AQUEOUS PRINTABLE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS (XINK)
First Claim
1. A process for the manufacture of a conductive coating ink for application to a substrate, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an aqueous polymeric emulsion;
b) dispersing into the aqueous polymeric emulsion at least 80% by weight on a solids basis of a conductive metal powder;
c) mixing the polymeric emulsion and conductive metal powder until homogeneous to form a conductive coating ink; and
d) adding an effective amount of base to maintain the ink in a pH range of 7.5 to 10.5.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An aqueous printable electrical conductor (APEC) is defined as a dispersion comprising metal powder (with specific surface properties) dispersed into an aqueous acrylic, styrene/acrylic, urethane/acrylic, natural polymers vehicle (gelatine, soy protein, casein, starch or similar) or in a film forming reactive fatty acids mixture without a binder resin. The aqueous printable dispersion can be applied to substrates through different printing processes such as flexography, gravure, screen, dry offset or others. Exemplary substrates include: (1) coated paper, (2) uncoated paper, and (3) a variety of plastics with treated and untreated surfaces. When printed at a thickness of 1-8 μm, heating to cure is not required as the dispersion cures at ambient temperatures. When the dispersion is used for any of the above applications it will provide sufficient electrical conductivity to produce electrical circuits for intelligent and active packaging, sensors, radio frequency identification (RFID) tag antennae, and other electronic applications.
18 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A process for the manufacture of a conductive coating ink for application to a substrate, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing an aqueous polymeric emulsion; b) dispersing into the aqueous polymeric emulsion at least 80% by weight on a solids basis of a conductive metal powder; c) mixing the polymeric emulsion and conductive metal powder until homogeneous to form a conductive coating ink; and d) adding an effective amount of base to maintain the ink in a pH range of 7.5 to 10.5. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16)
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10. A process for the manufacture of a conductive coating on a substrate, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing an aqueous polymeric emulsion; b) dispersing into the aqueous polymeric emulsion at least 80% by weight on a solids basis of a conductive metal powder; c) mixing the polymeric emulsion and conductive metal powder until homogeneous to form a conductive coating ink; d) adding an effective amount of NH4OH to maintain the ink in a pH range of 7.5 to 10.5; e) disposing the conductive coating ink onto said substrate; and f) allowing the ink to dry, thereby forming said conductive coating on said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17)
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Specification