Dye Sublimation Inkjet Inks and Applications

Disperse dye inkjet inks, including dye sublimation inkjet inks, have been increasingly adopted in inkjet applications since the mid-1990s. Sublimation dyes were first introduced in digital printing by imperial chemical industries (ICI) in the field of dye diffusion thermal transfer (D2T2) or sublimation thermal transfer printing. Dye sublimation inkjet inks are used in two different printing methods: direct printing and transfer printing. Sublimation colorants used in inkjet applications belong to the category of disperse dyes. Sublimation dyes, such as anthraquinone, quinophthalone, or azo/diazo class disperse dyes, are nonionic synthetic molecules with conjugated structure and lack water solubilizing functional groups such as carboxylic or sulfonic groups. The main technical improvement in the future will focus on ink stability and colorfastness enhancement, and high-speed industrial applications. These improvements are related to both engineering and chemistry aspects.