Affiliations: Department of Electronics, Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland | Faculty of Technology and Maritime Management, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, Pori, Finland
Note: [] Corresponding author: Johanna Virkki, Department of Electronics, Tampere University of Technology, P.O. Box 692, Tampere 33101, Finland. Tel.: +358 408490618; Fax: +358 33115 3394; E-mail: johanna.virkki@tut.fi
Abstract: The integration of electronics and wood is an interesting research area due to increasing interest to add functionality in various products. In this study, we will concentrate on plywood. The use of plywood as a substrate for printed passive UHF RFID tags was examined. First, the characteristics of the birch plywood material were examined. After this, the tags were screen printed on birch plywood and their performance was evaluated in unloaded conditions, after a 100% relative humidity test, and after a cyclic bending test. The mechanical properties of the plywood were dependent on temperature history as well as moisture in the structure. The electrical properties of the thin plywood material itself did not affect much the tag performance compared to traditional plastic substrate. Different environmental stresses were found to slightly affect the tag functioning parameters but the tag will nevertheless perform its required functions under these stressed conditions. According to these results, screen printed RFID tags have a great potential in automatic identification and supply chain control of various plywood products. Since the response of the tags on plywood was affected by prevailing circumstances, the tag could be utilized in sensing applications in addition to automatic identification.
