Advantages of High-Resolution Flexography for Functional Printing

Print technologies are being used today in the manufacture of consumer products, including flexible electronics and optics. There are multiple available printing technologies that offer a range of addressable resolutions and obtainable throughputs (i.e. print speed). Resolution and speed are only part of the story, one also needs to understand the latitude for useable inks and the volume of those inks that can be deposited at speed in a single-pass process with good pattern fidelity.

EKTAFLEX functional printing solutions enable flexographic processes to achieve sub-10-micron on-substrate features. This talk will focus on the advantages of high-resolution flexography, and how these small features sizes can be used to create advantaged products. Included will be a review of both the innate capabilities of flexography and application specific benefits over other print technologies, such as drop-on-demand inkjet.

Examples of both additive and subtractive processing via high resolution flexography will be discussed. Real case studies will be presented, including Kodak’s own additive, roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing process for copper micro-wire patterns on flexible substrates used for transparent RF devices, such as antennas and EMI shields. In addition, success cases from partners’ use of Kodak’s EKTAFLEX plates for functional printing will also be shared – illustrating not just the benefit of the technology but Kodak’s dedication to enabling partners to achieve their product and performance milestones.

Carolyn Ellinger
General Manager Printed Electronics & V.P. Kodak PE Tech, LLC @ Eastman Kodak Company

Bio

Carolyn Ellinger is General Manager, Printed Electronics at Eastman Kodak Company and V.P. Kodak PE Tech, LLC, a subsidiary of Eastman Kodak Company. She received a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from the State University of NY at Buffalo, and an M.S. degree in chemical engineering from the University of Rochester. In her 25+ years at Kodak, she has held technical positions in film systems, flexible displays, nanotechnology and semiconductor devices, MEMS-based devices, spatial ALD, and printed electronics. Her research has resulted in peer-reviewed journal articles, multiple contributed and invited presentations, over 70 Granted US Patents, and numerous improvements to Kodak products.