Direct Paste Deposition of Inorganic Materials for Sensors Applications

This work introduces a new way to create 3D printed strain gauges by Direct Paste Deposition. This process is based on various steps of deposition of inorganic materials onto metallic substrates. These materials are based on the alkali activation principle, allowing to reach high temperature application ranges without high thermal treatment of solidification. Two materials are used to build a stacking of insulative and conductive layers to obtain an anisotropic conductive pattern. The use of such materials makes it compatible with tools operating at high temperature environments (over 400 degree Celsius). Rheological analysis has shown the compatibility of the extruded paste with extrusion processes. To ensure critical size control of the conductive pattern, the paste rheology and the printing parameters have been optimized. Electrical resistivity of the pattern have been characterized. The process of direct paste deposition makes the printing of strain gauges compatible with additively manufactured products and opens the opportunity to integrate electronics onto and/or into complex objects.