Introduction to Inkjet Printing

Inkjet printing technologies and the fluid dynamic principles governing droplet generation, flight, and deposition are reviewed. Major classifications of inkjet printing, including continuous inkjet and drop-on-demand systems, are introduced, with particular emphasis on piezoelectric, thermal, and electrohydrodynamic actuation mechanisms. The effects of ink properties, nozzle geometry, actuation conditions, and particle additives on droplet stability and print quality are also discussed. Additional topics include satellite droplet formation, evaporation-induced deposition, the coffee-ring effect, and recent AI-based approaches for process optimization. The discussion connects the numerical methods introduced earlier to practical inkjet printing applications.