On the use of additive manufacturing 3D-printing technology in RFID antenna design

This document represents an overview of the research activity at University of Salento about the use of additive manufacturing 3D printing in electromagnetic applications, including RFID. In this work the authors summarize and briefly explain all the steps of their research in the matter. This summary starts with the problem of the characterization of 3D-printable materials using a made-in-lab instrument based on the T-Resonator theory, which has been purposely printed in 3D itself. Then, two possible solutions to overcome the low permittivity limits of commercial 3Dprintable materials are explained. Finally, the possible applications of new conductive filaments which enable the possibility to fully 3D print microwave structures and antennas are discussed. The prospective of applications of 3D-printing technology in antenna design is then discussed on the basis of two different antennas designed and electromagnetically characterized. © 2019 IEEE.