Macromolecular Rapid Communications, Vol.25, No.1, 292-296, 2004
Ink-jet printing polymers and polymer libraries using micropipettes
A study is presented on ink-jet printing polymers, aiming at library generation for combinatorial material science applications, using (optimized) micro-pipettes. Solvents were successfully ink-jet printed, up to 160 mPa s viscosity. Printability of polymer solutions decreases strongly with (M) over bar (w) and polymer concentration, due to elastic stresses originating from elongational flow in the pipette nozzle. The feasibility of ink-jet printing to generate arrays of polymer dots and films was demonstrated.
Keywords:films;ink-jet printing;micropipettes;molecular weight distribution/molar mass distribution;polymer libraries