Silver Ink Composition for Decorative Metallic Layers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for forming metallic silver layers, such as using silver oxide or organic acid silver salts, require high temperatures and reductants, and do not adequately achieve desired glossiness and specularity for decorative and specular surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A silver ink composition is developed by blending specific silver β-ketocarboxylates like silver isobutyrylacetate, benzoylacetate, and amines with 1 to 10 carbon atoms, which decompose at lower temperatures to form metallic silver with superior glossiness and specularity without the need for reductants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If silver oxide or organic acid silver salt is used to form metallic silver layer, then metallic silver can be formed, but high treatment temperature (210-300°C) and reductant are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemetallic silver formationVSAvoidtreatment temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameter of the silver source from silver oxide or organic acid silver salt to silver β-ketocarboxylate, which has different thermal decomposition characteristics. This parameter change enables metallic silver formation at lower temperatures (below 210°C) without requiring reductants, as the β-ketocarboxylate decomposes to release silver metal directly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes the reductant component from the formulation by using silver β-ketocarboxylate as the silver source. The β-ketocarboxylate structure inherently provides both the silver source and the reducing capability through its decomposition pathway, eliminating the need for separate reductant additives

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If silver oxide particles are made smaller to reduce film resistance, then conductive property improves, but treatment temperature becomes extremely high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconductive propertyVSAvoidtreatment temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the silver source parameter from silver oxide to silver β-ketocarboxylate, which fundamentally alters the temperature-conductivity trade-off. This enables the use of smaller silver particles for better conductivity without requiring extremely high treatment temperatures, as the β-ketocarboxylate decomposes at lower temperatures to form metallic silver

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If conventional ink composition is used, then metallic layer is formed, but glossiness and specularity are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemetallic layer formationVSAvoidglossiness and specularity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite formulation combining silver β-ketocarboxylate with specific organic compounds (amines, carboxylic acids, or alcohols). This composite approach enables the formation of metallic silver layers with superior glossiness and specularity, as the organic components facilitate better silver particle formation and arrangement during decomposition

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the silver source to silver β-ketocarboxylate, which decomposes to form metallic silver with different morphological characteristics. This parameter change results in improved surface properties including glossiness and specularity, making the metallic layer suitable for decorative and specular applications

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 silver ink composition enables the rapid formation of metallic silver layers with excellent glossiness, specularity, and conductive properties at lower temperatures, suitable for decorative and specular surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

silver β-ketocarboxylate is used in combination with a compound having a lone pair such as an amine compound, a thiol compound or a phosphorus compound to improve stability of a silver ink composition in which the silver β-ketocarboxylate and the compound are blended, and metallic silver having a superior conductive property can be formed at a lower temperature than in the conventional cases

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal decomposition: Pyrolysis

Data Source

PatentEP2599840B1Silver ink composition and base material
Publication Date: 2018.07.25 TOPPAN FORMS CO LTD
  • EP2599840B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2599840B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2599840B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided with a silver ink composition which is formed by blending one or more kinds of silver β-ketocarboxylates selected from the group consisting of silver isobutyrylacetate, silver benzoylacetate, silver propionylacetate, silver acetoacetate, silver α-methylacetoacetate, and silver α-ethylacetoacetate, and an aliphatic primary or secondary amine having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and a substrate with a surface on which a metallic silver layer which is formed by heating the silver ink composition is provided. According to the invention, it is possible to obtain a silver ink composition suitable for forming a metallic silver layer which has superior glossiness and specularity, and a substrate with a surface on which a metallic silver layer is formed using the silver ink composition.