Identification of constitutive theory parameters using a tensile machine for deposited filaments of microcrystalline ink by the direct-write method

A custom-designed tensile machine is developped to characterize the 10 mechanical properties of ink micro-filaments deposited by Direct-Write method. The 11 Direct-Write method has been used for the fabrication of a wide variety of micro12 systems such as microvascular networks, chaotic mixers and laboratory on-chips. The 13 tensile machine was used to measure the induced force in ink filaments during tensile 14 and tension-relaxation tests as a function of the applied strain rate, the ink composition 15 and the filament diameter. Experimental data was fitted by a linearly viscoelastic 16 model using a data reduction procedure in order to identify the constitutive theory 17 parameters of the deposited ink filaments. The model predictions based on the defined 18 constitutive theory parameters were closed to the experimental data generated in this 19 study. Such models will be useful in the development and optimization of future 3D 20 complex structures made by direct-write method.