Layer deposition Doctor blade

In polymer systems, the combination of properties of different components is achieved in a multitude of ways. For example, polymer layers of different functionalities are applied on a polymer substrate by spraying, casting, dip coating, or spreading with a doctor blade. Polymer coatings can be combined with layers of nonpolymeric materials applied from solutions or suspensions of the coating material or precursors thereof, or deposited via vapor phase using physical and chemical vapor deposition. 

The thickness of the deposited layer is determined by the height of the doctor blade above the polymer sheet. Multilayer films are possible using the approach illustrated in Figure 27.2. The special feature of the doctor blade is that it produces a very uniform thickness. A typical doctor blade assembly is shown in Figure 27.3. The cast tape is dried, peeled from the polymer sheet, and reeled up to wait for further processing. At this stage of the process the tape is flexible because it still contains a... 

PEDOTiPSS dispersions can be deposited by multiple techniques including spin coating, doctor blading, dip coating or ink jetting. Spin coating is regarded as the most reliable technique to obtain uniform thin layers. 

The mechanical setup of the doctor blade tape casting process is shown in Figure 4.7. In this process, the slip is deposited in excess on the carrier surface, typically in a confined reservoir. The carrier surface is then moved under the doctor blade, which wipes the excess material back into the reservoir, leaving a thin layer of fluid on the carrier. The mechanics of the doctor blading process are, in theory, quite simple. In practice, however, controlling all of the variables to... 

Slurry Tape Casting In this method, a slurry or catalyst layer ink similar to that used in the spray deposition technique is spread onto the DM or directly onto the electrolyte via a doctor blade (Figure 6.4). This method produces high dimensional tolerance but is slower than physical spray deposition and less suitable for mass production. 

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