Building the Future of Electronics: Brewer Science’s Material Innovations for Additive Manufacturing
- khashayar Ghaffarzadeh
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
As electronics demand greater miniaturization, multifunctionality, and integration, the materials enabling these advancements require significant consideration.
Brewer Science is pioneering a new frontier in additive electronics by developing advanced functional materials, including printable low-loss dielectrics, encapsulants, and optical layers, that empower high-performance sensor systems and advanced packaging solutions. These innovations not only enhance device capabilities but also strengthen the domestic electronics supply chain, positioning the U.S. as a leader in next-generation electronics manufacturing.
The Challenge: Evolving Demands in Electronics Manufacturing
Microelectronics manufacturing has long relied on proven techniques like photolithography and PCB fabrication, technologies that have enabled decades of innovation and remain essential to many high-performance applications. However, as the industry pushes toward greater miniaturization, multifunctionality, and integration, new manufacturing paradigms are emerging to meet these evolving demands.
Additive manufacturing offers unique advantages in design flexibility, rapid prototyping, and integration of complex 3D structures. Yet, while structural additive manufacturing has matured, the development of functional materials, such as printable dielectrics, conductive materials, and encapsulants, remains a critical frontier. Brewer Science is helping bridge this gap by introducing advanced materials that complement traditional processes and unlock new possibilities for embedded sensing, flexible electronics, and real-time environmental monitoring.
Watch the presentation “Building Circuits from the Ground Up: Materials Innovation for Additive Electronics” by Dr. Adam Scotch at TechBlick 2025. It provides insight into the evolving demands in electronics manufacturing and explains why strategic material innovation is necessary to address the next generation of technology.
Brewer Science’s Breakthroughs in Functional Materials
Brewer Science is addressing this gap by leveraging its deep expertise in polymer chemistry and semiconductor manufacturing. The company has developed a suite of functional inks and printable materials tailored for additive electronics, including:
Low-loss dielectrics for RF and high-frequency applications
Functional inks for measuring pressure, strain, temperature, and conductivity
Encapsulants for environmental protection and mechanical stability
Membranes for monitoring water quality such as heavy metals and other contaminants
These materials are compatible with a range of deposition techniques, including ink jet, microdispense, spray coating, and fine-line screen printing, which enables precision and scalability.
Do not miss the flagship TechBlick event in Berlin
Real-World Impact: Water Quality Monitoring
One of the most compelling applications of Brewer Science’s material innovations is in real-time water quality monitoring. Using advanced sensor arrays built with these functional materials, Brewer Science has developed systems capable of detecting:
Heavy metals: Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu)
Hardness: Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg)
PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances)[AS1]
Nitrate
pH
Temperature
Conductivity (Total Dissolved Solids, TDS)
These sensors operate at parts-per-billion (ppb) sensitivity and can be customized to detect a wide range of analytes. When paired with IoT technology, they enable remote, real-time monitoring of water sources from municipal facilities to rivers and streams. This capability not only improves testing speed and accuracy but also supports public health by identifying contaminants early and preventing exposure.
By integrating these sensors into scalable, additive manufacturing workflows, Brewer Science is helping communities access safer water and empowering governments and industries to make data-driven decisions.
Learn more about Brewer Science’s InFlect® water quality sensor system on their website.
Brewer Science’s 30-second overview video encourages viewers to question, “What is in your water?”
Enabling Domestic Resilience and Innovation
With over 40 years of U.S.-based chemical manufacturing experience, Brewer Science is uniquely positioned to support domestic supply chain resilience. Its vertically integrated capabilities from synthesis and blending to packaging and quality control ensure consistent performance and scalability. This infrastructure supports rapid prototyping and commercialization of additive electronics, helping the U.S. close the gap with global competitors.
A Vision for Additive Electronics
Brewer Science’s approach enables the construction of electronic circuits from the ground up, merging chips, packages, and PCBs into unified, multifunctional components. This holistic design philosophy opens the door to:
3D printed traces and vias on complex surfaces
Embedded RF and optical waveguides for advanced sensing and communication
Integrated sensor systems with environmental protection and mechanical flexibility
These capabilities are especially valuable for aerospace, defense, medical, and IoT applications where performance, size, and reliability are critical.
Brewer Science is looking forward to collaborating with you!
Brewer Science is looking to integrate and bring its real-time water quality monitoring capabilities to the global market. If you have an application that could benefit with real-time water quality sensor system, we are eager to hear more. Please submit a request via the contact form on Brewer Science’s website. Additionally, our InFlect® sensor systems offer customizable analytes. If you’re seeking to detect different analytes, please send us a message and we would like to innovate with you.
Join the flagship TechBlick event in Berlin on 22-23 October 2025
This event is the global home of the Additive, Printed, Sustainable, Hybrid and 3D Electronics. It is where the global industry connects, where the latest is unveiled and where big products, novel ideas and key projects and partnerships are discussed and forged. This event is not to be missed!
This year the event will also feature the co-located Perovskite Connect, the only event worldwide dedicated to the perovskite industry. Learn more here
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