Simulation of Droplet Formation, Ejection, Spread, and Preliminary Designof Nozzle for Direct Ceramic Inkjet Printing

Abstract

Recent advances in drop-on-demand (DOD)-type inkjet printing techniques have increased research activities in the area of direct ceramic inkjet printing. In an attempt to develop a ceramic inkjet printer for the manufacture of ceramic components with their sizes in micro scale, the formation of ceramic ink droplet (ethyl alcohol loaded with different volume fractions of alumina particles) and its spread from a reservoir using piezoelectric actuation are simulated. The properties of the ceramic ink are taken from the data reported in literature. The simulations were performed with computational fluid dynamics software (CFD-ACE+), CFDRC. This study gives details of the interaction among different physical phenomena that contribute to the droplet formation and ejection process. The results from this study are being used for a preliminary design of nozzle and for the preparation of ceramic inks to achieve the desired droplet characteristics.