Abstract
The work is framed within Printed Electronics, an emerging technology for the manufacture of electronic products. Among the different printing methods, the roll-to-roll flexography technique is used because it allows continuous manufacturing and high productivity at low cost. Apart from the process parameters, the ink and the substrate properties are some of the variables associated with the flexographic printing. Specifically, this study investigates the ink penetration, the print uniformity, the adhesion, the fastness, and the electrical behaviour of the same conductive silver ink printed on different flexible substrates through the flexography process. In addition to polymeric and siliconized paper substrates, which are typical used in printed electronics, two substrates were also chosen for the study: woven and nonwoven fabric. Optical, scanning electronic microscope (SEM), 4-point Kelvin and colour fastness to wash and rubbing analyses have been performed. The results concluded that, regarding the conductivity behaviour, porous substrates like textiles and nonwoven fabrics without pre and post treatments do not present acceptable results, whereas polymers or silicone papers do. Nevertheless, woven and nonwoven fabrics are a suitable early option regarding colour fastness to wash instead of thin polymeric and paper substrates that tear at the wash machine. A solution for an optimal printing on textiles would be the surface substrates pre-treatment by applying different chemical compounds that increase the adhesion of the ink on the fabric
Highlights
The technology that allows the fabrication of electronic devices through a printing process is known as printed electronics (PE)
In addition to polymeric and siliconized paper substrates, which are typical used in printed electronics [3, 7], two substrates were chosen for the study: woven and nonwoven fabric
It has been demonstrated that the same silver ink printings do not present uniformity, ink penetration and electrical conductivity onto textile and non-woven fabrics
Summary
The technology that allows the fabrication of electronic devices through a printing process is known as printed electronics (PE). It is one of the fastest growing technologies in the world as it provides different printing techniques for fabricating low-cost and largearea flexible electronic devices [1]. The technology of flexible electronics has attracted considerable attention as it is applicable to wearable devices including flexible displays, flexible batteries and flexible sensors [2] in different areas such as aerospace and automotive, biomedical, robotics, and health applications [3]. The PE printing technique selection shall be according to the type of electronic application (e.g., small, thin, lightweight, flexible, and disposable, etc.) to be fabricated, the production cost and volume. The materials (inks/pastes and substrates) must meet certain requirements, depending on the type of printing technology being used and the final application
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