DuPont Conductive Silver Compositions for …

1 DuPont Conductive Silver Compositions for General Purpose Air-Dry Applications Technical Data Sheet Product Description Dry strength, flexibility, adhesion and The Compositions described in this bulletin are temperature stability are functions of the binder suspensions of specially prepared Silver powders system. No one binder system exhibits optimum combined with a variety of organic binder systems. capabilities of all functions. Lower metal contents They are air-dry or low temperature-curing formulations are generally least expensive if cost is a primary for application on substrates which will not generally consideration. Higher metal contents develop tolerate high-temperature firing. They are formulated to maximum conductivity and load carrying produce electrically Conductive paths on paper, plastic, capabilities, and are more easily soldered. rubber, cloth, wood, etc., and may be applied by dip, spray, brush, stylus, syringe or screen print.

2 Application Methods DuPont Conductive Silver Compositions are These highly Conductive air dry/thermoset (epoxy) formulated for application by screen printing, Compositions exhibit versatility and are useful over a spraying, dipping, brushing, broad range of applications. Suggested uses are: banding or stylus. In most cases the Compositions are produced to a consistency Printed Electronics suitable for use as received and require only tantalum Capacitors stirring to redisperse the solids. Static Shielding Recommended thinners for individual Electrical Games and Toys Compositions may be added, with thorough Microwave Applications blending, to replace solvent losses or to make PC Board Repair slight adjustments for ease of application. Only Electroplating Base the recommended thinner should be used. In handling and using The Compositions described in this bulletin are divided organic solvents, the safety precautions into three groups based on similarities in composition, recommended by the solvent supplier should be cure, properties observed.

3 And end uses. Effect of Curing Temperatures Choice of an air dry or thermosetting Conductive Silver This bulletin discusses two types of composition for a given use is dependent upon the Compositions : air dry and thermoset (epoxy). In method of application preferred and the required an air-dry system, the metal-binder film is formed properties in the end product. Trade-offs in final film when the solvent system is evap-orated or properties are sometimes necessary. dried:' In a thermoset system, there is a drying step where the solvent is removed, followed by a Drying rate is a function of the solvent system in a chemical reaction of binder materials in the composition and method of application is dictated by system to give a higher temperature resistant viscosity, a function of binder to solvent ratio. binder film for the metal. The later chemical reaction is called curing and is different than drying. 1. While some Compositions , if given sufficient Storage and Shelf Life time, will adequately dry or cure at room Group I and II Compositions (air-dry) should be temperature, a more effective result is stored at room temperature.

4 Shelf life of material in achieved in much less time through low unopened containers is six months from date of temperature thermal exposure with a moderate shipment with the exception of 4817N (three month time/temperature drying or curing. Optimum shelf life). Group III materials (thermoset) should be properties in air & dry and low-temperature- refrigerated at 2 -4 C (35 -40 F). Shelf life of cure Compositions are developed only after the material in unopened containers under these Compositions have been properly dried or storage conditions is three months from date of cured. The drying or curing cycle for most shipment. Shelf life can be extended considerably Compositions is a function of time versus by storage at temperatures of -18 C (0 F) or below. temperature up to the point of degradation of Materials should be allowed to return to room the organic system. In a system which will dry temperature before opening to preclude moisture or cure in from 12 to 16 hours at room condensation in the jar, to assure that the proper temperature (25 C) the same degree of drying viscosity has been reached, and to assure or curing can be achieved in less than 2 hours consistent results with whatever cure cycle is being at 60 C and in less than 1 hour at 100 C.

5 Used. Elevated temperature drying or curing of these Coverage Compositions can be continuous, box oven or Coverage of Silver Compositions depends on metal infrared. The heat should be applied from the content and thickness of application. Screen print bottom up to permit internal Compositions printed with a 165- or 200-mesh gases to escape before the top surface is screen will generally result in a cured film 12-20 pm completely dry. Flash drying, a momentary ( mil) thick. Brush band, dip or spray exposure to excessively high temperatures, is application will normally result in film thickness of 13. likely to form a surface skin that traps internal -18 pm ( mil). Thinner films (increases gases, resulting in bubbles in the dried film. coverage) can be applied by thinning the Compositions with the recommended thinner;. Failure to achieve rated conductivity indicates however, this will result in a cured film with a higher either that the applied composition is too thin sheet resistivity.

6 Thicker films can be achieved by with poor uniformity or that it has been brushing or spraying simply by applying more incorrectly dried and/or cured. material. Soldering The coverage figures shown in Table III for Group I. Some DuPont air dried and thermoset and III Compositions are for typical cured thickness Compositions are more commonly used as of 12-20 m ( mil) as outlined above. Conductive cements in lead attachment, attachment of discrete components or in The coverage figures for Group II com-positions simple interconnections. For these are for typical cured thickness of 8-15 m ( applications, solderability is not important and mil) screen printed with a 325-mesh stainless steel is not generally recommended. screen. Electroplating/Electroforming Group I. The use of DuPont air dry/thermoset Group I Conductive Silver Compositions exhibit a Conductive Silver Compositions as bases for moderately fast drying rate, good adhesion to most electroplating and electroforming is wide- substrates and high conductivity.

7 They are used to spread. Ease of application, broad curing produce electrically Conductive patterns on surfaces ranges, high conductivity and dimensional of paper, film, plastic, rubber or wood as well as on stability mark DuPont Group I Compositions as conventional ceramic substrates. They are widely leaders in the field. used in the manufacture of tantalum capacitors to metallize the anode, making it a good electrical contact. For dip, spray, brush or screen print application, Group I Compositions can be cured in 16-20 hours at room temperature (25 C) or may be oven cured in 1 hour or less at 60 -100 C. 2. 4817N, for spray or dip application, is widely used in While not suggested for direct solder, the electroforming, in electroplating, in static shielding, in Compositions may be electroplated to provide a magnetic tapes and in the manufacture of tantalum solderable surface. capacitors. Its low metal content places 4817N in a moderate price range attractive for many applications.

8 Optimum cure for Group III Compositions will depend on process and equipment parameters 4922N is a high metal content, high viscosity version of as well as the mass, heat capacity and transfer, 4817N suitable for brush, stylus or machine banding and sensitivity of the materials involved. Cure application where its somewhat higher conductivity is schedules listed in Table I are recommended as desired. 4922N is widely used in circuit board repair and in minimal starting points with Compositions 5504N. the manufacture of tantalum capacitors. 4922N may be and 5815 after applying and allowing to air-dry thinned with butyl acetate to achieve optimum application until tack free. The drying time can be properties. accelerated by heating to 50 C. Longer cure schedules may be required to optimize properties 4929N is a paste version of 4922N for screen print or stylus depending on end-use requirements. For application where it is desired to deposit a circuit or pattern example, in die-attach application, a cure as in electronic circuitry, microwave applications, computer schedule of 2 hours at 200 C has been found to punch cards, ballistic targets, or in toy and game circuitry.

9 Yield stable and reliable die-to-substrate interfaces capable of withstanding a high degree Group II of thermal and physical stress. Group II Compositions were designed to be screen printed on flexible films such as Mylar' polyester. They are used to The cure schedule show in Table I are also produce highly Conductive and highly flexible patterns on applicable to composition 6838. various plastic films for the manufacture of membrane touch switches (MTS) and keyboards. They can be cured at 100 C. to 150 C in conventional drying ovens or infrared drying Safety and Handling equipment. See Polymer Thick Film Selector Guide for For Safety and Handling information pertaining to additional products. this product, read the Material Safety Data Sheet See Bio Selector guide for Silver / Silver chlorides, carbon, (MSDS). Silver , platinum and gold electrode materials. See attached tables for product specifics. Table 1. Group III. Group III Compositions are single component, epoxy based Temperature Time preparations suitable for use as Conductive cements in lead C [ F] hours and 200 (392) discrete component attachment.

10 They exhibit good conductivity, high adhesion and excellent resistance to 180 (356) abrasion. These Compositions are divided into two types: anhydride-cured and amine-cured. Anhydride-cured 160 (320) Compositions display excellent thermal stability up to 250 C. whereas amine-cured products start to degrade appreciably Typical physical properties of properly cured Group III. at temperatures above 200 C with attendant loss of composition are shown in Table II. properties. Both systems, however, can withstand short excursions to higher temperatures. See the CB selector guide for a selection of CB products for use in circuit board applications. 3. Table 2. Typical Physical Properties of Thermosetting Compositions (Cured Film). Test Properties Typical Sheet Resistivity (m /sq) 100 12. Bulk Resistivity ( /cm) 3 x 10-5 - Adhesion Strength (N/cm ). Tensile 700 1000. Lap Shear ~ 1400. Thermal Conductivity (J/(cm s C)) - Specific Heat (J/(g C)) - Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (m/m)/ C 3 x 10-5 - Modulus of Elasticity (tensile) (Pa) 4 x 1010 - Poisson's Ratio - Group I Silvers Test Screen Print 4929N Brush/Brand 4922N Dip/Spray 4817N.