Patent ID: 8800479

Claim:
A system for in-process orientation of particles used in direct-write inks for fabricating a component, the system comprising: a device for polarizing direct-write particles in an aerosol, the device comprising: a holding chamber for retaining the aerosol including the direct-write particles; a positive electrically chargeable element; and a negative electrically chargeable element, wherein the direct-write particles are polarized in the holding chamber by a first electric field generated by the positive electrically chargeable element and the negative electrically chargeable element, one of the holding chamber being moved relative to the electrically chargeable elements or the electrically chargeable elements being moved relative to the holding chamber; an outlet to direct the aerosol including the polarized direct-write particles on a substrate to form a component; and an apparatus to cause the polarized direct-write particles to be aligned in a selected orientation to form the component with predetermined characteristics when deposited on the substrate.