Construction of Micro-Patterned Polymer Structures by Piezoelectric Inkjet Printing

Abstract

It is not simple to accurately deposit minute quantities of polymeric materials by inkjet printing systems. High viscosity, nozzle clogging, agglomeration, precipitation, and uncontrollable drying patterns are serious problems which are frequently encountered in polymer inkjet printing. In this study, we investigated how inkjet printability of polymers correlates with the polymer ink formulations and inkjet process variables. After a systematic study with different variables, various patterns such as dots, cross stripes, and honeycombs were fabricated on flexible polyimide (PI) films and the pattern morphology and spatial distribution of the resulting polymer deposits after solvent drying were characterized.