Effects of polymer properties on jetting performance of electrohydrodynamic printing

ABSTRACT We perform systematic study on the jetting performance of electrohydrodynamic (EHD) with an insulating polymers such as polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). EHD printing applies electrostatic field to ink droplet hang on nozzle tip, which causes the deformation of the meniscus to generate discrete droplets or continuous jet stream. Although EHD jetting mechanism has been frequently investigated with conducting or semiconducting materials, there still needs to elucidate EHD jetting of insulating polymer materials for producing controllable droplets. In the present study, we focused on how the physical/chemical properties (conductivity, dielectric constant, and molecular weight) of an insulating polymer affect jetting behavior of EHD printing (especially, the deformation of the meniscus and the corresponding morphology of the printed one). The relationship between the printing parameters and applied voltage is also investigated, thereby allowing the optimization of EHD printings for PS and PMMA. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134 , 45044.