Description
Low-cost, highly conductive elastomers for printed, flexible electronics [Pre-El-Flex-El]
Duration: 04/01/2021 – 03/31/2023
Flexible electronic components are often based on elastomers in which conductive silver particles are incorporated. We have developed an innovative concept for the economical production of such elastomers, which simultaneously exhibit high electrical conductivity and high extensibility. The specifications can be adapted to a wide range of applications. The silver content is more than 50% lower than in commercial products and thus offers a significant economic advantage. The material therefore has a high potential for use by SMEs in the diverse, rapidly growing soft electronics market. The developed pastes are suitable for 3D printing, as well as for screen or squeegee printing. After printing, thermal and UV curing produces a highly conductive elastomer with permanently high mechanical strength.
The aim of the project is to use these conductive elastomers to manufacture functional products that show potential users the benefits and manufacturers of application systems the creative freedom that the concept offers.
The following sub-projects are planned:
- Development of a process for the production of conductive, stretchable filaments for so-called fused filament fabrication, in order to open up additional processing and application options.
- Production and electro-mechanical characterization of differently designed, resistive and capacitive pressure and strain sensors, elaboration of guidelines for layout and application-oriented selection of tactile sensors.
- Development of a fully printed capacitive sensor array for flexible touch panels.
- Development of a resistive “second skin” to be scanned as human-machine interface for the detection of
Touch gestures on the skin (cooperation with Inst. Technology for Pervasive Computing, KIT). - Large-area printing of an elbow sensor array and a high-precision data glove (Coop. with Inst. of Visual Computing, ETH Zurich).
Research institutes and contact persons
For further contact details, please contact the office. E-Mail to office
Karslruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Institute of Mechanical Process Engineering and Mechanics (MVM)
Head of the Institute: Prof. Dr. Norbert Willenbacher
Gotthard-Franz-Straße 3
76131 Karlsruhe, GER
Documents
Documents about the project are available in the members area.
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