Polymeric Coating by Ink-Jet Printing

The ability to pattern multilayered polymers on a micro-level is valuable to a large number of applications in microelectronic manufacturing. Applications range from printing dielectric coatings and polymer resistors to printing active devices such as polymer LEDs and polymer transistors. The advantages of ink jet printing are: (1) one station can print multi-fluids, (2) non-flat substrates could be used (non-contact printing process), (3) it is a data-driven process so no hard tooling is required since meaning shorter change-out times, (4) it is an additive process so it generates very little waste, and (5) one piece of equipment can replace multiple manufacturing stations. The objectives of Phase 1 are to demonstrate patterning several polymers that are of interest to NIST and to create guidelines for developing polymer printing applications. Phase 1 will identify the key technical issues that need to be addressed in order to create a robust manufacturing process. MicroFab will leverage its experience in printing system development and polymer printing experience to accomplish these objectives. Completion of a development program to print polymeric coatings in multilayer patterns on a variety of substrates will bring through the emerging technology productive benefits to the factory floor.