RF & Microwave - Paris 22.03

Confidential – Février 2018

3D-printed Antenna Metallization

RF & Microwave - Paris 22.03.2018

Samuel Stremsdoerfer – CEO/CTO


0. AGENDA

2

1. Company introduction

2. JetMetal® Technology

3. 3D printed WR12 pyramidal Horn Metallization

Confidential – Février 2018 3

1. Company introduction


Introduction to Jet Metal Technologies

1. INTRODUCTION

4

History The Jet Metal™ process is an innovative technology of metallization developed at the “Laboratory LTDS” of “ Ecole Centrale of Lyon” (France).

Background Founded in 2007. 23 employees (of which 15 in R&D) Headquartered in Lyon, France

Business Develops and markets its own innovative industrial metallization solutions.

Model Tailor-made turnkey solutions including manufacturing lines, equipment and chemicals for innovative metallization of surfaces and services.

Intellectual Property Proprietary technology backed by 45 patents covering process know-how, chemical formulation and equipment design

Markets Decorative finishing and functional applications (EMI Shielding, conductive primer, ….)

Customers Worldwide into the spirits, cosmetics, automotive, architecture, electronics devices, RF devices, defense, IT


2. JetMetal® Technology


Bridge between paint and galvanic technology

6

2. TECHNOLOGY - Principle

1. Spraying of 2 water based solutions (Oxidant (metal salt) & Reducer) with

standard painting equipment at ambient pressure and temperature

2. Redox reaction resulting in immediate growth of metallic layer on the substrate

Metallization by spraying


2. TECHNOLOGY – Video process

Video of the Metallization Spraying Process In-Line metallization Equipment Customer : X Cosmetic business Area Capacity : 6 000 p/h Substrate : Zamak pre-coated « Eiffel Tower » Location : Germany

Jet_Metal_Auto_Seq2_FullHD.mp4

Confidential – Février 2018 8 8

2. TECHNOLOGY – Process

1. Surface preparation (eg flaming, plasma,

corona, …) to improve wettability (>50dyn/cm)

2. Surface activation (SnCl2)

3. Rinsing with DI water

4. JMT Redox reaction (Ox-Red)

5. Rinsing with DI water

6. Water evacuation via

air blowing

Sequence of Process steps


• Metals and alloys like Zamak

• Plastics & composites

• Glass

• Ceramics

• Silicon

• Wax

• 3D printed technology

Plastics ABS Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene

ABS/PC Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene / Poly carbonate

EPP Expanded Polypropylene PA Polyamide PC Poly Carbonate PE Polyethylene

PEEK Polyether ether ketone PEI Polyetherimide

PET Poly Ethylene Terephtalate PI Polyimide

PMMA Poly methyl methacrylate

POM Poly oxy methylene PP Polypropylene

PPSU Polyphenylsulfone PUR Polyurethane PVC Poly Vinyl Chloride

Composites Epoxy composite Epoxy with carbon

PA composite Polyamide / glass fibre PEEK composite Polyether ether ketone carbon

Polyester composite Polyester / glass fibre

2. TECHNOLOGY - Substrates

Basically all materials which can be made ‘wettable’ (with or without a

surface preparation step) can be metallized


Characteristics of Ag layers

Layer thickness

• Typically : 20 nm 5 µm

• Layers up to ~ 10 µm are technically feasible but cost

effectiveness must be checked case per case

Reflectivity

• UV: absorption

• Visible light: 96%

• IR: > 97% reflected

Electrical

conductivity

• 2,5.107 S.m-1 (theoretical conductivity Ag: 6,3.107 S.m-1)

• 100 nm thick Ag metal layer give enough conductivity to

allow electrolytic layer growth

EMI shielding

properties

• Average attenuation of 65 – 70 dB between 10 MHz & 10

GHz with a 500 nm thick Ag layer!

Ag, Ni, Au, Fe, Co, … can be deposited but Ag based layers are mostly used

in the actual applications

2. TECHNOLOGY – Metallic layer characteristics


Technology JetMetal®

Flexible

• Based on painting skills and equipment

• Allow metallization on flat/3D complexes shapes

• Multi substrates technology

Environmentally

friendly

• 100% water-based

• CMR free chemicals

• Waste treatment management

Low barrier

Technology • Only painting skills need

Cost effective

Technology

• Cost effective alternative to PVD, plating, …

• High capacity technology as easy in-line

industrialization

• Moderate investment as working at room

temperature and ambient pressure.

Innovative process with lots of advantages

2. TECHNOLOGY – Advantages


3. 3D printed metallization WR12 pyramidal Horn


Comparison of metallization 3D-printed horn with standard horn

3. 3D-printed Antenna metallization – Presentation

Reference Horn • Cu electroformed Gain Horn (Model 26240-20, Flann Microwave Ltd) Aperture size of 15x11 mm2 and a length of 38.5 mm / Gain : 20 dB

3D printed Horn (TuskXC 2700W)

Aperture 17*13mm² and a length of

36,5mm

• 3D printed + 15 µm Cu-Electroplating + 0,15 µm Au coated

(Sn-Pd activation + Electroless Cu + 15µm Cu-Electroplating + 0,15µm Au-Electroplating)

• 3D printed + 1µm JetMetal Ag coated (Choice of 1µm based on skin depth a 77Ghz)

Technical Results • Comparison of the S11 and Gain parameters at 77 Ghz

WR12 pyramidal Antenna 3D printed and 1µm JetMetal silver coated

Acknowledgement :

Pr. A. Stelzer - R. Feger - P. Lampersberger

Johannes Kepler University Linz, Institute for Communications Engineering and RF-Systems – Linz Austria


3. 3D-printed Antenna metallization – Results

Simulation

Simulated return loss as S11 parameter (>-27dB)

Simulated Gain : 20,9 dBi

Measurement

S11 parameter : Ref / Electroplated / Jetmetal

S11 > - 20 dB

Analysis Tools

- Vector Network Analyzer: Rohde &

Schwarz ZVT 20 (10 MHz – 20 GHz)

- Millimeter-wave converter: Rohde &

Schwarz ZVA-Z110 (75 GHz – 110 GHz)

3D printed horn+ 1µm JetMetal is comparable at 75-90 GHz to Reference horn

S11 simulated and measured analysis


3. 3D-printed Antenna metallization - Results

S21 parameters of transmission measurements between

different antenna pairs

Estimated antenna gains using the measurements and

taking the free-space loss into account.

Gain in main beam direction measurement

Protocol:

Pairs of antennas were placed at a distance of 30 cm to each other, and the transmission properties were

measured as S21 parameter using the VNA + waveguide converters

3D printed Horn + JetMetal Simulated gain : 20,9 dBi Measured gain : 20,3dBi

Explanations :

- Roughness of the 3D

printed surface

- Misalignment of antennas

- Not sharp edge corner


3. 3D-printed Antenna metallization – Conclusion

3D printed horn+ 1µm JetMetal is very similar at 75-90 GHz to Reference horn

JetMetal® could be a real industrial alternative to standard technology for

antennas/filters/waveguide manufacturing

Next Technical step :

- Roughness optimization (3D printing technology)

- Pre-coating before JMT

Next Industrial step :

- Waveguide application


Please contact:

Samuel Stremsdoerfer

CEO / CTO

4, Rue Jean Elysée Dupuy

69410 Champagne au mont d’Or

France

Phone : +33 (0) 698 702 310

E-mail: [email protected]

www.jetmetal-tech.com

Documents

RF & Microwave - Paris 22.03