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Oscillations of aqueous PEDOT:PSS fluid droplets and the properties of complex fluids in drop-on-demand inkjet printing


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Authors

Hoath, SD 
Hsiao, WK 
Martin, GD 
Jung, S 
Butler, SA 

Abstract

Shear-thinning aqueous poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulphonate) (PEDOT:PSS) fluids were studied under the conditions of drop-on-demand inkjet printing. Ligament retraction caused oscillation of the resulting drops, from which values of surface tension and viscosity were derived. Effective viscosities of <4 mPa s at drop oscillation frequencies of 13–33 kHz were consistent with conventional high-frequency rheometry, with only a small possible contribution from viscoelasticity with a relaxation time of about 6 μs. Strong evidence was found that the viscosity, reduced by shear-thinning in the printhead nozzle, recovered as the drop formed. The low viscosity values measured for the drops in flight were associated with the strong oscillation induced by ligament retraction, while for a weakly perturbed drop the viscosity remained high. Surface tension values in the presence of surfactant were significantly higher than the equilibrium values, and consistent with the surface age of the drops. [Graphical abstract - see article]

Description

Keywords

Inkjet printing, PEDOT:PSS, Shear thinning fluids, Drop oscillations, Dynamic surface tension, Shear thinning recovery time

Journal Title

Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0377-0257
1873-2631

Volume Title

223

Publisher

Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/H018913/1)
This work was supported by EPSRC and a consortium of industrial partners (EPSRC Grant no. EP/H018913/1: Innovation in industrial inkjet technology). The high-speed camera and high power flash lamp were provided by the EPSRC Engineering Instrument Pool and we thank Adrian Walker for his help.