Low-Power Characterization and Integration of Carbon Black Resistive Ink for Aerosol Jet-Printed RF Components

Aerosol jet printing (AJP) is gaining attention in additive manufacturing research, especially in the discipline of microwave engineering. Currently, no reliable AJP method exists to fabricate resistors that are both electrically small and with a resistance compatible with waveguide impedances for use in microwave components. In this work, the commercially available Metalon JR-038 is characterized and used to fabricate a resistor that is 100 μ m long by 250 μ m wide for the first time to the best of our knowledge. Furthermore, this resistor was then used to fabricate a Ka-band Wilkinson power divider using only the AJP process.. Authors: Grammer, Koltin [Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (United States)]; Albrecht, John [Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (United States)]; Chahal, Prem [Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (United States)]; Hodek, Matt [Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (United States)]; Papapolymerou, John [Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (United States)]. DOE Contract: NA0002839. Subjects: 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; Aerosol jet printing; Ka band; Wilkinson power divider.