Fluid Level Sensing Tank Materials

Abstract

A fluid tank for micro-fluid ejection devices is provided. The fluid tank includes housing with an interior surface coating. The interior surface coating has a highly hydrophobic to super hydrophobic surface with water contact angle of greater than about 120° and surface energy of less than about 20 mJ/m 2 . The interior surface coating includes nanoparticles and hydrophobic materials. The fluid tank is suitable as ink container having ink level measurement system, and allows an accurate and quickly responsive ink level measurement system.

1 . A fluid tank including a plastic housing with an interior surface coating, the interior surface coating comprising:
 nanoparticles for providing surface texture and roughness to an interior surface of the housing; and   hydrophobic material for coating or encapsulating the nanoparticles,   wherein the interior surface coating has a highly hydrophobic to super hydrophobic surface with water contact angle of greater than about 120° and surface energy of less than about 20 mJ/m 2 .   
     
     
         2 . The fluid tank of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles include metal oxides. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid tank of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles have particle sizes ranging from about 5 to about 100 nanometers. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid tank of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic material includes organic silanes. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid tank of  claim 4 , wherein the organic silanes comprise perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane, perfluorooctyltrichlorosilane, nonofluorohexyltrichlorosilane, pentafluorophenyltrichlorosilane, n-Octyltrichlorosilane, pentafluorodecyltrichlorosilane, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . A method for preparing a surface coating of a fluid tank comprising:
 providing a housing of the fluid tank;   depositing nanoparticles on surface of the housing, the nanoparticles being formed through a gas phase reaction before being deposited on the surface of the housing; and   encapsulating the nanoparticles with a hydrophobic material through chemical vapor deposition,   wherein the surface coating has a highly hydrophobic to super hydrophobic surface with water contact angle of greater than about 120° and surface energy of less than about 20 mJ/m 2 .   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the nanoparticles include metal oxides. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the nanoparticles have particle sizes ranging from about 5 nm to about 100 nm. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the hydrophobic material includes organic silanes. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the organic silanes comprise perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane, perfluorooctyltrichlorosilane, nonofluorohexyltrichlorosilane, pentafluorophenyltrichlorosilane, n-Octyltrichlorosilane, pentafluorodecyltrichlorosilane, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A method for preparing a surface coating of a fluid tank, comprising:
 providing a housing of the fluid tank;   combining nanoparticles into a hydrophobic solution to obtain a slurry;   depositing the slurry onto a surface of the housing; and   baking to oligomerize the slurry and encapsulate the nanoparticles,   wherein the interior coating has a highly hydrophobic to super hydrophobic surface with water contact angle of greater than about 120° and surface energy of less than about 20 mJ/m 2 .   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the nanoparticles in the slurry has a concentration of about 5% to about 50% by weight. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the nanoparticles have particle sizes ranging from about 5 nm to about 100 nm. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise metal oxides. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the hydrophobic solution comprises hydrophobic material at a concentration of about 1% to about 25% by weight in water and organic solvents. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the hydrophobic material includes organic silanes. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the organic silanes comprise perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane, perfluorooctyltrichlorosilane, nonofluorohexyltrichlorosilane, pentafluorophenyltrichlorosilane, n-Octyltrichlorosilane, pentafluorodecyltrichlorosilane, or combinations thereof.