Forming three-dimensional (3D) printed electronics
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsKristopher J. Erickson, Thomas Anthony, Howard S. Tom, Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Lihua Zhao, Krzysztof Nauka
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Abstract
In an example of a method for forming three-dimensional (3D) printed electronics, a build material is applied. A fusing agent is selectively applied on at least a portion of the build material. The build material is exposed to radiation and the portion of the build material in contact with the fusing agent fuses to form a layer. An electronic agent is selectively applied on at least a portion of the layer, which imparts an electronic property to the at least the portion of the layer.
Claims13
A method for forming three-dimensional (3D) printed electronics, the method comprising:
- applying an unfused polymeric powder build material onto a fabrication bed;
- selectively applying, via a first thermal inkjet printhead or a first piezoelectric inkjet printhead, a fusing agent on at least a portion of the unfused polymeric powder build material on the fabrication bed, wherein the fusing agent comprises a water- based dispersion including an infrared light absorbing colorant;
- exposing the unfused polymeric powder build material on the fabrication bed to radiation, thereby fusing the portion of the unfused polymeric powder build material in contact with the fusing agent to form a 3D object layer on the fabrication bed;
- and
- selectively applying, via a second thermal inkjet printhead or a second piezoelectric inkjet printhead, an aqueous formulation including an electronic agent selected from the group consisting of a semi-conductive material and an insulating material on at least a portion of the 3D object layer on the fabrication bed, thereby imparting semi-conductivity or an electrically insulating property on the at least the portion of the 3D object layer on the fabrication bed;
- wherein the aqueous formulation including the electronic agent includes at least one of:
- water, a co-solvent, a pH adjuster, or a surfactant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.