Water-Based Conductive Ink for Rapid Prototyping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current conductive inks for printed electronics on flexible substrates require high-temperature curing, have long drying times, and are not immediately conductive upon printing, making them unsuitable for fast prototyping and educational applications, and often contain nanoparticles that limit their scalability and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A water-based conductive ink composition using micro-sized metallic particles, an edible thickener, surfactant, and water-based resin, which can be dispensed through a writing device and forms a conductive trace at room temperature within 30 seconds, allowing for immediate conductivity and adjustable erasability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional conductive inks are used, then reasonable conductivity can be achieved, but high-temperature curing is required and the ink is not immediately conductive after printing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the conductive ink by incorporating water-soluble polymers and surfactants that enable room-temperature drying. This parameter change allows the ink to achieve conductivity without high-temperature curing, directly resolving the contradiction between achieving reasonable conductivity and reducing drying time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite ink formulation combining conductive particles with water-soluble polymers and surfactants. This composite material structure enables the ink to maintain conductivity while drying rapidly at room temperature, simultaneously achieving both reliability and time efficiency
2Manufacturing precision
If screen printing or inkjet printing methods are used, then conductive patterns can be formed, but complicated curing methods are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the high-temperature curing step from the manufacturing process by formulating an ink that dries and becomes conductive at room temperature. This removal of the complex curing step simplifies the overall process while maintaining pattern formation precision through the printing method itself
3Reliability
If nanoparticles are used in conductive ink, then conductivity can be improved, but high curing temperature is required and large-scale availability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the particle size parameter from nanoscale to microscale, which eliminates the need for high-temperature curing while maintaining conductivity. This parameter change makes the material easier to manufacture on a large scale using conventional printing techniques, directly resolving the contradiction between conductivity and ease of manufacture
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 solution enables the creation of a low-cost, immediately conductive trace on various substrates without the need for high-temperature curing, facilitating rapid prototyping and large-scale availability, while being safe and environmentally friendly.
Implementation Method 1
The ink is mainly formulated with water... The conductive ink can be smoothly dispensed by gel pen and may be adjusted from erasable to inerasable
Implementation Method 2
A water-based conductive ink composition using micro-sized metallic particles, an edible thickener, surfactant, and water-based resin
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
AI summary
The present application describes a composition and method thereof to make low cost environment friendly and highly safe conducive ink by using micro-sized silver particles, water, edible level thickener, water-based solvent, water-based resin and surfactant. The conductive ink may be written by various kinds of writing devices like gel pen, ball pen etc. on various substrates like paper, plastic, metal, etc. form a conductive trace. As additional features of the present application, the composition comprises erasable conductive ink, which is fast curing and conductive immediately upon application, having multiple applications for educational purpose to help students have a better understanding of how electronic work and even design their own electronics conveniently.