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Nanosilver puts a sparkle into inkjet circuitry Printed circuits have been with us for a long time, but a Japanese company has perfected a method of using nanoparticles and inkjet printing that could see circuits get even smaller and cheaper...
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nk jet printing, so familiar to every home computer user, has other uses in industry. One of those is the production of ever-finer electronic circuits. While it is by no means the only technology available for this fine precision work, it has a number of advantages over conventional thin-film photolithography. Among these are shorter process times, higher rates of material utilisation, and suitability for the high-mix, low-volume production that generally generates high margins. Now Sumitomo Electric Industries (SEI) says it has developed a nanoparticle silver ink that gives the ability to form fine circuits by direct patterning onto a
MPIF celebrates 60th anniversary in San Antonio WHAT'S billed as the Metal Powder Industries Federation's most important business meeting of the years is to take place later this month in San Antonio, Texas. The 2004 Fall Management Conference and 60th Annual Meeting of the MPIF, from 26 - 29 September, will be held at La Mansión del Rio Hotel and features a keynote address by Richard Clowes, a GKN powder metallurgy managing director, who will discuss positioning for growth in the global marketplace. In additional remarks on GKN's global
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substrate. The company says the development of a metal ink is important for the practical application of ink jet printing techniques in the world of electronics. To fill the role envisaged by Sumitomo, the ink needs to consist of metal nanoparticles which have excellent dispersability and conductivity. They selected silver, which is chemically stable, as the ink material. Applying the plating technology that is one of its core technologies, SEI has developed an ink material which consists of 15nm diameter silver nanoparticles in an aqueous solvent that have excellent dispersability. Due to homogenous reactions in water solution, the particle size distribution is
strategy, he is expected to look at industrial PM markets and how the PM industry can maintain competitive in global terms. He will also address one of the most pressing questions for the US PM industry - China. This last item in Mr Clowes' address will in turn serve as an introduction for a seminar the following day entitled Taking the China Market by the Horns. Dr James Chan, a Philadelphia-based consultant will share his hands-on expertise, experience and personal insights gained from 23 years working with more than 100 US companies to help them do business more effectively in China. And of course, there's a packed social programme that includes a golf tournament, tennis and clay shooting as well as dining, shopping - and cooking! Contact www.mpif.org
very sharp, says SEI. The ink has good dispersion stability and does not include agglomerated particles of more than 100nm and does not form a precipitate even if it is left for a long time. Film with a metallic lustre is obtained simply by applying the ink to a substrate. The silver ink film shows good conductivity. For example, the high electric conductive film equivalent to bulk silver is obtained after heating to 300°C for 30 minutes in air. The ink also shows µΩ/cm level of conductivity if it is heated at a lower temperature, such as 150°C or 200°C. The ink's properties can be adjusted to suit the application for inkjet equipment (surface tension 30 - 50 mN/m; viscosity 5- 20 cP) and still remain fit for the inkjet head. Since the solidified ink redissolves well, solid ink residue can be removed with the prescribed solvent even if nozzle blockage occurs. SEI says that since the process they have developed is an electrochemical reaction in an aqueous solution using plating technology, it requires no special equipment such as vacuum systems. It is expected to reduce costs and increase economic efficiency.
Buyers' Guide update Ostewalder AG Industriering 4, Lyss, CH-3250 SWITZERLAND Tel: +41 323871400 Fax: +41 3238871404 e-mail:
[email protected] URL: www.osterwalder.com Contact: Daniel Pfister Inco Special Products Gordon House 10 Greencoat Place Lonson SW1P 1PH, UK Tel: +44 207 932 1508 Fax: +44 207 931 7799 URL: www.incosp.com Contact: David Adami Metal Powder Industries Federation 105 College Road East, Princeton, NJ 08540-6692, USA Tel: +1 609 452 7700 Fax: +1 609 987 8523 e-mail:
[email protected] URL: www.mpif.org Executive Director/CEO: C James Trombino VP Member & Industry Relations: James R Dale Trade Association for PM Industries
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