Engineering Commons^™

Microwave Characterization Of Printable Dielectric Inks Using Additive Manufacturing Methods, Seth York

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Two methods of dielectric characterization are presented that offer quick and cost-effective solutions for screening complex dielectric material properties. Through Direct-Print Additive Manufacturing (DPAM) methods, a dielectric material of choice is dispensed into a capacitor structure and characterized through 1-port s-parameter measurements. The presented methods use fixtures that are modeled and validated through simulation then implemented in practice. Advanced simulations are performed to gain insights which are used to optimize the dielectric characterization performance of the fixtures. Additional investigations are performed which investigate the durability of the fixture and material within by exposing the combination to rough environmental conditions for …