Encapsulated Dye/Polymer Nanoparticles Prepared via Miniemulsion Polymerization for Inkjet Printing

Owing to its simple operation and minimal generation of pollutants, miniemulsion polymerization has attracted increasing interest in the field of inkjet printing. In this study, different dyes were encapsulated with styrene-co-butyl acrylate copolymers via miniemulsion polymerization. The encapsulated dye/polymer nanoparticles were spherical with an apparent shell-core structure, narrow size distributions, and good thermal stability. These nanoparticles were used as miniemulsion inks that could remain unchanged with good photostability for a long time. The miniemulsion ink was successfully applied to inkjet printing on paper with bright colors and good fluency, and the dyeing of cotton fabrics indicated that these nanoparticles possessed good rubbing and washing fastness. All of these results suggest that the miniemulsion ink is a potential substitute for inks based on traditional dyes in inkjet printing.