Abstract:
Disclosed is an ink jet printhead comprising a plurality of channels, wherein the channels are capable of being filled with ink from an ink supply and wherein the channels terminate in nozzles on one surface of the printhead, the surface being coated with a coating composition comprising a siloxane-etherimide copolymer and a fluorinated nonionic surfactant.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Disclosed herein are ink jet printheads having siloxane-etherimide copolymer front face coatings. 
         [0002]    Ink jet systems include one or more printheads having a plurality of jets from which drops of fluid are ejected towards a recording medium. The jets of a printhead receive ink from an ink supply chamber or manifold in the printhead which, in turn, receives ink from a source, such as an ink reservoir or an ink cartridge. Each jet includes a channel having one end in fluid communication with the ink supply manifold. The other end of the ink channel has an orifice or nozzle for ejecting drops of ink. The nozzles of the jets can be formed in an aperture or nozzle plate having openings corresponding to the nozzles of the jets. During operation, drop ejecting signals activate actuators in the jets to expel drops of fluid from the jet nozzles onto the recording medium. By selectively activating the actuators of the jets to eject drops as the recording medium and/or printhead assembly are moved relative to one another, the deposited drops can be precisely patterned to form particular text and graphic images on the recording medium. An example of a full width array printhead is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,591,535, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference. An example of an ultra-violet curable gel ink which can be jetted in such a printhead is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,714,040, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference. An example of a phase change ink which can be jetted in such a printhead is the Xerox Color Qube™ cyan solid ink available from Xerox Corporation. U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,189, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, describes an ink jet printhead including an ink ejecting component which incorporates an electropolished ink-contacting or orifice surface on the outlet side of the printhead. Additional examples of ink jet printheads are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,934,815, 7,862,678, and 7,862,160, the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein by reference. Thermal ink jet systems, in which the expansion of a bubble forces a droplet of ink out of the nozzle, are also known, as disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,601,777, 4,251,824, 4,410,899, 4,412,224, and 4,532,530, the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein by reference. Also known are acoustic ink jet printing systems, as disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,308,547, 4,697,195, 5,028,937, 5,041,849, 4,751,529, 4,751,530, 4,751,534, 4,801,953, and 4,797,693, the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein by reference. Other known droplet ejectors include those of the type disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,127,198, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0003]    One difficulty faced by ink jet systems is wetting, drooling, or flooding of inks onto the printhead front face. Such contamination of the printhead front face can cause or contribute to blocking of the ink jet nozzles and channels, which alone or in combination with the wetted, contaminated front face, can cause or contribute to non-firing or missing drops, undersized or otherwise wrong-sized drops, satellites, or misdirected drops on the recording medium, and thus result in degraded print quality. 
         [0004]    Current printhead front face coatings are often sputtered polytetrafluoroethylene coatings. When the printhead is tilted, some inks do not readily slide on the printhead front face surface. Rather, these inks flow along the printhead front face and leave an ink film or residue on the printhead which can interfere with jetting. For this reason, the front faces of UV and solid ink printheads are prone to be contaminated by UV and solid inks. 
         [0005]    In some cases, the contaminated printhead can be refreshed or cleaned with a maintenance unit. Such an approach, however, introduces system complexity, hardware cost, and sometimes reliability issues. Contamination of the printhead can also be somewhat minimized by adopting purging procedures. These procedures, however, can consume time and use excessive amounts of ink. 
         [0006]    In the case of inks such as phase change and UV curable gel inks, contamination of a printhead front face can also be minimized by providing an oleophobic low adhesion front face coating that does not wet significantly with ink ejected from nozzle openings of the printhead. When heated to temperatures typically encountered during printhead fabrication processes, however, the surface property characteristics of known oleophobic low adhesion coatings degrade to the point that they cannot be relied upon to minimize contamination of the printhead front face. 
         [0007]    A need remains for an improved printhead front face design that reduces or eliminates wetting, drooling, flooding, or contamination of ink, including UV or solid ink, over the printhead front face. In addition, a need remains for an improved printhead front face design that is ink phobic and robust to withstand maintenance procedures such as wiping of the printhead front face. Further, a need remains for an improved printhead that is easily cleaned or in some cases that is self-cleaning, thereby reducing or eliminating hardware complexity, such as the need for a maintenance unit, reducing run cost and improving system reliability. Additionally, a need remains for materials for coating printhead front faces that, while enabling excellent cleaning and, in many cases, self-cleaning properties, also is sufficiently robust to survive both the temperature and pressure conditions encountered during printhead fabrication and the temperature conditions encountered during printer operation without degradation. There is also a need for printhead front face coatings that exhibit improved anti-scratch properties. In addition, there is a need for printhead front face coatings that exhibit improved chemical resistance to varied chemical environments. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    Disclosed herein is an ink jet printhead comprising a plurality of channels, wherein the channels are capable of being filled with ink from an ink supply and wherein the channels terminate in nozzles on one surface of the printhead, the surface being coated with a coating composition comprising: (a) a siloxane-etherimide copolymer; and (b) a fluorinated nonionic surfactant. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a sectional view of an ink jet printhead according to some embodiments disclosed herein. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 2 to 4  illustrate a process of forming the ink jet printhead shown in  FIG. 2  according to one embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    Disclosed herein is a hydrophobic and oleophobic low adhesion surface coating for an ink jet printhead front face. When the coating is disposed on an ink jet printhead front face surface, jetted drops of inks, including ultra-violet (UV) gel ink (also referred to herein as “UV ink”) and solid ink, exhibit low adhesion towards the surface coating. The adhesion of an ink drop toward a surface can be determined by measuring the sliding angle of the ink drop (i.e., the angle at which a surface is inclined relative to a horizontal position when the ink drop begins to slide over the surface without leaving residue or stain behind). The lower the sliding angle, the lower the adhesion between the ink drop and the surface. As used herein, the term “low adhesion” means a low sliding angle of in one embodiment at least about 1°, and in one embodiment no more than about 30°, in another embodiment no more than about 25°, and in yet another embodiment no more than about 20°, although the sliding angles can be outside of these ranges. 
         [0012]    The term “hydrophobic” as used herein means that water forms a contact angle with the surface of the coating of at least about 80°, and in many embodiments greater angles of 90° or more. The term “oleophobic” as used herein means that hexadecane forms a contact angle with the surface of the coating of at least about 50°, and in many embodiments greater angles of 60° or more. 
         [0013]    The coating disclosed herein comprise a siloxane-etherimide copolymer. More specifically, the polymer is a copolymer of a siloxane, an ether, and an imide, or of a siloxane and an ether imide, including block, alternating, and/or random copolymers, such as those of the formulae 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0000]    wherein: 
         [0014]    (i) R 1  and R 6  each, independently of the others, is (A) an alkylene group, including linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, cyclic, substituted, and unsubstituted alkylene groups, and wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, or the like either may or may not be present in the alkylene group, in one embodiment with at least about 1 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with at least about 2 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with at least about 3 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 18 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with no more than about 16 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with no more than about 12 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges; (B) an arylene group, including substituted and unsubstituted arylene groups, wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, or the like either may or may not be present in the arylene group, in one embodiment with at least about 5 carbon atoms, and in another embodiment with at least about 6 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 36 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with no more than about 28 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with no more than about 24 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, such as phenylene or the like, (C) an arylalkylene group, including substituted and unsubstituted arylalkylene groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the arylalkylene can be linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, and/or cyclic, and wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, or the like either may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion of the arylalkylene group, in one embodiment with at least about 6 carbon atoms, and in another embodiment with at least about 7 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 36 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with no more than about 28 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with no more than about 24 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, such as benzylene or the like; or (D) an alkylarylene group, including substituted and unsubstituted alkylarylene groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the alkylarylene can be linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, and/or cyclic, and wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, or the like either may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion of the alkylarylene group, in one embodiment with at least about 6 carbon atoms, and in another embodiment with at least about 7 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 36 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with no more than about 28 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with no more than about 24 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, such as tolylene or the like; 
         [0015]    (ii) R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 , and R 5  each, independently of the others, is (A) a hydrogen atom; (B) an alkyl group, including linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, cyclic, substituted, and unsubstituted alkyl groups, and wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, or the like either may or may not be present in the alkyl group, in one embodiment with at least about 1 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with at least about 2 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with at least about 3 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 18 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with no more than about 16 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with no more than about 12 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges; (C) an aryl group, including substituted and unsubstituted aryl groups, wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, or the like either may or may not be present in the aryl group, in one embodiment with at least about 5 carbon atoms, and in another embodiment with at least about 6 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 36 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with no more than about 28 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with no more than about 24 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, such as phenyl or the like, (D) an arylalkyl group, including substituted and unsubstituted arylalkyl groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the arylalkyl can be linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, and/or cyclic, and wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, or the like either may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion of the arylalkyl group, in one embodiment with at least about 6 carbon atoms, and in another embodiment with at least about 7 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 36 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with no more than about 28 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with no more than about 24 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, such as benzyl or the like; or (E) an alkylaryl group, including substituted and unsubstituted alkylaryl groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the alkylaryl can be linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, and/or cyclic, and wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, or the like either may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion of the alkylaryl group, in one embodiment with at least about 6 carbon atoms, and in another embodiment with at least about 7 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 36 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with no more than about 28 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with no more than about 24 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, such as tolylene or the like; 
         [0016]    (iii) R 7  and R 7 ′ each, independently of the other, is: (A) an arylene group, including substituted and unsubstituted arylene groups, wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, or the like either may or may not be present in the arylene group, in one embodiment with at least about 5 carbon atoms, and in another embodiment with at least about 6 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 36 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with no more than about 28 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with no more than about 24 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, such as phenylene or the like, (B) an arylalkylene group, including substituted and unsubstituted arylalkylene groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the arylalkylene can be linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, and/or cyclic, and wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, or the like either may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion of the arylalkylene group, in one embodiment with at least about 6 carbon atoms, and in another embodiment with at least about 7 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 36 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with no more than about 28 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with no more than about 24 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, such as benzylene or the like; or (C) an alkylarylene group, including substituted and unsubstituted alkylarylene groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the alkylarylene can be linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, and/or cyclic, and wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, or the like either may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion of the alkylarylene group, in one embodiment with at least about 6 carbon atoms, and in another embodiment with at least about 7 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 36 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with no more than about 28 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with no more than about 24 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, such as tolylene or the like; 
         [0017]    (iv) R 8  and R 9  each, independently of the other, is: (A) an alkylene group, including linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, cyclic, substituted, and unsubstituted alkylene groups, and wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, or the like either may or may not be present in the alkylene group, in one embodiment with at least about 1 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with at least about 2 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with at least about 3 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 18 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with no more than about 16 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with no more than about 12 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges; (B) an arylene group, including substituted and unsubstituted arylene groups, wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, or the like either may or may not be present in the arylene group, in one embodiment with at least about 5 carbon atoms, and in another embodiment with at least about 6 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 36 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with no more than about 28 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with no more than about 24 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, such as phenylene or the like, (C) an arylalkylene group, including substituted and unsubstituted arylalkylene groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the arylalkylene can be linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, and/or cyclic, and wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, or the like either may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion of the arylalkylene group, in one embodiment with at least about 6 carbon atoms, and in another embodiment with at least about 7 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 36 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with no more than about 28 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with no more than about 24 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, such as benzylene or the like; or (D) an alkylarylene group, including substituted and unsubstituted alkylarylene groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the alkylarylene can be linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, and/or cyclic, and wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, or the like either may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion of the alkylarylene group, in one embodiment with at least about 6 carbon atoms, and in another embodiment with at least about 7 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 36 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with no more than about 28 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with no more than about 24 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, such as tolylene or the like; 
         [0018]    (v) X is —O— or a group of the formula —O—R 10 —O—, wherein R 10  is: (A) an arylene group, including substituted and unsubstituted arylene groups, wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, or the like either may or may not be present in the arylene group, in one embodiment with at least about 5 carbon atoms, and in another embodiment with at least about 6 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 36 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with no more than about 28 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with no more than about 24 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, such as phenyl or the like, (B) an arylalkylene group, including substituted and unsubstituted arylalkylene groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the arylalkylene can be linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, and/or cyclic, and wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, or the like either may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion of the arylalkylene group, in one embodiment with at least about 6 carbon atoms, and in another embodiment with at least about 7 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 36 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with no more than about 28 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with no more than about 24 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, such as benzyl or the like; or (C) an alkylarylene group, including substituted and unsubstituted alkylarylene groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the alkylarylene can be linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, and/or cyclic, and wherein hetero atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, boron, or the like either may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion of the alkylarylene group, in one embodiment with at least about 6 carbon atoms, and in another embodiment with at least about 7 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment with no more than about 36 carbon atoms, in another embodiment with no more than about 28 carbon atoms, and in yet another embodiment with no more than about 24 carbon atoms, although the number of carbon atoms can be outside of these ranges, such as tolyl or the like; 
         [0019]    (vi) x is an integer representing the number of repeat siloxane units, and is in one embodiment at least about 1, in another embodiment at least about 2, and in yet another embodiment at least about 4, and in one embodiment no more than about 100,000, in another embodiment no more than about 80,000, and in yet another embodiment no more than about 50,000, although the value can be outside of these ranges; 
         [0020]    (vii) y is an integer representing the number of repeat imide units, and is in one embodiment at least about 5, in another embodiment at least about 10, and in yet another embodiment at least about 15, and in one embodiment no more than about 100,000, in another embodiment no more than about 80,000, and in yet another embodiment no more than about 50,000, although the value can be outside of these ranges; 
         [0021]    (viii) z is an integer representing the number of repeat ether units, and is in one embodiment at least about 5, in another embodiment at least about 10, and in yet another embodiment at least about 15, and in one embodiment no more than about 100,000, in another embodiment no more than about 80,000, and in yet another embodiment no more than about 50,000, although the value can be outside of these ranges; 
         [0022]    (ix) w is an integer representing the number of repeat etherimide units, and is in one embodiment at least about 5, in another embodiment at least about 10, and in yet another embodiment at least about 15, and in one embodiment no more than about 100,000, in another embodiment no more than about 80,000, and in yet another embodiment no more than about 50,000, although the value can be outside of these ranges; 
         [0023]    (x) n is an integer representing the number of —O—Si— repeat units, and is in one embodiment at least about 1, and in one embodiment no more than about 30, although the value of n can be outside of these ranges; 
         [0024]    wherein examples of the substituents on the substituted alkyl, alkylene, aryl, arylene, arylalkyl, arylalkylene, alkylaryl, and alkylarylene groups can be hydroxy groups, halogen atoms, amine groups, imine groups, ammonium groups, cyano groups, pyridine groups, pyridinium groups, ether groups, aldehyde groups, ketone groups, ester groups, amide groups, carbonyl groups, thiocarbonyl groups, sulfate groups, sulfonate groups, sulfonic acid groups, sulfide groups, sulfoxide groups, phosphine groups, phosphonium groups, phosphate groups, nitrile groups, mercapto groups, nitro groups, nitroso groups, sulfone groups, acyl groups, acid anhydride groups, azide groups, azo groups, cyanato groups, isocyanato groups, thiocyanato groups, isothiocyanato groups, carboxylate groups, carboxylic acid groups, urethane groups, urea groups, silyl groups, siloxyl groups, silane groups, mixtures thereof, or the like, wherein two or more substituents can be joined together to form a ring. 
         [0025]    The copolymers can be any kind of copolymer, including random, alternating, block, graft, or the like. 
         [0026]    Any desired or effective ratio of polysiloxane monomer to etherimide monomer can be used, in one embodiment about 0.1:0.9, in another embodiment 0.2:0.8, in yet another embodiment about 0.3:0.7, and in yet another embodiment about 0.5:0.5, although the ratio can be outside of these ranges. In one specific embodiment, the siloxane content of the copolymer is at least about 20 weight percent, and in one specific embodiment, the siloxane content of the copolymer is no more than about 40 weight percent, although the siloxane content can be outside of these ranges. In one specific embodiment, the siloxane content of the copolymer is about 30 weight percent. 
         [0027]    In one specific embodiment, R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , and R 5  are all methyl groups. In one specific embodiment, R 1  and R 6  are n-propylene groups. 
         [0028]    In one specific embodiment, 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0000]    In another specific embodiment, 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0000]    In another specific embodiment, 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0000]    In another specific embodiment, 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0000]    In another specific embodiment, 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0000]    Other specific examples of —R 10 — include, but are not limited to, 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0000]    wherein Q is a divalent moiety, such as (but not limited to) —O—, —S—, —C(═O)—, —SO—, —SO 2 —, or C a H 2a  wherein a is an integer of from 1 to about 20, and the like, as well as halogenated derivatives thereof. 
         [0029]    In one specific embodiment, 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0030]    Suitable siloxane-etherimide copolymers include SILTEM® 1600 resin, available from SABIC, and like commercially available products. The synthesis of these copolymers and their intermediate precursors is known in the art, and is described in, for example, U.S. Patent Publications 2009/0234060 and 2010/0147548 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,185,719, 4,808,686, 3,972,902, 4,455,410, 3,847,867, 3,850,885, 3,852,242, 3,855,178, 3,983,093, and 4,443,591, the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0031]    The copolymers have weight average molecular weights of in one embodiment at least about 2,000, in another embodiment at least about 4,000, and in yet another embodiment at least about 5,000, and in one embodiment no more than about 1,000,000, in another embodiment no more than about 800,000, and in yet another embodiment no more than about 500,000, although Mw can be outside of these ranges. 
         [0032]    The copolymers have number average molecular weights of in one embodiment at least about 2,000, in another embodiment at least about 4,000, and in yet another embodiment at least about 5,000, and in one embodiment no more than about 1,000,000, in another embodiment no more than about 800,000, and in yet another embodiment no more than about 500,000, although Mw can be outside of these ranges. 
         [0033]    The copolymers exhibit glass transition temperatures of in one embodiment at least about 100° C., in another embodiment at least about 120° C., and in yet another embodiment at least about 140° C., and in one embodiment no more than about 450° C., in another embodiment no more than about 425° C., and in yet another embodiment no more than about 400° C., although the temperature can be outside of these ranges. 
         [0034]    The copolymers exhibit Shore D hardness values of in one embodiment at least about 25, in another embodiment at least about 45, and in yet another embodiment at least about 60, although the hardness values can be outside of these ranges. 
         [0035]    The copolymers exhibit yield tensile strength values of in one embodiment at least about 15 mPa, in another embodiment at least about 20 mPa, and in yet another embodiment at least about 30 mPa, although the hardness values can be outside of these ranges. 
         [0036]    The copolymers exhibit yield elongation values of in one embodiment at least about 1%, in another embodiment at least about 3%, and in yet another embodiment at least about 5%, and in one embodiment no more than about 300%, in another embodiment no more than about 200%, and in yet another embodiment no more than about 100%, although the values can be outside of these ranges. 
         [0037]    The coatings also comprise a fluorinated nonionic surfactant to reduce surface tension. Examples of suitable surfactants include perfluoroalkyl sulfonates, perfluoroalkyl carboxylates, perfluoroalkyl phosphoric acid esters, perfluoroalkyl ethylene oxide adducts, perfluoroalkyl betaine, perfluoroalkyl polyoxyethylene ethanols, fluorinated alkyl esters, perfluoroalkylamine oxides, fluorinated organosiloxanes, or the like, as well as mixtures thereof. Examples of suitable commercially available fluorinated nonionic surfactants include those in the FLUORAD series from 3M, such as FC-4432, FC-4434, and FC-4430. 
         [0038]    The fluorinated nonionic surfactant is present in the coating in any desired or effective amount, in one embodiment at least about 0.0001 percent by weight of the coating, in another embodiment at least about 0.001 percent by weight of the coating, and in yet another embodiment at least about 0.01 percent by weight of the coating, and one embodiment no more than about 20 percent by weight of the coating, in another embodiment no more than about 10 percent by weight of the coating, and in yet another embodiment no more than about 5 percent by weight of the coating, although the amount can be outside of these ranges. 
         [0039]    The coatings disclosed herein can be employed as a printhead front face coating for an inkjet printhead configured to eject any suitable ink, including aqueous inks, solvent inks, UV-curable inks, dye sublimation inks, solid phase change inks, or the like. An exemplary ink jet printhead suitable for use with the oleophobic low adhesion coating disclosed herein is described in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an ink jet printhead  20  according to one embodiment includes a support brace  22 , a nozzle plate  24  bonded to the support brace  22 , and an oleophobic low adhesion coating, such as oleophobic low adhesion coating  26 . 
         [0041]    The support brace  22  is formed of any suitable material, such as stainless steel or the like, and include apertures  22   a  defined therein. The apertures  22   a  communicate with an ink source (not shown). The nozzle plate  24  is formed of any suitable material, such as polyimide or the like, and includes nozzles  24   a  defined therein. The nozzles  24   a  communicate with the ink source via the apertures  22   a  such that ink from the ink source is jettable from the printhead  20  onto a recording substrate through a nozzle  24   a.    
         [0042]    In the illustrated embodiment, the nozzle plate  24  is bonded to the support brace by an intervening adhesive material  28 . The adhesive material  28  can be provided as a thermoplastic adhesive that can be melted during a bonding process to bond the nozzle plate  24  to the support brace  22 . The nozzle plate  24  and the oleophobic low adhesion coating  26  can also be heated during the bonding process. Depending on the material from which the thermoplastic adhesive is formed, the bonding temperature can be in a range of from about 180° C. to about 325° C., although the temperature can be outside of these ranges. 
         [0043]    Conventional oleophobic low adhesion coatings tend to degrade when exposed to temperatures encountered during typical bonding processes or other high-temperature, high-pressure processes encountered during fabrication of ink jet printheads. The oleophobic low adhesion coating  26  disclosed herein, however, exhibits a sufficiently low adhesion (indicated by low sliding angles) and high contact angle with respect to an ink after it has been heated to the bonding temperature that it can provide a self-cleaning, contamination-free ink jet printhead  20  with high drool pressure. The ability of the oleophobic low adhesion coating  26  to resist substantial degradation in desirable surface properties, including low sliding angle and high contact angle, upon exposure to elevated temperatures, enables ink jet printheads having self-cleaning abilities while maintaining high drool pressure to be fabricated using high-temperature and high-pressure processes. An exemplary process of forming an ink jet printhead is described with respect to  FIGS. 1 to 4 . 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , an ink jet printhead, such as printhead  20 , can be formed by forming an oleophobic low adhesion coating such coating  26  on a substrate  32 . The substrate  32  can be formed of any suitable material, such as polyimide or the like. 
         [0045]    In one embodiment, the oleophobic low adhesion coating  26  may be formed on the substrate  32  by initially applying the reactant mixture that, as described above, includes the mixture of monomers, such as SILTEM  1600 , the fluorinated nonionic surfactant, and a suitable solvent, such as N-methylpyrrolidinone, N,N-dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran, or the like, as well as mixtures thereof. After the reactant mixture is applied to the substrate  32 , the reactants are reacted together to form the oleophobic low adhesion coating  26 . The reactants can be reacted together by, for example, curing the reactant mixture. The reactant mixture is first cured at a temperature of in one embodiment at least about 25° C., in another embodiment at least about 50° C., and in yet another embodiment at least about 75° C., and in one embodiment no more than about 400° C., in another embodiment no more than about 300° C., and in yet another embodiment no more than about 200° C., although the temperature can be outside of these ranges, for a period of in one embodiment at least about 1 minute, in another embodiment at least about 5 minutes, and yet another embodiment at least about 10 minutes, although the period of time can be outside of these ranges, followed by a high temperature post-cure at in one embodiment in one embodiment at least about 100° C., in another embodiment at least about 120° C., and in yet another embodiment at least about 150° C., and in one embodiment no more than about 500° C., in another embodiment no more than about 450° C., and in yet another embodiment no more than about 400° C., although the temperature can be outside of these ranges, for a period of in one embodiment at least about 1 minute, in another embodiment at least about 5 minutes, and yet another embodiment at least about 10 minutes, and in one embodiment no more than about 24 hours, in another embodiment no more than about 12 hours, and in yet another embodiment no more than about 10 hours, although the period of time can be outside of these ranges. 
         [0046]    The reactant mixture can be applied to the substrate  32  using any suitable method, such as die extrusion coating, dip coating, spray coating, spin coating, flow coating, stamp printing, blade techniques, or the like. An air atomization device such as an air brush or an automated air/liquid spray can be used to spray the reactant mixture. The air atomization device can be mounted on an automated reciprocator that moves in a uniform pattern to cover the surface of the substrate  32  with a uniform (or substantially uniform) amount of the reactant mixture. The use of a doctor blade is another technique that can be employed to apply the reactant mixture. In flow coating, a programmable dispenser is used to apply the reactant mixture. 
         [0047]    In yet another embodiment, oleophobic low adhesion coating  26  can be first cured into a sheet and then applied and bonded to substrate  32  with any desirable or suitable adhesive material. Further details on this method are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Patent Publications 2011/0157278 and 2011/0228005, the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the substrate  32  is bonded to the aperture brace  22  via adhesive material  28 , resulting in the structure shown in  FIG. 5 . In one embodiment, the adhesive material  28  is bonded to the aperture brace  22  before being bonded to the substrate  32 . In another embodiment, the adhesive material  28  is bonded to the substrate  32  before being bonded to the aperture brace  22 . In yet another embodiment, the adhesive material  28  is bonded to the substrate  32  and the aperture brace  22  simultaneously. 
         [0049]    In embodiments where the adhesive material  28  is provided as a thermoplastic adhesive, the adhesive material  28  is bonded to the substrate  32  and the aperture brace  22  by melting the thermoplastic adhesive at, and subjecting the oleophobic low adhesion coating  26  to, a bonding temperature and a bonding pressure. The bonding temperature is in one embodiment at least about 180° C., and in one embodiment no more than about 325° C., and in another embodiment no more than about 290° C., although the temperatures can be outside of these ranges. The bonding pressure is in one embodiment at least about 100 psi, and in one embodiment no more than about 400 psi, and in another embodiment no more than about 300 psi, although the pressures can be outside of these ranges. 
         [0050]    After bonding the substrate  32  to the aperture brace  22 , the aperture brace  22  can be used as a mask during one or more patterning processes to extend the apertures  22   a  into the adhesive material  28 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The aperture brace  22  can also be used as a mask during one or more patterning processes to form nozzles  24   a  in the substrate  32 , thereby forming the nozzle plate  24  shown in  FIG. 1 . The one or more patterning processes used to form nozzles  24   a  can also be applied to form nozzle openings  26   a  within the oleophobic low adhesion coating  26 , wherein the nozzle openings  26   a  communicate with the nozzles  24   a . In one embodiment, the apertures  22   a  can be extended into the adhesive material  28  by a laser ablation patterning process or the like. In one embodiment, the nozzles  24   a  and nozzle openings  26   a  can be formed in the substrate  32  and the oleophobic low adhesion coating  26 , respectively, by a laser ablation patterning process or the like. 
         [0051]    The front face coatings disclosed herein are thermally stable under printhead fabrication conditions and printer operating conditions. The front face coatings exhibit oleophobic characteristics after being subjected to temperatures of in one embodiment at least about 180° C., and in one embodiment no more than about 325° C., and in another embodiment no more than about 290° C., although the temperatures can be outside of these ranges, and pressures of in one embodiment at least about 100 psi, and in one embodiment no more than about 400 psi, and in another embodiment no more than about 300 psi, although the pressures can be outside of these ranges, for periods of time of in one embodiment at least about 10 minutes, and in another embodiment at least about 30 minutes, and in one embodiment no longer than about 2 hours, although the period of time can be outside of these ranges. The surface coating can be bonded to a stainless steel aperture brace at high temperature and high pressure without any degradation, and the resulting printhead can prevent ink contamination because ink droplets can roll off the printhead front face, leaving behind no residue. 
         [0052]    The oleophobic low adhesion surface coating includes an oleophobic low adhesion polymeric material configured such that jetted drops of ultra-violet gel ink or jetted drops of solid ink exhibit a contact angle of in one embodiment at least about 45°, in another embodiment at least about 55°, and in yet another embodiment at least about 65°, and in one embodiment no more than about 150°, although the contact angle can be outside of these ranges. 
         [0053]    When ink is filled into the printhead, it is desired to maintain the ink within the nozzle until it is time to eject the ink. Generally, the greater the ink contact angle the better (higher) the drool pressure. Drool pressure relates to the ability of the aperture plate to avoid ink weeping out of the nozzle opening when the pressure of the ink tank (reservoir) increases. In some embodiments, the oleophobic low adhesion surface coatings described herein provide, in combination, low adhesion and high contact angle for ultra-violet curable gel ink and solid ink, which further provides the benefit of improved drool pressure or reduced or eliminated weeping of ink out of the nozzle. 
         [0054]    The coatings disclosed herein have a surface energy of in one embodiment at least about 0.1 dyne per centimeter, in another embodiment at least about 0.5 dyne per centimeter, and in yet another embodiment at least about 1 dyne per centimeter, and in one embodiment no more than about 100 dynes per centimeter, in another embodiment no more than about 80 dynes per centimeter, and in yet another embodiment no more than about 60 dynes per centimeter, although the surface energy can be outside of these ranges. 
         [0055]    The coatings disclosed herein exhibit water contact angles of in one embodiment at least about 60°, in another embodiment at least about 80°, and in yet another embodiment at least about 90°, although the value can be outside of these ranges. 
         [0056]    Specific embodiments will now be described in detail. These examples are intended to be illustrative, and the claims are not limited to the materials, conditions, or process parameters set forth in these embodiments. All parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise indicated. 
       Example I 
       [0057]    A siloxane-etherimide copolymer resin (SILTEM® 1600, 28 g, obtained from SABIC, Pittsfield, Mass., was dissolved in N-methylpyrrolidinone solvent (260 g). After a clear amber solution was obtained, a nonionic fluorosurfactant (FLUORAD FC-4432, obtained from 3M, St. Paul, Minn., 0.056 g) was added to the solution. 
         [0058]    The solution thus obtained was applied on UPILEX polyimide film by a 0.25-mil Bird bar. The coating was dried first at 110° C. for 30 minutes, second at 190° C. for 45 minutes, and finally at 250° C. for 30 minutes. The cured film had a very smooth surface. The water contact angle of the cured film was 108.4°, the formamide contact angle was 95.6°, and the surface energy was 12.3 dyne/cm. 
         [0059]    It is believed that applying this film to a printhead nozzle plate as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4  as oleophobic low adhesion coating  26  will result in a printhead exhibiting, in some embodiments, advantages such as reduced or eliminates wetting, drooling, flooding, or contamination of ink over the printhead front face, ink phobicity and robustness to withstand maintenance procedures such as wiping of the printhead front face, ease of cleaning or, in some instances, self-cleaning properties, thereby reducing or eliminating hardware complexity, such as the need for a maintenance unit, reducing run cost and improving system reliability, sufficient robustness to survive both the temperature and pressure conditions encountered during printhead fabrication and the temperature conditions encountered during printer operation without degradation, improved anti-scratch properties, and improved chemical resistance to varied chemical environments. 
       Example II 
       [0060]    Amine-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (GP-965, available from Genesee Polymers Corporation, Burton, Mich.) 25 g and 4,4′-oxydianiline 10 g are dissolved in 450 mL N-methylpyrrolidinone solvent. With mechanical stirring and under flowing nitrogen gas, pyromellitic dianhydride 21.8 g is added slowly. The mixture is mixed at room temperature for 30 minutes, then slowly heated to 80° C. over 2 h, and thereafter maintained at this temperature for 1.5 h. After subsequent cooling to room temperature, a viscous brownish solution is obtained. 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0061]    The process of Example I is then repeated except that the SILTEM® 1600 is replaced with an equal amount of the solution thus obtained. It is believed that similar results will be obtained. 
       Example III 
       [0062]    Amine-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (GP-468, available from Genesee Polymers Corporation) 67 g and 4,4′-oxydianiline 10 g are dissolved in 600 mL N-methylpyrrolidinone solvent. With mechanical stirring and under flowing nitrogen gas, benzophenone-3,3′,4,4′-tetracarboxylic dianhydride 32.2 g is added slowly. The mixture is mixed at room temperature for 30 minutes, then slowly heated to 80° C. over 2 h, and thereafter maintained at this temperature for 1.5 h. After subsequent cooling to room temperature, a viscous brownish solution is obtained. 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0063]    The process of Example I is then repeated except that the SILTEM® 1600 is replaced with an equal amount of the solution thus obtained. It is believed that similar results will be obtained. 
       Example IV 
       [0064]    Amine-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (GP-965, available from Genesee Polymers Corporation) 12.5 g, GP-468 amine-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) 33.5 g, and 4,4′-oxydianiline 10 g, are dissolved in 500 mL N-methylpyrrolidinone solvent. With mechanical stirring and under flowing nitrogen gas, pyromellitic dianhydride 21.8 g is added slowly. The mixture is mixed at room temperature for 30 minutes, then slowly heated to 80° C. over 2 h, and thereafter maintained at this temperature for 1.5 h. After subsequent cooling to room temperature, a viscous brownish solution is obtained. 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0065]    The process of Example I is then repeated except that the SILTEM® 1600 is replaced with an equal amount of the solution thus obtained. It is believed that similar results will be obtained. 
       Example V 
       [0066]    4,4′-[Oxybis(dimethylsilylene)] bis(1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid) dianhydride 42.6 g is dissolved in 400 mL N-methylpyrrolidinone solvent. With mechanical stirring and under flowing nitrogen gas, 4,4′-oxydianline 20 g is added slowly. The mixture is mixed at room temperature for 30 minutes, then slowly heated to 80° C. over 2 h, and thereafter maintained at this temperature for 1.5 h. After subsequent cooling to room temperature, a viscous brownish solution is obtained. 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0067]    The process of Example I is then repeated except that the SILTEM® 1600 is replaced with an equal amount of the solution thus obtained. It is believed that similar results will be obtained. 
       Example VI 
       [0068]    3,3′,4,4′-Biphenyltetracarboxylic acid dianhydride 14.7 g and 4,4′-[oxybis(dimethylsilylene)] bis(1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid) dianhydride 21.3 g are dissolved in 400 mL N-methylpyrrolidinone solvent. With mechanical stirring and under flowing nitrogen gas, 4,4′-oxydianline 20 g is added slowly. The mixture is mixed at room temperature for 30 minutes, then slowly heated to 80° C. over 2 h, and thereafter maintained at this temperature for 1.5 h. After subsequent cooling to room temperature, a viscous brownish solution is obtained. 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0069]    The process of Example I is then repeated except that the SILTEM® 1600 is replaced with an equal amount of the solution thus obtained. It is believed that similar results will be obtained. 
       Example VII 
       [0070]    Amine-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (GP-468, available from Genesee Polymers Corporation) 133.3 g is dissolved in 1,000 mL N-methylpyrrolidinone solvent. With mechanical stirring and under flowing nitrogen gas, 2,2′-bis[4-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]propane dianhydride 52 g is added slowly. The mixture is mixed at room temperature for 30 minutes, then slowly heated to 80° C. over 2 h, and thereafter maintained at this temperature for 1.5 h. After subsequent cooling to room temperature, a viscous brownish solution is obtained. 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0071]    The process of Example I is then repeated except that the SILTEM® 1600 is replaced with an equal amount of the solution thus obtained. It is believed that similar results will be obtained. 
         [0072]    Other embodiments and modifications of the present invention may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art subsequent to a review of the information presented herein; these embodiments and modifications, as well as equivalents thereof, are also included within the scope of this invention. 
         [0073]    The recited order of processing elements or sequences, or the use of numbers, letters, or other designations therefor, is not intended to limit a claimed process to any order except as specified in the claim itself.