METHOD OF USING PRINTED HIGHLY FLEXIBLE CONDUCTIVE INK BUS BARS TO TRANSFER POWER TO HEATED COMPONENTS

A resistive heating circuit for a heated or ice protected aircraft structure includes a flexible dielectric substrate, a resistive heating element supported by the substrate, and a bus bar. The bus bar is electrically connected to the resistive heating element and includes a conductive ink printed onto the substrate such that the bus bar and resistive heating element flex freely with the heated or ice protected aircraft structure. Heated or ice protected aircraft structures and methods of making resistive heating circuits for heated or ice protected aircraft structures are also described.