In-plane characterization of graded dielectrics fabricated through additive manufacturing

A custom made 3D printer has been developed that is capable of printing high dielectric constant ceramic powders on a low-loss substrate. Utilizing low-loss composite laminates as the substrate, it is possible to fabricate a structural grade composite with custom graded dielectric properties. The ability to fabricate structural composites with graded electromagnetic properties has various practical applications including antireflective surfaces, low profile antennas, radomes, electromagnetic lenses, and passive beam forming networks. The focus of this research was to evaluate the in-plane dielectric properties of composites produced using powder printing. A number of samples were fabricated and used to determine the complete permittivity tensor of the printed samples as a function of local powder weight. This data was then experimentally validated using several practical examples.