Metalon™ Conductive Inks
Overview
Metalon conductive inks capitalize on advanced materials and formulation to provide conductivity options for additive manufacturing of printed electronics like photovoltaic devices, RFID, smart cards/labels, displays, and advanced packaging.
Utilizing nanoparticles and flakes, Metalon inks are formulated for specific applications and print methods. Variants already developed include silver inks suitable for application by inkjet, flexographic printing, and gravure. True copper inks are also available for screen, flexographic, or gravure application. In conjunction with the PulseForgeTM technology also from NovaCentrix, these inks can be applied to substrates such as plastic films, and even paper. The PulseForge tools use brief, extremely high-powered pulses of light from special custom lamps to sinter inorganic inks and films, including Metalon inks, at room temperature. The combination of Metalon and PulseForge allows conductivity requirements to be met using thin flexible substrates, and most substrates remain unaffected because of the very short pulse duration.
Key Features
- Metalon inks are designed specifically for use with low-temperature substrates including paper, PET, and other plastics including polyethylene film.
- Metalon copper inks have been available from NovaCentrix for over 4 years, and can be printed and cured in an air environment without inert or reducing atmospheres.
- Metalon inks can be cured within microseconds using PulseForge tools and can be used with existing print lines to attain new levels of performance.
- Metalon silver and copper inks and PulseForge tools can allow existing printing equipment and infrastructure to produce new electronics products, opening new markets and driving higher value.
Performance
Sheet resistances as low as 4 milliohms per square and resistivities as low as 3X bulk have been attained with silver ink. Sheet resistances below 100 milliohms per square and resistivities as low as 3X bulk have been attained with copper ink. Performance varies depending on print method and substrate.
Current Metalon inkse
ICI-003: Inkjet copper in water
Launched in mid-April 2009, ICI-003 is an inkjettable, aqueous, copper-based ink formulated for coated PET substrates. This ink is formulated for very high conductivity, < 3x bulk, and pricing as low as $75/kg in volume. ICI-001 changes the rules for printed electronics design and manufacturing.
JS-015: Inkjet silver in water
Launched in January 2009, JS-015 is an inkjettable, aqueous, nano-silver ink formulated for a broader variety of porous and non-porous substrates, such as plastic films, papers, glass, quartz, and even silicon. Additional curing with thermal or PulseForge equipment will further increase conductivity. This ink is suitable for piezo-style inkjet heads.
JS-011: Inkjet silver in water
An inkjettable, aqueous, nano-silver ink specially formulated for porous paper substrates. JS-011 absorbs into the paper and becomes highly conductive as it dries. Additional curing with thermal or PulseForge equipment will further increase conductivity. This ink is suitable for thermo-style inkjet heads.
HPS-020: Screen-print silver in water
HPS-020 is an electrically conductive silver flake ink designed to produce conductive traces on low to medium temperature substrates such as PET, glass, polyimide, and silicon. HPS-020 ink is specially formulated for screen printing, and produces extremely conductive cured traces, with sheet resistances below 3 milliohms per square in some cases.
HPS 030: Screen-print silver in water
HPS-030 is an electrically conductive silver flake ink designed to produce conductive traces on medium temperature substrates such as glass, polyimide, and silicon. HPS-030 ink is specially formulated for screen printing, and produced extremely conductive cured traces, with sheet resistances below 3 milliohms per square in some cases.
SC-003: Screen-print silver/copper in water
SC-003 is an electrically conductive silver-copper ink designed to produce high-conductivity traces on low temperature substrates such as photo-paper and polymer films. SC-003 ink is specially formulated for screen printing inexpensive conductive traces.
FS-066 /FS-067: Spray deposition in solvent
A stretchable, nano-silver, solvent based ink that retains conductivity with up to 100% elongation. This ink was formulated for polyethylene film, and is also compatible with other plastic substrates. FS-066 is formulated for spray deposition, and FS-067 is for gravure deposition.
New inks under development
Metalon inks are optimized for specific application requirements, including print method, substrate, and target performance. NovaCentrix is actively developing new ink products to meet the needs of our customers. Contact us for any of the above inks, or for information on inks for customized applications.