With high production volumes and improved technical characteristics, a new nanoink from Agfa could quadruple the efficiency of silver conductive inks.
Agfa has developed a nanosilver ink SI-P1000x whose superior performance will allow users to cut their materials cost and drive miniaturisation in many key applications. Besides outperforming silver flake inks it has already been demonstrated as an effective replacement for indium tin oxide (ITO) in displays. It will be available for large-volume orders in 2014.
The Belgian developer has moved beyond the laboratory stage with the new technology and is speaking with product manufacturers about contracts for the ink, which it is preparing to supply at the 10's of kilograms per month scale in 2014. Combining nanosilver's peerless electrical performance in tiny printed circuits with relatively high manufacturing volumes could see Agfa secure a large early slice of this nascent market.
Flake out?
Peter Willaert, product manager for printed electronics at Agfa Materials, hopes the performance of his new ink will see it displace silver flake inks in many applications.
Peter Willaert, product manager for printed electronics at Agfa Materials, hopes the performance of his new ink will see it displace silver flake inks in many applications.
He explains: 'The competitive advantage lies mainly in the high conductivity. If you have a target resistance for you application, you can obtain that target resistance with either a much thinner layer - 1-2µ versus 10-20µ, by using a finer printing mesh - or by reducing the dimensions of the printed traces, or a combination of both.
'In all cases, the coverage obtained with the ink [the conductive area per kilogram of ink] will be much higher when compared to traditional flake inks. We estimate 60-80m2/kg, compared to 15-20m2/kg for traditional inks. As a bonus, it is possible to print much finer lines and spaces, so this ink supports the ongoing trends for miniaturisation. As an example, one customer has designed and printed a circuit with 150µ lines and spaces, which was previously not possible with standard inks.'
Nanosilver screen
One of the spurs for developing SI-P1000x was the desire to improve Agfa's existing products, based around the Orgacon PEDOT:PSS conductive polymer. This is used to form a transparent antistatic layer used in the manufacturing of LCDs. Beyond that application, PEDOT:PSS finds applications in flexible transparent electrodes, for which the incumbent technology based on ITO is less than ideal.
Nanosilver screen
One of the spurs for developing SI-P1000x was the desire to improve Agfa's existing products, based around the Orgacon PEDOT:PSS conductive polymer. This is used to form a transparent antistatic layer used in the manufacturing of LCDs. Beyond that application, PEDOT:PSS finds applications in flexible transparent electrodes, for which the incumbent technology based on ITO is less than ideal.
Willaert explains: 'ITO has limitations in conductivity when applied on polymer (film) substrates, due to the requirement to be annealed at high temperature during manufacturing, and its brittleness.'
The new ink has been used to produce a conductive grid for screens that is so fine it is practically invisible and delivers increased overall conductivity. Research has predicted that by finding niches like a replacement for ITO, demand for new copper and silver conductive inks could be €538 million by 2018, around 22% of the total conductive ink market.
Other opportunities
Replacing ITO in displays has previously been identified as a future application for conductive inks, but Agfa is pursuing other opportunities too.
Other opportunities
Replacing ITO in displays has previously been identified as a future application for conductive inks, but Agfa is pursuing other opportunities too.
Willaert says: 'We have seen interest from companies that are active in the membrane keyboard market, but that are looking to deploy their expertise in new markets geared towards printed electronics. This is especially true of products where the conductive ink forms a big part of the bill of materials cost. People are looking to reduce the amount of ink they need.'
Electronic product code (EPC) companies have also responded to SI-P1000x as a means to integrate RFID antennas into products.
Printing options
Agfa has developed a screen printing technique for applying SI-P1000x and, although it requires temperatures of 130°C and above to sinter it onto the substrate, this is comparable with standard mechanisms for applying silver flake inks. The company is actively pursuing developing inkjet, flexo, and other application methods for SI-P1000x to increase the choice for customers.
Printing options
Agfa has developed a screen printing technique for applying SI-P1000x and, although it requires temperatures of 130°C and above to sinter it onto the substrate, this is comparable with standard mechanisms for applying silver flake inks. The company is actively pursuing developing inkjet, flexo, and other application methods for SI-P1000x to increase the choice for customers.
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