Re: Does Archiva Get Hazy? (was: Success...)

[Ben Haskell <npthaskell@harborside.com>]

Raphael Bustin wrote:
> 
> I've tried a couple of different dilutions,
> but perhaps I didn't agitate the alcohol-ink
> mix enough before filling the carts.  Also, I
> haven't added any "surfactants" as Ben Haskell
> has recommended.

I'm getting tempted to get some "Archiva" just to bend it to my will and
force it to work!

About alcohol. I once got a batch of refill ink (supplier to be unnamed)
that became hazy when isopropanol was added to over 15-25% by volume.
What happens is that some substance is soluble in water but forms tiny
droplets when alcohol is added. These droplets slowly settle down into a
dye-free layer after a few hours to a few days. Some low-foam
surfactants in water also become hazy (the droplets eventually settle or
float into a thin film) when alcohol is added, then clears again when
even more alcohol is added. In contrast, this inkset became even more
hazy when lots more alcohol was added.

Another inkset became sludgy when alcohol was added above 30% or so.
This sludge contained dye. Either "droplets" or "sludge" could clog nozzles.

I find that yellow is usually the most transparent ink. Keep adding
defined volumes of alcohol, mix well, and see if it becomes hazy. In a
slightly different context, Tomcat suggested shining a beam of light
through it.

-- Ben Haskell
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