Title: Ceramic ball pen and mathematical modelling

Authors: Ke Zeng, Jinlong Yang, Xiaoqing Xi

Addresses: State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. ' State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. ' State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

Abstract: In pen industry, ball pens are becoming more and more popular and its market is growing bigger. However, the technology concerned with ball pens, especially gel ink ball pens, is not mature yet. In this paper, several factors influence the performance of ball pens are taken into account. Such factors include: the material of the ball, the clearance, the bowl holds the ball and the speed of writing. The system of providing ink and flowing ink are also calculated. Meanwhile, a model to describe the process is made. The results calculated by the model basically fit the actual instance.

Keywords: ceramic pen balls; mathematical modelling; ball pens; ink flow.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2010.031428

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 2010 Vol.37 No.3/4, pp.287 - 296

Published online: 03 Feb 2010 *

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