Patent ID: 7874646
Filing Date: 2011-01-25
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A MEMS vapor bubble generator comprising: a chamber for holding liquid; and a heater positioned in the chamber, the heater being formed using a sputtering technique, wherein the heater is formed from a superalloy material, the superalloy material of the heater is in direct contact with the liquid, without any intervening protective coating, the superalloy has a crystalline structure with a grain size less than 100 nano-meters, and the superalloy is MCrAlX, where M is one or more of Ni, Co, Fe with M contributing at least 50% by weight, Cr contributing between 8% and 35% by weight, Al contributing more than zero but less than 8% by weight, and X contributing less than 25% by weight, with X consisting of zero or more other elements, preferably including but not limited to Mo, Re, Ru, Ti, Ta, V, W, Nb, Zr, B, C, Si, Y, Hf.