Realization of Compact Patch Antennas on Magneto-Dielectric Substrate Using 3D Printing Technology with Iron-Enhanced PLA Filament

In this paper, the applicability of 3D printing technology with ferromagnetic filament featuring magneto-dielectric properties is investigated for the first time for the realization of compact microstrip patch antennas. An iron-enhanced Polyactic Acid (PLA) filament, well suitable for Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) type low-cost 3D printing process, was used to manufacture the substrate while top and bottom metallization layers were realized using thin copper tape. The proposed approach is experimentally verified on an example of a line-fed square patch antenna. The obtained results have shown antenna size reduction by a factor of k = 2.5 compared to the same substrate thickness filled with air. Patch as small as 60 mm × 60 mm operates at center frequency of 1 GHz with 20% bandwidth while providing radiation patterns as expected for such a type of radiating element.