Study of 3D-Printed Dielectric Barrier Windows for Microwave Applications

Mikhail D Proyavin,Vladimir V Parshin,Dmitry I Sobolev,Mikhail Y Glyavin,Vladimir I Belousov,Sergey V Mishakin

doi:10.3390/electronics10182225

Abstract

3D printing technologies offer significant advantages over conventional manufacturing technologies for objects with complicated shapes. This technology provides the potential to easily manufacture barrier windows with a low reflection in a wide frequency band. Several 3D printing methods were examined for this purpose, and the dielectric properties of the various types of materials used for 3D printing were experimentally studied in the frequency range 26–190 GHz. These measurements show that the styrene-butadiene-styrene and polyamide plastics are suitable for broadband low-reflection windows for low-to-medium-power microwave applications. Two barrier windows with optimized surface shapes were printed and tested. Results demonstrate that the studied technique can fabricate windows with a reflection level below −18 dB in the frequency band up to 160 GHz. Studied windows can be used for spectroscopic tasks and other wideband microwave applications.

Highlights

Additive manufacturing technologies have great potential for industry, science, and technology
The dielectric properties of the materials used in various 3D printing methods were measured
The analytical calculations and numerical simulations verify the use of the studied materials for microwave devices with a power of about 100–200 watts

Summary

Introduction

Additive manufacturing technologies have great potential for industry, science, and technology. Fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology [13] is readily available, easy to operate, and allows the use of a wide range of materials, including polyethylene, which has excellent properties in transmitting high-frequency radiation. This type of 3D printing is characterized by a low accuracy (up to 100 microns) and sufficiently pronounced layering, limiting the frequency range of applications. Since the windows for spectroscopic and atmospheric measurements are required at higher frequencies, the study of the applicability of FDM printing for these purposes is of interest

SBS 2 Visijet SL Clear Visijet SL Flex Visijet SL Hi-Temp Polyamide

Reflection Measurements for 3D-Printed Prototype Barrier Windows

Estimation of the Applicability of the Considered Materials

Conclusions