Method for forming a hydrophobic/hydrophilic front face of an ink jet printhead

摘要

Methods are provided for forming a printhead nozzle face with regions adjacent the nozzles being hydrophobic to repel ink from the nozzles while peripheral regions of the printhead face are hydrophilic to enhance ink wicking away from the hydrophobic regions. The methods include patterning a hydrophobic coating using laser ablation to expose adjacent hydrophilic regions. Various printhead embodiments are described which provide for enhanced bonding of a high energy film to a printhead front face, the surface of the film being selectively fluorinated to reduce the surface energy in selected areas adjacent the nozzles. <IMAGE>