Conductive Paste Additives for Multilayer Ceramic Electrode Shape Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Low-viscosity internal electrode pastes used in multilayer ceramic components often result in dome-shaped electrode ends, leading to defective alignment and disconnection during lamination, which decreases capacitance and surface roughness.

Innovation Solution

A conductive paste composition for internal electrodes incorporating additives such as glutamic acid, amino acids, thiols, and hydrocarbons, which vary viscosity between 1 to 1000 Pa·s, improving contact angles and phase stability, and enabling a right-angle shape and enhanced surface roughness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If low-viscosity paste is used for internal electrode formation, then the paste can be easily printed and spread, but the end of the internal electrode develops a dome shape causing defective alignment and disconnection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprintability of pasteVSAvoidshape control of internal electrode end

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the paste by incorporating specific organic compounds (carboxylic acids, alcohols, amines, or amides) to modify the viscosity characteristics and surface tension, enabling the paste to maintain proper flow during printing while preventing dome formation at the electrode ends

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces organic compounds as intermediary substances that mediate between the metal powder particles and the binder, improving paste flow and printability while controlling the wetting behavior to prevent excessive spreading and dome formation at the electrode ends

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If low-viscosity paste is used, then the paste flows easily during printing, but contact angle defects occur leading to reduced capacitance and increased disconnection risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting efficiencyVSAvoidelectrode connection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the paste composition by adding organic compounds that adjust the viscosity and surface tension parameters, allowing the paste to achieve optimal contact angle for reliable electrode formation while maintaining easy printability and high production efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite paste system combining metal powder, binder, solvent, and organic compound additives, where the synergistic interaction between components achieves both high printing efficiency and reliable electrode connections through controlled wetting behavior

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Volume of moving object

If fine metal powder is used to thin internal electrodes, then the component size can be reduced and capacitance increased, but the paste becomes more sensitive to viscosity changes affecting print quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinternal electrode thicknessVSAvoidprinted shape accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adjusts the paste composition parameters by incorporating organic compounds that specifically address the sensitivity of fine metal powder suspensions, maintaining stable viscosity and improved flow characteristics that enable precise printing of thin internal electrodes with accurate shape control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The use of these additives in the conductive paste composition enhances the printing process, resulting in improved contact angles, phase stability, and surface roughness, leading to increased capacitance and reduced disconnection issues in multilayer ceramic components.

Implementation Method 1

a conductive paste composition for an internal electrode having a highly variable viscosity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscosity modification:

Implementation Method 2

improving contact angles at printed ends of the screen and gravure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface tension modification: Surface Tension

Implementation Method 3

roughness (surface roughness) of the internal electrode is improved by improving a leveling property of the conductive paste

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLeveling:

Implementation Method 4

improving phase stability of the conductive paste for an internal electrode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase stability:

Data Source

PatentUS8908351B2Conductive paste composition for internal electrode, multilayer ceramic electronic component, and method of manufacturing the same

Publication Date: 2014.12.09 SAMSUNG ELECTRO MECHANICS CO LTD

AI summary

There are provided a conductive paste composition for an internal electrode, a multilayer ceramic electronic component including the same, and a method of manufacturing the same, the conductive paste composition including: a metal powder; and an additive including at least one selected from glutamic acid, amino acids, thiols, and hydrocarbons.