As drop-on-demand (DOD) applications continue to gain ground in desktop inkjet-printing, 3D printing, fluid mixing, and other areas the demand for higher frequency operations are beginning to push against the current physical boundaries in DOD technology. The current research is exploring the possibility of controlling drop volume and velocity at high frequency ranges where meniscus vibrations can occur between drop formations and affect drop formation characteristics. A periodic voltage is applied to a piezoelectric disk in order to generate pressure fluctuations in a single nozzle droplet generator, causing the fluid meniscus at the nozzle to vibrate. A single stronger pulse is then superimposed over the periodic waveform at different phases in order to drive drop ejection. The characteristics of the resulting drop, specifically the volume and velocity, are experimentally measured using a high speed camera with precise timing control. The results of these experiments are then compared to a lumped element model (LEM) developed for the droplet generator geometry used. Within the LEM model framework, special attention was given to the definition of a novel method by which one can measure drop volume within an electroacoustic circuit and also allow meniscus dynamics to affect present and future drop formations. Experimental results indicate a strong dependence of both drop volume and drop velocity on the phase of the vibrating meniscus at the start of drop formation. Positive meniscus displacements and momentums resulted in large drop volumes and velocities while negative displacements could reduce drop volume or altogether eliminate drop formation. Specifically, positive displacements and momentum of a vibrating meniscus could lead to drop volumes approximately 50% larger than the original drop volume without a vibrating meniscus. Meanwhile, negative meniscus displacements and momentums were shown to have the ability to completely prevent drop formation. Additional potential for drop characteristic control with a vibrating meniscus is discussed alongside observations on the stabilizing affect the vibrating meniscus appears to have on drop velocity as a function of time. Also, flow visualization of the drop formation is provided to demonstrate the added affect the meniscus vibrations have on the drop shapes and break-off profiles. The LEM model presented demonstrates qualitative agreement with the experimental model, but fails to quantitatively predict drop volumes. Sources of error for the LEM model and potential improvements are discussed. / Graduation date: 2012

Le marché des capteurs de gaz n’a pas cessé d’évoluer depuis ces dernières décennies en passant d’une technologie basée principalement sur des oxydes métalliques vers des nouveaux matériaux nanostructurés. En effet, les applications actuelles demandent des capteurs robustes, à faible consommation d'énergie, faible coût, conformables, sensibles et sélectives. Dans ce contexte, la recherche des matériaux sensibles à base de nanostructures de carbone, ainsi que des nouvelles technologies de fabrication (permettant la miniaturisation et la conformabilité des dispositifs) est nécessaire. Une de solutions actuellement à l’étude concerne l’utilisation de matériaux innovants tels que les nanotubes de carbone (CNTs). Dans ce manuscrit, les CNTs sont présentés ainsi que leurs très bonnes propriétés électriques et mécaniques. Leurs dimensions nous donnent une surface spécifique considérable et donc, la possibilité d’une grande sensibilité. Leur aptitude à être fonctionnalisés avec différents radicaux fait qu’ils puissent être sélectifs à une espèce donnée. Parmi les technologies émergentes apparues récemment, l’impression par jet d’encre est une technologie de déposition des couches minces très utilisée actuellement, car elle reste versatile grâce à sa facilité d’utilisation. La résolution et les possibilités d’impression sur différents types de substrat qu’on dispose, restent des atouts très importants. Un aspect très important qui a été peu étudié est la modélisation des couches minces des éléments sensibles. Concernant les couches imprimées des solutions contenant des nanotubes de carbone, très peu de travaux ont été répertoriés actuellement, et les modèles existants sont assez complexes. Dans nos travaux, nous nous concentrons sur la modélisation des couches minces sous la forme de motifs imprimés par jet d’encre. Des couches de solutions contenant des nanotubes de carbone sont déposées dans des structures RF, dans le but de pouvoir les appliquer dans la détection des gaz. / The gas sensor domain has continued to evolve over the past few decades by moving primarily from a technology based on metal oxides to new nanostructured materials. Indeed, for modern applications in today's world robust sensors with low power consumption, low cost, conformable, sensitive and selective is desirable. In this context, mark-sensitive materials based on carbon nanostructures, as well as new manufacturing technologies (allowing miniaturization and conformability devices) is required. One solution which is currently under consideration is the use of innovative materials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) which exhibit very good electrical and mechanical properties. Their dimensions give us a considerable surface area and hence the possibility of high sensitivity. Their ability to be functionalized with different groups makes them very selective to react with a particular target gas. Amongst the emerging technologies, inkjet printing deposition of a very thin film is currently in use as it remains versatile because of its ease of use. The resolution and printing possibilities on different types of substrate have remains very important assets. A very important aspect that has been considered very less is the modeling of thin film sensing elements. Regarding printed layers solutions containing carbon nanotubes, very few works have been currently listed, and the existing models are quite complex. In this work, modeling of thin layers in the form of patterns printed by inkjet has been studied and experimental verifications and their analyses have been carried out successfully. Specific emphasis has been laid on the layers of solutions containing carbon nanotubes deposited in RF structures for application in the detection of gases.

La projection par plasma d'arc de suspension permet d'obtenir des revêtements finement structurés à gradients de propriétés qui répondent aux besoins, par exemple, des applications photocatalytiques, les piles à combustible à oxyde solide ou les revêtements de barrière thermique. Cependant, les torches à plasma, même alimentées par dessources de courant continu régulé, génèrent des jets de plasma fortement fluctuants. Ces instabilités causent des variations importantes dans les transferts thermiques et dynamiques des particules, ce qui diminue la fiabilité et la reproductibilité de la méthode. Par conséquent, des efforts particuliers doivent être faits pour améliorer la projectionpar plasma d'arc de suspension et, ainsi, les propriétés des revêtements. Depuis de nombreuses années, la recherche s'est concentrée sur l'amélioration des transferts de chaleur et de quantité de mouvement entre la matière et le plasma au moyen de la mise au point de nouvelles torches et la réduction des instabilités de l'arc. Cette thèse présenteune nouvelle approche pour la projection par plasma d'arc de suspension. L'étude approfondie des instabilités du plasma sont réalisées ce qui conduit à la production du jet laminaire de plasma pulsé caractérisé par une forte modulation de l'enthalpie spécifique. Ces oscillations régulières de plasma sont associées à l'injection de la suspensionsynchronisée, ce qui est réalisé à l'aide de l'impression à jet d'encre déclenchée par le signal de tension d'arc. Les résultats sont évalués par le système d'imagerie résolue en temps et la spectroscopie d'émission optique résolue en temps. Cette nouvelle méthode offre la possibilité de contrôler les transferts de chaleur et de quantité de mouvemententre les particules et le plasma. / Suspension plasma spraying permits to elaborate finely structured coatings with graded properties which address the needs, for example, in the photocatalytic applications, the solid oxide fuels or the thermal barrier coatings. However, the plasma torches, even powered by dc regulated sources, generate highly fluctuating plasma jets. These instabilities result in large variations in dynamic and heat transfers to particles, what decreases the reproducibility and reliability of the method. Consequently, the special efforts have to be devoted to ameliorate the suspension plasma spraying method and, thus, the properties of the coatings. In recent years, the research has been focused on the improvement of heat and momentum transfers between material and plasma by means of the development of new non-conventional torches and the reduction of arc instabilities. The following dissertation presents a new approach to the suspension plasma spraying. The profound studies of the plasma instabilities are performed, what leads to the production of the pulsed laminar plasma jet characterized by high modulation of the specific enthalpy. These regular plasma oscillations are combined with phased injection of suspension, what is achieved by using the ink-jet printer triggered by the arc voltage signal. The results are evaluated by time-resolved imaging system and the time-resolved emission optical spectroscopy. This new method presents the possibility to control heat and momentum transfers between the particles and the plasma.

No description available.

The appearance and design of a package are key properties to attract and to focus the attention of a customer. Print quality contributes to a great degree to achieve these requirements. Most critical perceived in terms of quality are print defects like mottling, gloss and stripiness, which all appear in the printing of corrugated board. Stripiness is especially critical because it is a defect directly caused by the corrugated board construction. A further cause can be generated by the production process of corrugated board. Pre-studies by Odeberg Glasenapp (2004) revealed a difference in surface micro-roughness between the regions on the peak line of the liner and the regions in the valley between two peaks of the corrugation. This knowledge was the basis for the work described in this thesis. In a first stage, laboratory trials were conducted with sets of coated and uncoated samples of various grammages. The trial was set-up in order to simulate the conditions in the corrugator as closely as possible. In the evaluations, it was found out that the settings were too high. For that reason, the coated samples were influenced to a too high degree and needed to be excluded from further evaluations. With the uncoated samples, on the other hand, a change in micro surface roughness was detectable. The roughness is decreased on the peaks and the gloss appearance was the conclusion. The analysis of the printed samples focused on shifts in colour and print density. It is unclear if both are affected only surface roughness changes and/or by the typical corrugated board effect of washboarding. A full-scale test was performed in order to confirm the results of the laboratory test. A test series was chosen with coated and uncoated outer liners. Contrary to the lab-test results, the uncoated grades showed no surface roughness changes. Instead, the coated samples were affected to a great extent. The changes in surface roughness and gloss appearance were similar to the lab-test. This confirms that the lab-test samples were exposed to heat, pressure and shear to a too high degree. The print analysis of the full-scale test did not agree with the laboratory test. Gloss lines were visually detectable, but they were difficult to measure. A reason could be that the ink is capable on forming an ink film layer on top of the surface of the paper. This would cover the micro roughness of the matt parts thereby creating an almost homogeneous glossy appearance. / QC 20101116

Wireless power transfer (WPT) systems are important in many areas, such as medical, communication, transportation, and consumer electronics. The underlying WPT system is comprised of a transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX). For biomedical applications, such systems can be implemented on rigid or flexible substrates and can be implanted or wearable. The efficiency of a WPT system is based on power transfer efficiency (PTE). Many WPT system optimization techniques have been explored to achieve the highest PTE possible. These are based on either a figure-of-merit (FOM) approach, quality factor (Q-factor) maximization, or by sweeping values for coil geometries. Four WPT systems for biomedical applications are implemented with inductive coupling. The thesis later presents an optimization technique for finding the maximum PTE of a range of frequencies and coil shapes through frequency, geometry and shape sweeping. Five optimized TX coil designs for different operating frequencies are fabricated for three shapes: square, hexagonal, and octagonal planar-spirals. The corresponding RX is implemented on polyimide tape with ink-jet-print (IJP) silver. At 80 MHz, the maximum measured PTE achieved is 2.781% at a 10 mm distance in the air for square planar-spiral coils.

The present work related to apply hot-melt ink-jet process for imaging at offset lithographic printing form, to utilise a reusable surface for many times and particularly related to validating thermal and ultrasonic erasing processes. This dissertation investigated systematically the role of certain factors towards affecting erasing image area process on print surfaces. Thermal erasing process approved to melt and suck the image area from the surface, the results were adopted by using contact angle measurements and scanning electron microscope. Ultrasonic erasing process permitted to solve the image area by choosing erasing chemistries, influence of selected erasing chemistries on printing surface, and evaluation the process, the results were tested by UV/Vis spectrometer, contact angle, profileometery and visual microscope. / Der Fortschritt im Bereich von Charakterisierung und Verständnis für Hot-melt Ink Jet Prozesse zur Bebilderung von Offsetdruckform-Zylindern ist ein Ergebnis dieser Forschung. Die Systematik dieser Arbeit basiert auf einem theoretischen Teil, um einen geeigneten Löschprozess auszuwählen. Der Löschprozess hängt von den Eigenschaften des Hot-melt Ink Jet Materials und der genutzten Aluminiumdruckoberfläche ab. Diese werden systematisch im Labormaßstab experimentell untersucht. Der thermische Prozess wurde einerseits durch Benetzbarkeitsprüfungen und anderseites durch Rasterelektronmikroskopaufnahmen bewertet.Der Ultraschallprozess ist ein nasser Löschprozess. Die Untersuchungen wurden in vier Stufen systematisch durchgeführt - Auswahl vom geeigneten Lösungsmitteln - Einflüsse von ausgewählten Lösungsmitteln auf nicht beschichtete und beschichtete Aluminium platten - Evaluation eines Ultraschalllöschprozesses - Validation eines Löschprozesses; zur Bewertung des Löschprozesses wurden mehrere Druckplattenproben bebildert und gelöscht Die Ergebnisse wurden durch UV/Vis Spektrometer, Kontaktwinkel, Profiliometrie und Visuelle Mikroskopie getestet.

It was investigated the colour reproduction on prints made in ink-jet printer. Experimentally investigated gradation characteristics of CMYK colours. It was made a 26 step strip with raster dots from 0 to 100 %. Prints were made at different printing regimes on papers with different whiteness. Zone optical densities were measured, compared with theoretical density values and gradational distortions were determined. Also were measured 100% raster strips in CIE L*a*b* coordinate system and defined the maximum reproduction of colours in ink-jet printer.

The present work related to apply hot-melt ink-jet process for imaging at offset lithographic printing form, to utilise a reusable surface for many times and particularly related to validating thermal and ultrasonic erasing processes. This dissertation investigated systematically the role of certain factors towards affecting erasing image area process on print surfaces. Thermal erasing process approved to melt and suck the image area from the surface, the results were adopted by using contact angle measurements and scanning electron microscope. Ultrasonic erasing process permitted to solve the image area by choosing erasing chemistries, influence of selected erasing chemistries on printing surface, and evaluation the process, the results were tested by UV/Vis spectrometer, contact angle, profileometery and visual microscope. / Der Fortschritt im Bereich von Charakterisierung und Verständnis für Hot-melt Ink Jet Prozesse zur Bebilderung von Offsetdruckform-Zylindern ist ein Ergebnis dieser Forschung. Die Systematik dieser Arbeit basiert auf einem theoretischen Teil, um einen geeigneten Löschprozess auszuwählen. Der Löschprozess hängt von den Eigenschaften des Hot-melt Ink Jet Materials und der genutzten Aluminiumdruckoberfläche ab. Diese werden systematisch im Labormaßstab experimentell untersucht. Der thermische Prozess wurde einerseits durch Benetzbarkeitsprüfungen und anderseites durch Rasterelektronmikroskopaufnahmen bewertet.Der Ultraschallprozess ist ein nasser Löschprozess. Die Untersuchungen wurden in vier Stufen systematisch durchgeführt - Auswahl vom geeigneten Lösungsmitteln - Einflüsse von ausgewählten Lösungsmitteln auf nicht beschichtete und beschichtete Aluminium platten - Evaluation eines Ultraschalllöschprozesses - Validation eines Löschprozesses; zur Bewertung des Löschprozesses wurden mehrere Druckplattenproben bebildert und gelöscht Die Ergebnisse wurden durch UV/Vis Spektrometer, Kontaktwinkel, Profiliometrie und Visuelle Mikroskopie getestet.

In dieser Arbeit wird gezeigt, wie Mikrosiebe über das Float Casting Verfahren hergestellt und durch Ink Jet Druck stabilisiert werden. Dazu wurde ein Verfahren entwickelt, das es erlaubt Mikrosiebe großflächig auf einem Langmuirtrog herzustellen und noch schwimmend auf der Wasseroberfläche zu bedrucken, so dass stabilisierte Mikrosiebe von der Wasseroberfläche abgehoben werden können. Zur Herstellung der Mikrosiebe wird das Prinzip der Partikel-assistierten Benetzung verwendet, bei dem eine Dispersion aus Silikapartikeln, Monomer und Initiator auf einer Wasseroberfläche gespreitet wird. Die Partikel ordnen sich dabei von selbst in einer hexagonal dichtesten Packung an und dienen sowohl als Spreithilfe als auch als Porenbildner. Nach dem Entfernen der Partikel entsteht ein poröses Mikrosieb mit einheitlichen, dicht gepackten Poren. Durch das Aufdrucken einer Wabenstruktur als Stützstruktur wird eine ausreichende Stabilisierung erreicht, so dass die Siebe in Filtrationsversuchen eingesetzt werden können. Das entstehende Gefüge, bestehend aus einem Mikrosieb mit einer Dicke im Nanometerbereich wird von einer Stützstruktur, welche eine Dicke im Mikrometerbereich besitzt, stabilisiert. Außerdem wird gezeigt, wie eine Wasseroberfläche Schritt für Schritt modifiziert wird, so dass es möglich ist grazile Strukturen auf eine Wasseroberfläche zu drucken. Diese Strukturen können anschließend von der Wasseroberfläche abgehoben werden und stehen nach dem Trocknen als freistehende Strukturen zur Verfügung.