• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.73-80
• /
• 2014

Ink-jet printing technology has been widely attractive due to its facility for direct and fine printing on various substrates. Recent studies have focused on expanding the application of ink-jet printing technology from general consumer use and design companies to the prototype production of precision parts and parts manufacturing. The use of ink-jet printing technology in decorated tableware, tiles, and other ceramic products also has many advantages. The printing process is fast and can be adaptable to various kinds of objects because there is no direct contact point between the printer and the substrates to be printed. For application to ceramic product decoration, inks containing highly dispersed inorganic nano-pigments are required. Here we report the synthesis and characterization of blue $CoAl_2O_4$ nanopigment for ink-jet printing. Blue ceramic ink based on the obtained $CoAl_2O_4$ pigment was prepared by dissolving $CoAl_2O_4$ pigment in a mixed solution of ethylene glycol and ethanol with volume ratios of 7:3 and 8:2, respectively, to obtain the appropriate viscosity for ink-jet printing. The ink solution contained 15 wt% of $CoAl_2O_4$ pigment and Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide(CTAB) and Sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS) as dispersive agents. The prepared blue ceramic ink was stably jetted and formed a sphere-shaped droplet from an ink-jet printer.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.50 no.6
• /
• pp.510-517
• /
• 2013

In this study, the properties of blue inorganic nano-pigments with a spinel structure were systematically investigated. We report the preparation of a blue ceramic nano-pigment and the Co and Ni substitutional effects on the blue color. $MgAl_2O_4$ was selected as the crystalline host network for the synthesis of cobalt and nickel-based blue ceramic nano-pigments. Various compositions of $Co_xMg_{1-x}Al_2O_4$ and $Ni_xMg_{1-x}Al_2O_4$ ($0{\leq}x{\leq}1$) powders were prepared using apolymerized complex method. The obtained powder was preheated at $400^{\circ}C$ for 5 h and then calcined at $1000^{\circ}C$ for 5 h. XRD patterns of the (Co,Mg)$Al_2O_4$ and (Ni,Mg)$Al_2O_4$ samples showed a single phase of the spinel structure in all compositions. TEM results indicated nano-sized pigments for (Co,Mg)$Al_2O_4$ and (Ni,Mg)$Al_2O_4$ with a particle size ranging from 20 to 50 nm. The characteristics of the color tones of (Co,Mg)$Al_2O_4$ and (Ni,Mg)$Al_2O_4$ were analyzed by CIE $L^*a^*b^*$ measurements. In addition, the thermal stability and the binding characteristics of (Co,Mg)$Al_2O_4$, (Ni,Mg)$Al_2O_4$ are discussed in terms of the TG-DSC and FT-IR results, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.52 no.6
• /
• pp.497-501
• /
• 2015

Inkjet printing is a widespread technology, offering advantages such as high-quality decoration, a continuous process, and the accurate direct reproduction of patterns or pictures. In inkjet printing technology, the dispersion stability of ceramic ink is one of the most important factors. In this study, the dispersion stability of blue $CoAl_2O_4$ ink for ceramic inkjet printing is systematically investigated. Blue $CoAl_2O_4$ pigment was synthesized by a solid-state reaction and then milled to less than 300nm in size. In order to investigate the influence of the viscosity on the dispersion stability, two types of $CoAl_2O_4$ ceramic inks (termed here Blue L and Blue H) were prepared using different volume ratios of ethylene glycol and ethanol. The Blue L and Blue H ink solutions contained cetyltrimethylammonium bromide(CTAB) as a dispersive agent. The viscosity, surface tension and jetting stability of the $CoAl_2O_4$ ceramic inks were analyzed using a rheometer, a surface tension meter and a dropwatcher. The dispersion stability of the $CoAl_2O_4$ ceramic ink was investigated by a multiple light-scattering method. Blue H, a ceramic ink with higher viscosity, showed much better dispersion stability than the Blue L ceramic ink.

• Journal of Powder Materials
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.377-381
• /
• 2014

This work describes the coloration, chemical stability of $SiO_2$ and $SnO_2$-coated blue $CoAl_2O_4$ pigment. The $CoAl_2O_4$, raw materials, were synthesized by a co-precipitation method and coated with silica ($SiO_2$) and tin oxide ($SnO_2$) using sol-gel method, respectively. To study phase and coloration of $CoAl_2O_4$, we prepared nano sized $CoAl_2O_4$ pigments which were coated $SiO_2$ and $SnO_2$ using tetraethylorthosilicate, $Na_2SiO_3$ and $Na_2SiO_3$ as a coating material. To determine the stability of the coated samples and their colloidal solutions under acidic and basic conditions, colloidal nanoparticle solutions with various pH values were prepared and monitored over time. Blue $CoAl_2O_4$ solutions were tuned yellow color under all acidic/basic conditions. On the other hand, the chemical stability of $SiO_2$ and $SnO_2$-coated $CoAl_2O_4$ solution were improved when all samples pH values, respectively. Phase stability under acidic/basic condition of the core-shell type $CoAl_2O_4$ powders were characterized by transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, CIE $L^*a^*b^*$ color parameter measurements.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.255-264
• /
• 2013

Cobalt aluminate ($CoAl_2O_4$) is a highly stable pigment with excellent resistance to light, weather, etc., which has resulted in widespread use as a ceramic pigment. Due to the unique optical characteristics, $CoAl_2O_4$ is generally used as a coloring agent to decorate porcelain products, glass, paints and plastics. Here, $CoAl_2O_4$ pigments were synthesized by polymerized complex method and solid state reaction. Then $CoAl_2O_4$ pigment were grinded using the attrition milling with 1 mm size zirconia ball for 3 hours. The attrition milling process was performed at the constant speed of 800 rpm and ball to powder weight ratio (BPR) was 100 : 1. The characteristics of synthesized pigment were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), particle size analyser (PSA) and CIE $L^*a^*b^*$. The XRD patterns of $CoAl_2O_4$ show single phase spinel structure. The particle size of $CoAl_2O_4$ measured by FE-SEM, TEM and PSA analysis was in the range of 100~200 nm. The blue color of obtained $CoAl_2O_4$ pigments could be confirmed through CIE $L^*a^*b^*$ measurement.