Active Mixing of Polymers in a Dispensing Head

A method to take three polymers with varying viscosities and mixing those polymers together at the point of interest or more specifically through a micro dispensing nozzle, is being proposed. An active mixing scheme to ensure proper mixing at the pen tip is a feasible approach to this problem. The materials being mixed will not only range in viscosity but also in particle loading, which will be handled appropriately without clogging the tip. The mixing, polymer ratios and dispensing volume will all be under computer control for consistent and repeatable results. This will also allow for a combinatorial approach to material discovery. While many applications and benefits will be observed, one true benefit will be the small volumes required for testing. The dispensed material will be less than micro liters in volume. COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: The research opportunities and optimization this type of tool offers will facilitate the next generation of materials development. This tool would allow an extremely wide range of materials and material combinations to be tried on a variety of substrates under computer control, thus reducing the time, effort and costs for new developments. Additional impacts will affect manufacturing capabilities such as the ability to mix and then place at the nozzle tip or at the substrate nozzle interface "any" material. This would allow fabrication of structures with a two part epoxy or varying biopolymers with livings cells placed in a 3D structure.