The influence of carbon morphologies and concentrations on the rheology and electrical performance of screen-printed carbon pastes

Screen-printing inks containing various morphologies of carbon are used in the production of a variety of printed electronics applications. Particle morphology influences the rheology of the ink which will affect the deposition and therefore the electrical performance of a printed component. To assess the effect of both carbon morphology and concentration on print topography and conductivity, screen printable carbon inks with differing loading concentrations of graphite, carbon black and graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) were formulated, printed and characterised, with rheological and novel print visualisation techniques used to elucidate the mechanisms responsible. Carbon morphology had significant effects on the packing of particles. The smaller carbon black particles had more interparticle interactions leading to better conductivities, but also higher ink viscosities and elasticities than the other morphologies. Increases in carbon concentration led to increases in film thickness and roughness for all morphologies. However, beyond a critical point further increases in carbon concentration led to agglomerations of particles, mesh marking and increases in surface roughness, preventing further improvements in the print conductivity. The optimal loading concentrations were identifiable using a custom-made screen-printing apparatus used with high speed imaging for all morphologies. Notable increases in filamentation during ink separation were found to occur with further increases in carbon concentration beyond the optimum. As this point could not be identified using shear rheology alone, this method combined with shear rheology could be used to optimise the carbon concentration of screen-printing inks, preventing the use of excess material which has no benefit on print quality and conductivity.

Human Laryngeal Mucus from the Vocal Folds: Rheological Characterization by Particle Tracking Microrheology and Oscillatory Shear Rheology

Mucus consistency affects voice physiology and is connected to voice disorders. Nevertheless, the rheological characteristics of human laryngeal mucus from the vocal folds remain unknown. Knowledge about mucus viscoelasticity enables fabrication of artificial mucus with natural properties, more realistic ex-vivo experiments and promotes a better understanding and improved treatment of dysphonia with regard to mucus consistency. We studied human laryngeal mucus samples from the vocal folds with two complementary approaches: 19 samples were successfully applied to particle tracking microrheology (PTM) and five additional samples to oscillatory shear rheology (OSR). Mucus was collected by experienced laryngologists from patients together with demographic data. The analysis of the viscoelasticity revealed diversity among the investigated mucus samples according to their rigidity (absolute G’ and G”). Moreover some samples revealed throughout solid-like character (G’ > G”), whereas some underwent a change from solid-like to liquid-like (G’ < G”). This led to a subdivision into three groups. We assume that the reason for the differences is a variation in the hydration level of the mucus, which affects the mucin concentration and network formation factors of the mucin mesh. The demographic data could not be correlated to the differences, except for the smoking behavior. Mucus of predominant liquid-like character was associated with current smokers.