High-throughput characterization of fluid properties to predict droplet ejection for three-dimensional inkjet printing formulations

Zhou, Zuoxin; Ruiz Cantu, Laura; Chen, Xuesheng; Alexander, Morgan R.; Roberts, Clive J.; Hague, Richard; Tuck, Christopher; Irvine, Derek; Wildman, Ricky

Abstract

Inkjet printing has been used as an Additive Manufacturing (AM) method to fabricate three-dimensional (3D) structures. However, a lack of materials suitable for inkjet printing poses one of the key challenges that impedes industry from fully adopting this technology. Consequently, many industry sectors are required to spend significant time and resources on formulating new materials for an AM process, instead of focusing on product development. To achieve the spatially controlled deposition of a printed voxel in a predictable and repeatable fashion, a combination of the physical properties of the ‘ink’ material, print head design, and processing parameters is associated. This study demonstrates the expedited formulation of new inks through the adoption of a high-throughput screening (HTS) approach. Use of a liquid handler containing multi-pipette heads, to rapidly prepare inkjet formulations in a micro-array format, and subsequently measure the viscosity and surface tension for each in a high-throughput manner is reported. This automatic approach is estimated to be 15 times more rapid than conventional methods. The throughput is 96 formulations per 13.1 working hours, including sample preparation and subsequent printability determination. The HTS technique was validated by comparison with conventional viscosity and surface tension measurements, as well as the observation of droplet ejection during inkjet printing processes. Using this approach, a library of 96 acrylate/methacrylate materials was screened to identify the printability of each formulation at different processing temperatures. The methodology and the material database established using this HTS technique will allow academic and industrial users to rapidly select the most ideal formulation to deliver printability and a predicted processing window for a chosen application.

Citation

Zhou, Z., Ruiz Cantu, L., Chen, X., Alexander, M. R., Roberts, C. J., Hague, R., Tuck, C., Irvine, D., & Wildman, R. (2019). High-throughput characterization of fluid properties to predict droplet ejection for three-dimensional inkjet printing formulations. Additive Manufacturing, 29, Article 100792. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addma.2019.100792

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 8, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Jul 12, 2019
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Deposit Date: Jul 29, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 29, 2019
• Journal: Additive Manufacturing
• Print ISSN: 2214-7810
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 29
• Article Number: 100792
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addma.2019.100792
• Keywords: High-throughput screening; Additive manufacturing; 3D printing; Inkjet printing; Viscosity; Surface tension; Liquid handler
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2351220
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214860419300843?via%3Dihub
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: High-throughput characterization of fluid properties to predict droplet ejection for three-dimensional inkjet printing formulations; Journal Title: Additive Manufacturing; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addma.2019.100792; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
• Contract Date: Jul 29, 2019