Lithographic printing of ceramics

The broad aim of this paper is to explore the potential and limitations of offset lithogaphy for a wide range of hitherto unrecognised applications in materials processing. Lithographic printing of metal powders provides a ra pid manufacturing pathway for the production of circuit tracks. The ability to superimpose functional ceramic inks by multiple registration would conf er a capability to add on-board sensors, sounders, actuators and other disc rete components. In order to take full advantage of this high speed printin g technology and apply it generally to ceramic and metal powders, perhaps i n combination with polymer films, the range of acceptable ink properties ne eds to be defined and the ink properties must be related to print quality a nd to characteristic print defects. In this investigation, a range of litho graphic inks containing ascending TiO2 Volume fractions and a selection of dispersants was formulated and tested. The flow properties and emulsion cha racteristics were related to the quality of deposition in a conventional, s ingle-colour, automatic lithographic press. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.