Three-dimensional addititve manufacturing of optical waveguides

该研究项目的总体目标是了解特定功能三维聚合物光波导生产中的影响和功能关系。通过这种方式，可以将光学短距离链路直接打印到表面上。在第二个资助期内，设计的自由度将从二维空间扩展到任意形状（无底切）的三维表面。如何在空间曲面上通过增材制造生产具有光学质量的聚合物光波导？这可以具体说明如下：·在第一个资助期内获得的二维打印结果在多大程度上适用于三维基材？在表面能/应力、摩擦、作用力引起的流动行为、粗糙度、界面效应方面是否存在迄今为止未被考虑的影响，以及所有这些因素如何影响最终的几何和光学特性？·如何对这些影响进行量化和建模，以及如何从建模中获得最佳工艺参数设置？·如何确保涂层不仅在2D中而且在3D中以定义和可再现的方式涂覆？是否需要对表面进行特定操作，或者是否有目的地在未固化的芯材上进行印刷（液-液-印刷）？·在光学和机械性能方面，形状的限制在哪里？

The overall objective of the research project is to understand effects and functional relationships in the production of function-specific three-dimensional polymer optical waveguides. By this, the possibility of printing optical short-distance links directly onto the surface shall be given. In the second funding period, the freedom of design is to be extended beyond the two-dimensional space to arbitrarily shaped (free of undercuts) three-dimensional surfaces.How is it possible to produce polymer optical waveguides with optical quality by additive manufacturing on spatially curved surfaces?This can be specified as follows:• To what extent can the results obtained for two-dimensional printing during the first funding period be adapted to three-dimensional substrates? Are there hitherto unregarded effects in terms of surface energy / stress, friction, flow behavior due to acting forces, roughness, interfacial effects, and how do all these factors influence the resulting geometrical and optical properties?• How can these influences be quantified and modeled and how can optimal process parameters settings be derived from the modelling?• How is it possible ensure the application of a coat layer in a defined and reproducible way not only in 2D but also in 3D? Is a specific manipulation of the surfaces necessary or is printing onto the non-cured core purposeful (Liquid-Liquid-Printing)?• Where are the limits concerning the shape in terms of both optical and mechanical properties?