Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using a composite filament comprising a plurality of piezoelectric particles dispersed in a thermoplastic polymer. The composite filaments may be formed through melt blending and extrusion. The composite filament is compatible with fused filament fabrication and has a length and diameter compatible with fused filament fabrication, and the piezoelectric particles are substantially non-agglomerated and dispersed along the length of the composite filament. The piezoelectric particles may remain substantially non-agglomerated when dispersed in the thermoplastic polymer through melt blending. Additive manufacturing processes may comprise heating such a composite filament at or above a melting point or softening temperature thereof to form a softened composite material, and depositing the softened composite material layer by layer to form a printed part.

A backing includes a plurality of backing plates that are laminated. Each backing plate includes a lead row and a backing material. Each lead includes a lead wire and an insulating coating. The insulating coating is integrated with the backing material, and an adhesive layer between them does not exist. Short-circuit between the leads may be prevented or reduced by the insulating coating. The backing plate is manufactured by a screen printing method.

An only inkjet-printing-based process for depositing functional materials, in various instances PZT, Bi-based material or (K,Na)-based material, on a substrate, in various instances platinized silicon. Substrate templating (via SAMs) and material deposition are both performed by an inkjet printing process. Additionally, a composition to be used as a SAM precursor ink which is a thiol in a solvent mixture. Further, a cartridge for a printing machine with such a composition. Still further, the use of such a cartridge, alone, or as a kit with another cartridge containing a precursor of the functional material, in particular to perform both steps of the printing method. Finally, a product, for instance a microsystem, obtained by the process.

Micromachined ultrasonic transducer (MUT) arrays capable of multiple resonant modes and techniques for operating them are described, for example to achieve both high frequency and low frequency operation in a same device. In embodiments, various sizes of piezoelectric membranes are fabricated for tuning resonance frequency across the membranes. The variously sized piezoelectric membranes are gradually transitioned across a length of the substrate to mitigate destructive interference between membranes oscillating in different modes and frequencies.

Micromachined ultrasonic transducer (MUT) arrays capable of multiple resonant modes and techniques for operating them are described, for example to achieve both high frequency and low frequency operation in a same device. In embodiments, various sizes of piezoelectric membranes are fabricated for tuning resonance frequency across the membranes. The variously sized piezoelectric membranes are gradually transitioned across a length of the substrate to mitigate destructive interference between membranes oscillating in different modes and frequencies.

A method for manufacturing a piezoelectric film deposition substrate (100) according to this present invention includes forming a piezoelectric film (3) on or above the lower electrode (2) with the mask (5) being attached on or above the lower electrode; forming an upper electrode (4) on the piezoelectric film with the mask being attached on or above the lower electrode; forming a the lower-electrode-exposed part (2a) by detaching the mask from the lower electrode; and subjecting the piezoelectric film to polarization by applying a voltage between the lower-electrode-exposed part and the upper electrode.

A method for manufacturing a piezoelectric film deposition substrate (100) according to this present invention includes forming a piezoelectric film (3) on or above the lower electrode (2) with the mask (5) being attached on or above the lower electrode; forming an upper electrode (4) on the piezoelectric film with the mask being attached on or above the lower electrode; forming a the lower-electrode-exposed part (2a) by detaching the mask from the lower electrode; and subjecting the piezoelectric film to polarization by applying a voltage between the lower-electrode-exposed part and the upper electrode.

Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component present therein. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using compositions comprising a plurality of piezoelectric particles and a polymer material comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer and at least one photocurable polymer precursor. The at least one photocurable polymer precursor may undergo a reaction in the presence of electromagnetic radiation, optionally undergoing a reaction with the piezoelectric particles, in the course of forming the printed part. The piezoelectric particles may be mixed with the polymer material and remain substantially non-agglomerated when combined with the polymer material. The compositions may define a form factor such as a composite filament, a composite pellet, or an extrudable composite paste, which may be utilized in forming printed parts by extrusion and layer-by-layer deposition, followed by curing.

Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component present therein. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using compositions comprising a polymer matrix comprising a first polymer material and a second polymer material that are immiscible with each other, and a plurality of piezoelectric particles substantially localized in one of the first polymer material or the second polymer material. The piezoelectric particles may remain substantially non-agglomerated when combined with the polymer matrix. The compositions may define a form factor such as a composite filament, a composite pellet, or an extrudable composite paste. Additive manufacturing processes using the compositions may comprise forming a printed part by depositing the compositions layer-by-layer.

Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component present therein. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using compositions that are extrudable and comprise a plurality of piezoelectric particles and a plurality of carbon nanomaterials dispersed in at least a portion of a polymer material. The piezoelectric particles may remain substantially non-agglomerated when combined with the polymer material. The polymer material may comprise at least one thermoplastic polymer, optionally further containing at least one polymer precursor. The compositions may define an extrudable material that is a composite having a form factor such as a composite filament, a composite pellet, a composite powder, or a composite paste. Additive manufacturing processes using the compositions may comprise forming a printed part by depositing the compositions layer-by-layer.