Julio Viana

By Ribeiro, C.J. and Viana, J.C.

Part of the book: New Trends and Developments in Automotive System Engineering

By Sílvia Manuela Ferreira Cruz, Luís A. Rocha and Júlio C. Viana

Printing technologies have been demonstrated to be highly efficient and compatible with polymeric materials (both inks and substrates) enabling a new generation of flexible electronics applications. Conductive flexible polymers are a new class of materials that are prepared for a wide range of applications, such as photovoltaic solar cells, transistors molecular devices, and sensors and actuators. There are many possible printing techniques. This chapter provides an opportunity to review the most common printing techniques used at the industrial level, the most commonly used substrates and electronic materials, giving an overall vision for a better understanding and evaluation of their different features. Several technological solutions (contact/noncontact) and its critical challenges are also presented. Inkjet Printing Technology (IPT) has been receiving a great attention and therefore higher focus is given to this technology. An overview of IPT is presented to evidence its importance and potential as a key-technology on the research field for printed electronics development, as well as on large scale industrial manufacturing. A background and a review on prior work are presented along with used materials, developed applications and potential of IPT technology. The main features of the different printing technologies, advantages and main challenges are also compared.

Part of the book: Flexible Electronics

By Cláudia Buga and Júlio C. Viana

Inkjet printing is a recent promising technology for direct patterning of solution-based materials over different substrates. It is particularly interesting for applications in the flexible electronics field and smart products manufacturing, as it allows for rapid prototyping, design freedom, and is compatible with conductive, semiconductive, and dielectric inks that can be cured at low temperatures over several types of substrates. Moreover, the inkjet process allows for ink economization, since great electrical conductivity can be achieved despite the deposition of small volumes of ink. This chapter describes the overall process, the main inks and their features, the critical process variables, and its limitations. Applications related to inkjet printing of functional materials and smart products are highlighted. New technology advancements and trends are finally addressed.

Part of the book: Production Engineering and Robust Control