Technology advances and changes so fast today that it can be very difficult to keep yourself informed and up to date. All of us use printers at home, school, and work so it is important to be aware of the choices available and the differences between them. One perfect example to give you an idea of some basic inkjet printer technology is to consider the Epson Expression XP-400 cartridges. Epson has long been an industry leader and trusted name known for performance and dependability.

When it comes to technology, what is the main difference that sets the Epson Expression XP-400 cartridges apart? While the question may seem complicated, it really is a simple concept to understand for any consumer. The prevailing industry technology used is called thermal inkjet technology. Thermal means that the cartridges run off heat. Inside the ink reservoir, a small heating element receives signals from the printer, heats the ink, and creates pressure that pushes a small bubble of hot ink through a small nozzle and on to the page. While this technology works well, it has a few problems. Often, as the ink in the reservoir dwindles, the heating coil inside may overheat and burn out, damaging the cartridge. Ink choice in thermal cartridges is also limited due to the need for ink that reacts to heat.

Epson Expression XP-400 cartridges, on the other hand, use what is called piezoelectric technology. Instead of heat, this method uses an electric charge sent by the printer to change the shape of the nozzle and force the ink out through pressure. As a result, ink from this technology does not come out hot, has less chance of clogging, allows the use of a wider range of ink formulations, and does not run the risk of overheating and damaging the cartridge itself.