PRINTING ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE INK ON FABRIC

• US 20180255637A1
• Filed: 03/01/2017
• Published: 09/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Ma, Siyuan, Holbery, James David, Jin, Hanbit
• Application Number:
  US15/446,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20180255637A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 15/00 Screen printers
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 15/0868 for printing on filamentary articles
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 19/005 with means for applying metallic, conductive or chargeable material
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 1/12 Stencil printing; Silk-screen printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 1/30 on organic plastics, horn or similar materials recording sheets having a coating to improve ink, dye or pigment receptivity B41M5/50; marking or recording on plastic by irradiation with electromagnetic beams, e.g. laser, B41M5/267
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/033 characterised by the solvent
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/037 characterised by the pigment
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/102 containing macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions other than those only involving unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bonds
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/106 containing macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/52 Electrically conductive inks
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/038 Textiles used as reinforcing materials for organic insulating substrates H05K1/0366
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/097 Inks comprising nanoparticles and specially adapted for being sintered at low temperature H05K1/095 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0145 Polyester, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate [PET], polyethylene naphthalate [PEN]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0203 Fillers and particles
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0245 Flakes, flat particles or lamellar particles
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/026 Nanotubes or nanowires
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0278 Polymeric fibers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/029 Woven fibrous reinforcement or textile
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/1216 by screen printing or stencil printing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/1225 Screens or stencils; Holders therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/125 : by ink-jet printing

Abstract

One disclosed example comprises an ink formulated for printing an electrically conductive trace on a flexible fabric substrate. The ink includes an elastomer and a liquid vehicle capable of swelling the elastomer, the liquid vehicle having a boiling point of 150° C. or greater at one atmosphere. A plurality of non-spherical, electrically conductive particles are suspended in the liquid vehicle to impart electrical conductivity to the ink.

Claims

1. An ink formulated for printing an electrically conductive trace on a flexible fabric substrate, the ink comprising:

an elastomer;

a liquid vehicle mixed with the elastomer, the liquid vehicle capable of swelling the elastomer, the liquid vehicle having a boiling point of 150°

C. or greater at one atmosphere; and

a plurality of non-spherical, electrically conductive particles suspended in the liquid vehicle.

2. The ink of claim 1 wherein the elastomer includes a fluoroelastomer.

3. The ink of claim 1 wherein the elastomer includes a polyurethane.

4. The ink of claim 1 wherein the elastomer includes a polysiloxane.

5. The ink of claim 1 wherein the non-spherical, electrically conductive particles include flakes.

6. The ink of claim 1 wherein the non-spherical, electrically conductive particles include needles.

7. The ink of claim 1 wherein the non-spherical, electrically conductive particles include nanotubes.

8. The ink of claim 1 wherein the non-spherical, electrically conductive particles comprise silver.

9. The ink of claim 1 wherein the non-spherical, electrically conductive particles comprise carbon.

10. The ink of claim 1 wherein the liquid vehicle includes a ketone or aldehyde.

11. The ink of claim 1 wherein the liquid vehicle includes a carboxylic acid.

12. The ink of claim 1 wherein the liquid vehicle includes butyl carbitol acetate.

13. A method of printing an electrically conductive trace on a flexible fabric substrate, the method comprising:

placing a screen over the fabric substrate, the screen having a plurality of filled pores and a plurality of unfilled pores;

forcing an ink through the unfilled pores of the screen and onto the fabric substrate, the ink comprising an elastomer, a liquid vehicle capable of swelling the elastomer and having a boiling point of 150°

C. or greater at one atmosphere, and a plurality of non-spherical electrically conducting particles; and

separating the fabric substrate and the screen.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the fabric substrate comprises a knit or woven fabric.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the fabric substrate includes spandex and/or tricot.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein forcing the ink through the unfilled pores includes forcing mechanically.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the screen comprises a knit or woven mesh.

18. A fabric having one or more electrically conductive traces arranged therein, the fabric comprising:

an arrangement of threads; and

contained within the arrangement of threads, non-volatile residue of an ink comprising an elastomer, a liquid vehicle capable of swelling the elastomer and having a boiling point of 150°

C. or greater at one atmosphere, and a plurality of non-spherical conducting particles.

19. The fabric of claim 18 wherein the threads include cotton and/or polyester.

20. The fabric of claim 18, wherein the non-spherical conducting particles include silver flakes.