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CD-Laboratory for Polymer-Based Printer Ink Print
On January 1st, a new Christian-Doppler-Laboratory was established at the Montanuniversitaet Leoben. It is attached to the Chair of Chemistry of Polymeric Materials and will be headed by Ass.Prof. Dr. Thomas Grießer.
The research object of the new CD-Laboratory is the chemistry of functional ink-jet-printer inks and their application in new areas. The new and innovative printer inks will be UV-curing, non-irritant and bio-compatible and thus, will be a true alternative to the products used at present. Moreover, the Leoben scientists also consider developing and applying skin-tolerant printer inks for the production of medical technology products.

"Irritating" Printer Inks
„Current printing methods use printer inks which contain irritant or possibly harmful substances. They contain so-called acrylate/methacrylate monomers and low molecular weight photo initiators that can enter the body through the respiratory tract or the skin and cause irritations“, Grießer said. In a first step, strategies for avoiding these materials in the production process of printer inks will be examined.

In a second step, areas of application for these newly developed, bio-compatible and extremely environment-friendly printer inks  in the production of optical elements and even three-dimensional, bio-compatible structureswill be investigated. Reflective elements and structures will be implemented for the conduction of electromagnetic waves (waveguides) which are, e.g., of high interest for the development of security features such as holograms. Three-dimensional, bio-compatible structures will be realized through 2D-and 3D-multi-layer prints and can be applied in the medical area, as for example with bone healing and artery prostheses.

Trendsetting Results Expected
According to Grießer, “the results of these research activities will have immediate relevance for the future of the industrial printing processes, as they are remarkably environmentally-friendly, safe and allergy-free. Such products will meet the rising demands of consumer protection, particularly as bio-compatible and food-safe printing colours are also suitable for the printing on clothes and food packaging. Body-compatibility is also an indispensible requirement in the production of medical technology products, as for example implants and prostheses.

Further information:
Ass.Prof. Dr. Thomas Grießer
Lehrstuhl für Chemie der Kunststoffe – Montanuniversität Leoben
E-Mail: thomas.griesser@unileoben.ac.at
Tel.: 03842/402-2358