Universe Sandbox
General Category => Astronomy & Science => Topic started by: Bla on February 14, 2014, 02:50:02 PM
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An interesting article:
http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2014/140128/ncomms4044/full/ncomms4044.html (http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2014/140128/ncomms4044/full/ncomms4044.html)
The printer was changed to print with just clean water, the dyes are a part of the paper that become visible by chemical reactions with the water from the printer. The paper can be cleaned and re-used up to 50 times, and would cost just 5% more than normal paper. The technology could bring printing costs down to just 1% of the current costs.
However, there are currently some limitations, as the researchers have only made the colors blue, magenta, yellow and purple useable, without it being possible to mix them currently.
Additionally the paper will become blank again if the water evaporates, which happens after about 22 hours at room conditions, but it can be heated to 70 deg Celsius to lose colors in 30 seconds.
Source:
http://ing.dk/artikel/ombygget-hp-printer-skriver-med-vand-og-genbruger-papiret-50-gange-166252 (http://ing.dk/artikel/ombygget-hp-printer-skriver-med-vand-og-genbruger-papiret-50-gange-166252)
Even if it won't cover the tasks that current printers do, a very interesting technology.