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.

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This thesis deals with organic materials and determining their electrical parameters. In the thesis are discussed methods of deposition of organic layers and their measurement. Described are the aspects, which are characteristic for organic materials. They will briefly mention some new components and commercial systems. Special attention is given to conducting polymers and determining their parameters. In the experimental part were measured VA and impedance characteristics of the conductive polymer PEDOT-PSS. The research was also about material degradation in time and effects of thickness on the electrical parameters.

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are essential components in various electronic devices, playing a vital role in their functionality. Over time, PCBs have evolved significantly, becoming smaller, more complex, and multi-layered to meet the demands of advancing technology and consumer preferences. The quality of solder paste deposits is measured by circularity, volume, positioning, and the number of satellites. Mycronic is a supplier of jet printing machines for PCB manufacturers and needs to investigate and counteract an unwanted variation in volume and positioning within the first dot of the solder paste strip, and its so-called “sea saw” effect for the following three dots.  This master’s thesis has two aims. The first aim is to develop and evaluate an experimental method to reduce variation between the dots in the strip. The second aim is to reduce the variation between the 1st dot and the following three dots by finding a combination of pre-feed, first, second, and third waveforms to obtain improved precision, volume, circularity, and reduced volume variation. Using an experimental design a full factorial design was used, examining six experimental factors. The design was further augmented with a central composite design to describe the second-order model. The knowledge from the experiment was used to optimize and improve the quality factors of jet printing, which were verified with an additional experiment. The results of the study provided compelling evidence that only the selected experimental factors had a significant impact on improving the volume metric. It was observed that the presence or absence of satellites during the experiment did not have any effect on the results, and neither did the positioning and circularity factors contribute to any improvement or deterioration. Specifically, the most significant difference in volume between 1st and following three dots for the optimized solution is 0.5 nl, and the currently used settings have a difference of 2.65 nl. The experimental approach employed in this master's thesis holds excellent promise for Mycronic, as it paves the way for the future development of piezo-actuation profiles (i.e. specific settings for the jet printer). The potential contributions to the industry are significant, particularly in terms of advancing the methodology for investigating and enhancing the quality metrics of piezo-actuation profiles through experimental means. This research opens up new avenues for Mycronic to refine its printing processes and improve overall print quality, ultimately leading to better outcomes for their customers.

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.

<p>The dissertation offers a Multiphysics perspective in analyzing emerging metallurgical techniques. Heat transfer, structural deformation, and fluid flow associate with one another in phase-changing materials processing methods. To comprehensively analyze these aspects for an optimized final product, the authors have proposed a numerical mathematical model describing the thermal and geometric progression of the binary alloy casting process. The model is further executed in COMSOL Multiphysics, adapted in two metal manufacturing applications, resistance spot welding (RSW) and binder jet printing (BJP). </p><p>Resistance spot welding is a well-adapted metal sheeting joining technique with comparably limited modeling and simulating research. The heat transfer module and geometric deformation module are applied to the simulation of RSW to discuss the thermal gradient development of the welding zone. The model was further calculated and verified through a case study with Python. </p><p>BJP is a rapidly developing additive manufacturing method. The novel 3D printing technique brings challenges in post-processing geometric control and material selection limitations. Multiphysics simulation serves as an excellent tool in process parameters analysis and quality control. This dissertation focuses on the sintering process of BJP of binary alloy powders. Melting and solidification mathematical models were implemented in COMSOL, where the sintering shrinkage rate could be calculated. The shrinkage rate was further verified through experimental analysis of binder jet printed samples. </p><p>Microstructural analysis on sintered binder jet printed parts was performed to assess the validity of BJP to substitute the die casting method for manufacturing of valvebody. Sintering shrinkage and metallurgical analysis have been performed on the green and sintered BJP samples. After sintering, the final part achieved 98% density, and the integrity of the designed channels was preserved. The shrinkage analysis has indicated the effect of printing orientation and sintering orientation on the geometry and metallurgy of the final products. Microstructure analysis on the cross-sections of the sintered products also indicates the various defects induced from biner jet 3D printing. </p><p>The research aims to provide a systematic rheology analysis of the phase transformation process of binary alloys. The dissertation has connected the physical, mathematical modeling with 15 </p><p><br></p><p>simulative modeling through the rheological evaluation of phase-changing manufacturing techniques. The connections were conclusively verified through empirical studies, including case assessment and experimentation. The research aims to offer universally applicable models that can be applied to phase-changing metal processing techniques. </p>

No description available.

No description available.