Method of printing a polymer thick film ink
First Claim
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1. A method of applying a polymer thick film ink to a substrate, which method comprises:
- (1) printing onto the substrate a polymer thick film ink which comprises(a) a binder comprising an organic polymer,(b) a latent solvent for the binder, and(c) an electrically conductive particulate filler, the binder and the solvent being such that (i) at room temperature the binder is in the form of solid particles dispersed in the solvent, and (ii) there is a temperature above room temperature at which the binder is dissolved in the solvent;
said printing being carried out under conditions such that the electrically conductive particulate filler is dispersed in the latent solvent and the binder is in the form of solid particles dispersed in the latent solvent; and
(2) after step (1), increasing the temperature of the ink printed on the substrate so as first to dissolve the solid binder particles in the latent solvent, and then to vaporize the latent solvent and cure the polymeric binder.
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Abstract
A method of printing an electrically conductive thick film ink onto a polymeric substrate. The ink comprises a polymeric binder, which is preferably a fluoropolymer, a solvent for the binder, and an electrically conductive filler. At the printing temperature the solvent is a latent solvent for the binder. After printing the temperature is raised, so that first the binder dissolves in the solvent, and then the solvent vaporizes and the binder cures. The ink may be applied to a conductive polymer, preferably fluoropolymer, substrate and used as a heater.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of applying a polymer thick film ink to a substrate, which method comprises:
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(1) printing onto the substrate a polymer thick film ink which comprises (a) a binder comprising an organic polymer, (b) a latent solvent for the binder, and (c) an electrically conductive particulate filler, the binder and the solvent being such that (i) at room temperature the binder is in the form of solid particles dispersed in the solvent, and (ii) there is a temperature above room temperature at which the binder is dissolved in the solvent; said printing being carried out under conditions such that the electrically conductive particulate filler is dispersed in the latent solvent and the binder is in the form of solid particles dispersed in the latent solvent; and (2) after step (1), increasing the temperature of the ink printed on the substrate so as first to dissolve the solid binder particles in the latent solvent, and then to vaporize the latent solvent and cure the polymeric binder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification