Fig. 1
An illustration of the AJP technique. AJP, aerosol jet printing
Table 1
Properties of the inks
| Ink | Dynamic viscosity [m·Pa·s] | Surface tension [dynes/cm] | Density [g/cm3] | Silver content [%] | Silver powder particles size range [nm] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600n | 4.0–5.5 | 33 | 0.9–1.1 | 20 | 20–100 |
| 60n | 5.0–6.5 | 35 | 0.8–1.0 | 20 | 20–100 |
| 6n | 7.5–10.5 | 28.5–32.5 | 1.1–1.3 | 45 | 3–8 |
Fig. 2
Schematics of generators: (A) ultrasonic and (B) pneumatic
Table 2
Pressures used for the ultrasonic (a) and pneumatic (b) generator
| Ink | Pressure (mbar) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (a) | |||||||||||
| 6n | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 | 140 | 150 |
| 60n | 80 | 90 | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 | 140 | 150 | |||
| 600n | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 | 140 | 150 | |||||
| (b) | |||||||||||||
| 6n | 600 | 700 | 800 | 900 | 1,000 | 1,100 | 1,200 | 1,300 | 1,400 | 1,500 | 1,800 | 2,000 | 2,500 |
| 60n | 600 | 700 | 800 | 900 | 1,000 | 1,100 | 1,200 | 1,300 | 1,400 | 1,500 | 1,800 | 2,000 | 2,500 |
| 600n | 600 | 700 | 800 | 900 | 1.000 | 1.100 | 1.200 | 1.300 | 1.400 | 1.500 | 1.800 | 2.000 | 2.500 |
Fig. 3
Exemplary measurement: (A) photo from digital microscope, (B) measurement of the droplets size, (C) cross section of the droplet from AFM, and (D) view from above from AFM. AFM, atomic force microscopy
Fig. 4
Images of the droplets below 1 μm from (A) SEM and (B) AFM. AFM, atomic force microscopy; SEM, scanning electron microscopy
Fig. 5
SEM images for pneumatic generator 1,800 mbar: (A) 6n ink, (B) 60n ink, (C) 600n ink, AFM images for ultrasonic generator 150 mbar, (D) 6n ultrasonic, (E) 60n ultrasonic, and (F) 600n ultrasonic. AFM, atomic force microscopy; SEM, scanning electron microscopy
Fig. 6
SEM image for pneumatic generator 1,800 mbar 6n ink. SEM, scanning electron microscopy
Fig. 7
Box plot of measured droplets for (A) ultrasonic generator and (B) pneumatic generator