Metal Ink Composition for LTCC Pattern Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inkjet technique for forming metal patterns on low-temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) substrates faces challenges with evaporation of the dispersion medium, leading to ejection failures and reduced shape accuracy, especially as patterns are miniaturized, due to the alcohol compounds used to prevent drying.
Innovation Solution
An ink composition incorporating a water-soluble polyhydric alcohol, such as xylitol, which interacts with water to prevent evaporation and with metal microparticles to facilitate re-dispersion, maintaining fluidity and preventing nozzle clogging, with a concentration of 5 to 20 weight % to ensure stable ejection and prevent droplet flowing out.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If alcohol compound is added to prevent drying in nozzle, then ejection stability is improved, but droplet spreading control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the alcohol from liquid (conventional) to solid (melting point 10°C to 50°C). This parameter change allows the alcohol to remain in the nozzle as a semi-solid preventing clogging, but deposit as a solid on the substrate to prevent droplet spreading, thus resolving the contradiction between ejection stability and pattern accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates different local states of the alcohol: in the nozzle, the alcohol remains semi-solid to maintain ejection stability, while on the substrate, it deposits as solid to prevent droplet spreading. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing the alcohol's function in each location
2Productivity
If miniaturization of metal pattern is pursued, then productivity is improved, but ejection stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the melting point parameter of the alcohol to 10°C to 50°C, creating a semi-solid state at room temperature. This parameter change prevents clogging in nozzles during miniaturized pattern formation while maintaining stable ejection, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability
3Ease of operation
If liquid alcohol is used to prevent drying, then ejection is facilitated, but droplet flowing out increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the alcohol from liquid to semi-solid by selecting compounds with melting points of 10°C to 50°C. This parameter change allows the alcohol to facilitate ejection while preventing droplet spreading, as the solid deposit acts as a barrier to flow, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and manufacturing precision
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 ink composition effectively prevents evaporation in nozzles, stabilizes ejection, and ensures accurate pattern formation by maintaining fluidity and preventing droplet spreading, thereby enhancing the precision and reliability of miniaturized metal patterns.
Implementation Method 1
the polyhydric alcohol prevents evaporation of the dispersion medium in the ink composition by interacting with water (e.g., hydrogen bonding or van der Waals bonding)
Implementation Method 2
The polyhydric alcohol also facilitates the re-dispersion of the metal microparticle once deposited, by interacting with the metal microparticle (e.g., coordinate bonding)
Implementation Method 3
since the polyhydric alcohol is solid under normal conditions, it is rapidly deposited as the dispersion medium evaporates
Data Source
AI summary
An ink composition includes a metal microparticle, a dispersion medium having water as a main ingredient, a dispersant for dispersing the metal microparticle into the dispersion medium, and a water-soluble polyhydric alcohol that is trivalent to hexavalent and solid under normal conditions, and whose concentration is 5 to 20 weight % relative to a total weight of the ink composition.