovative synthesis of depth and pleated filtration technologies. This product combines the high flow capacity and low pressure loss of pleated filters, with the gel retention capability and long life of a depth filter.

Ultipor^® GF Plus Filter Elements
Ultipor® GF Plus Filter Elements This filter has a pleated high area construction for long service life.

UV Curable Ink Jet Inks

The application of UV curable technology to the ink jet printing market offers many advantages such as image durability and fade resistance. These unique inks require filter technology with low-pressure drop characteristics due to high viscosities. Excellent gel capture and retention are also critical for proper printhead performance.

Filtration of Ink Jet Colorants

Proper filtration of both dye and pigmented ink jet colorants is critical for high-quality final ink formulation. Colorants that are properly filtered will facilitate final ink formulation and enhance the overall ink performance in the printer.

Recommended for Pigmented Colorants Filtration at 0.5 µm Absolute:

Profile^® II Ink Jet Filter Cartridges
Profile II Ink Jet Filter Cartridges This filter has been customized for use in ink jet ink formulation, where absolute-rated filtration is a requirement.

Recommended for dye-based colorants (two-stage filtration):

Prefiltration:

Profile^® II Ink Jet Filter Cartridges
Profile II Ink Jet Filter Cartridges This filter has been customized for use in ink jet ink formulation, where absolute-rated filtration is a requirement.

Final Filtration:

WATER-FINE Filter Cartridges for Ink Jet Ink Formulation (0.2 µm membrane)
This is a highly asymmetric membrane filter designed for filtration of aqueous fluids, including ink jet inks. The patented polysulfone membrane features a tapered pore structure for high flow rates and long on-stream life.

Filtration Products for the Ink Jet Laboratory

Initial Formulation Trials to Full Production

Proper selection and coordination of the filtration scheme, starting with the first formulation trials, assures the launch of high-performance ink at an economical cost.

Selection of the best filtration technology begins during ink formulation. Preliminary ink formulations that are filtered properly will have better performance and an improved chance of being successful with minimal changes. In addition, filterability testing during pilot-scale manufacturing will help determine filter usage and allow optimization of the total filtration process.

From small disc filters to one-inch test filters and housings to capsule filters, we provide products and services to support the ink jet laboratory needs of our customers.

Ink Jet Filtration Site Map

Ink Jet Ink Formulation

Products by Application for Ink Jet Ink Filtration