Close

Reactive Copper Ink mix Test

A project log for Hybrid MicroElectronics-Factory 3D Printer

In-Situ Synthesis of Conductive Nanomaterials via Tool-Changing system on an FDM corexy 3D printer.

joanbelkJoanbelk 05/23/2026 at 16:280 Comments

At this time, following Gemini's recipe for a Reactive Copper ink ended up being very difficult to fine tune for me. Also discovered that I was running my gcode for the laser with Half Speed and ended up burning the ink every time, although not at 10% that is 1W 450nm laser power.

In theory: If it looks Black and Ashy (Soot that rubs off easily): Too hot. The Vitamin C burned into charcoal; but if the black ink instantly flashes into a Salmon, Bronze, or Penny-Copper color, means it works. 

The recipe is as following:
 8mL Reactive Copper Recipe
Part 1: The Carrier Fluid
  5.20 g Ethylene Glycol (approx. 4.8 mL)
  0.60 g PVP K30 (Binder)
  0.20 g Citric Acid 
Part 2: The Activator (Vitamin C)
 2.00 g Ascorbic Acid
Part 3: The Metal
 6.40 g Black Copper Oxide (CuO) powder.

Heat Bed at 85 Celsius for 10 minutes until ink looks bit brown and then fire the laser.

Is estimated will last for 2 weeks in the refrigerator. 

But will move on to use copper sheets and etch with the laser instead.

Discussions