ABSTRACT
Abstract-An experimental investigation of apparent solidification contact angle formed in deposition of ink droplets on solid surfaces as occurs in solid inkjet printers is presented. The apparent solidification contact angles of 39 µm diameter droplets of hot-melt ink impacting on sub-cooled solid surfaces under different printing conditions are obtained. The printing conditions were varied by varying four parameters: the type of substrate, the distance between the substrate surface and printhead, the substrate temperature, and the printhead jetting temperature. It is found that the apparent contact angle is not only dependent on the substrate material and substrate temperature but also has strong dependence on the impact velocity and temperature of the droplet. Explanation is provided by considering the coupling effect of viscous damping and impact process.
