Printing process makes 3D objects glow
Conventional ElectroLuminescent (EL) foils can only be bent up to a certain degree and can be easily applied onto flat surfaces. The recent process, developed by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Franz Binder, now allows for the direct printing of EL layers onto three-dimensional components. Such EL components might be used to enhance safety in buildings in case of power failure.
Usually, the luminescent material is located between two plastic layers in EL carrier foils. However, due to the new printing process, the EL layers are directly printed onto the object without any intermediate carrier. In this way, convex and concave surfaces of various materials, such as paper or plastic, can glow.
The different components of the coating, including the EL and the electrically conductive materials, are applied by a novel pad printing process. The pad printing machine is equipped with an elastic rubber pad that is easily deformable and suitable for the coating of curved surfaces.
The process only requires a few production steps and is characterised by a low consumption of resources. By using various luminescent substances, various colours may be applied to the same surface.
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