Captronic séminaire électronique imprimée - 20/09/2017 - Présentation de VFP Ink Technology- En partenariat avec l’AFELIM (Association Française de l'Electronique Imprimée) et le soutien du Pôle Numérique de la CCI Bordeaux Gironde, Cap’tronic a organisé le mercredi 20 septembre dans les locaux de l’IMS à Talence, une rencontre autour de l' "électronique imprimée" afin de faire un tour d’horizon de la chaîne de valeur d'une filière dont le marché mondial est estimé à 330 milliards de dollars en 2027.

1. Screen Printing of Functional Materials on Plastic Films
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Captronic – 19/01/2016
Technical inks, characteristics, application areas

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Overview
IR-Blocking inks
Conductive inks
- Transparent card detection
- Characterization
- Our IR-Blocking ink: BR3001
- Electrical conductivity in a printed pattern
- The thermal curing, a necessary step
- Advantages of printed electronics
- Our conductive inks: Silver Electron and Copper Silver Electron
- Target markets
Conclusions, outlook and future developments
Captronic – 20/09/2017

3. IR-blocking Inks
Captronic – 20/09/2017
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Transparent credit card detection
 IR-blocking ink allows the fabrication of transparent but detectable credit cards
 Transparent in visible light
Payment devices need light absorption to detect credit card insertion
 Strong absorption in specific wavelengths located in the near infrared range
 Compatible with lamination between 2 transparent PVC sheets
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Characterization
The two critical wavelengths used for card detection are 860 nm and 950 nm
 These optical properties are obtained using a mixture of organic dyes
 Typical absorption spectrum of our IR-blocking ink
Specters obtained from a spectrophotometer:
Thermo Scientific Evolution 220 UV-Visible
860 nm
950 nm
 The absorption wavelengths can be tailored by modifying grades and relative quantities of the dyes introduced in the ink.
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Characterization
Production control need an easier and quicker method
 Q-card apparatus
 Detects absorption only for 860 nm and 950 nm wavelengths of samples and compares it to a standard
 This analysis method conforms to ISO/IEC 10373-1:1998, ISO/IEC 10373-1:2006
 The light intensity estimation given by the sensor for a sample have to be lower than a standard
ICard at 860 nm
IRef at 860 nm
< 1
ICard at 950 nm
IRef at 950 nm
< 1
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Our IR-Blocking ink: BR3001
Drying step
Lamination
 Temperature: between 40°C and 60°C.
 Screen: 79 threads/cm
 Squeegee: PO 65 Shore
 Hot air tunnel at a temperature between 40°C and 60°C
Printing conditions
 Correspond to a classical lamination protocol for PVC:
Step 1 : Temperature 60°C, Pressure 20 PSI, Time 55 sec.
Step 2 : Temperature 65°C, Pressure 20 PSI, Time 55 sec.
Step 3 : Temperature 100°C, Pressure 20 PSI, Time 60 sec.
Step 4 : Temperature 140°C, Pressure 100 PSI, Time 60 sec.
Step 5 : Temperature 110°C, Pressure 150 PSI, Time 40 sec.
 Substrate: transparent PVC
 Time: between 40 sec and 60 sec.

8. Conductive Inks
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9.  Our conductive inks belong to the PTF (Polymer Thick Film) class.
 The film obtained after drying is a composite material made of an insulating matrix containing a high mass fraction of
conductive particles.
Printed film before drying Printed film after drying
 The good transmission of electrons from one particle to the other is the critical point will determine the conductivity of
the printed layers.
 Electrical current runs in the printed pattern through the interparticles contacts.
 Platelet shaped particles make possible to increase the contact surface.
Electrical conductivity in a printed pattern
 Microstructure of a printed layer
Solvent evaporation
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[inspired from: IDTechEX Conductive Ink Markets 2015-2025,
Silver & Copper Inks & Pastes and Beyond].
Captronic – 20/09/2017

10.  The drying is generally accompanied by a curing step at 150° C for 10 min.
The thermal curing, a necessary step
 Drying and curing can be combined in a single high temperature drying step.
 Formation of chemical bounds between metal particles and the binder polymer.
 This treatment reduces empty spaces between particles and polymer matrix.
Benefits of the curing step
 As a result, conduction, adhesion and the maintenance of electrical properties after bending are enhanced.
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H.S Katz and J.V Mileski
Handbook of Fillers for Plastics
Captronic – 20/09/2017

11. Advantages of printed electronics
 Additive manufacturing method
 Suited to flexible electronics
 Obtained patterns
 Cost effective production
 Quick implementation
 Possibility to functionalize large surfaces
 Low environmental impact
 Makes possible the fabrication of multilayered printed electronic devices
 Allows printed electronics to develop in new sectors (e-textiles, internet of things)
 Good repeatability
 High resolution printing
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[www.besi.com]
Captronic – 20/09/2017

12. 12
Target markets: flexible circuits
Touch panels
Membrane switches keyboards
[IDTechEX Conductive Ink Markets 2015-2025,
Silver & Copper Inks & Pastes and Beyond].
Captronic – 20/09/2017

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[IDTechEX Conductive Ink Markets 2015-2025,
Silver & Copper Inks & Pastes and Beyond].
Seat heater
Dashboard Illumination
Target markets: flexible circuits
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 Surface capable of detecting the position and the contact surface of an object which is placed above it.
This kind of devices can be obtained using a waveguide
 The electrical signal of a sinusoidal alternating current which is applied to the circuit is disturbed.
The width of the shape and periodicity can be
adapted to what is to be detected.
The angles are rounded to avoid
reflections on the corners
 The presence of an object placed causes a local change in the impedance
 The impedance change can be detected and located.
Smart carpets
Target markets: flexible circuits
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Target markets: RFID antenna
[IDTechEX Conductive Ink Markets 2015-2025,
Silver & Copper Inks & Pastes and Beyond].
RFID tags
Conductive inks enable the fabrication of
Flexible antenna
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Detection of sleep apnea
 healthcare
Allows the continuous monitoring of the vital function
 Sport
Enhancement of sport performance
[µ sys, Université de liège]
[Med Gizmo]
Target markets: e-textiles
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Updatable price tags
Light emitting business cards with images that light up
sequentially
Solar bag for recharging low-energy electronic equipment
Target markets: smart packaging
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Our conductive inks: Silver Electron
 A competitive pricing
 Reduce the silver mass fraction by playing on dispersion state and particles shape.
 The ink does not contain any hazardous solvent
 Not toxic
 Not harmful
 Not CMR (Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or toxic to Reproduction)
 The two inks that we propose are compatible with 2 types of post-printing treatments
 Thermal curing (Substrate: PET, Polyimide).
 Lamination (Substrate: PVC).
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Thermal curing
Lamination
 Sheet resistance: 25 mΩ/
 Substrates: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Polyimide, polycarbonate or glass
 Screen: Polyester 110 treads/cm
 Squeegee: PO 65 Shore
 Oven at 150°C for 10 min or 130°C for 30 min
Printing conditions
 Sheet resistance : 20 mΩ/
 Substrate : Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Silver Electron ink
 Correspond to a classical lamination protocol for PVC :
Step 1 : Temperature 60°C, Pressure 20 PSI, Time 55 sec.
Step 2 : Temperature 65°C, Pressure 20 PSI, Time 55 sec.
Step 3 : Temperature 100°C, Pressure 20 PSI, Time 60 sec.
Step 4 : Temperature 140°C, Pressure 100 PSI, Time 60 sec.
Step 5 : Temperature 110°C, Pressure 150 PSI, Time 40 sec.
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Silver Electron ink
The pronounced platelet shape of silver particles influences the rheological properties of the ink
 High viscosity at low shear rate with a marked shear-thinning behavior
 This product exhibit a flow threshold
 The Silver Electron ink is well suited for printing thick patterns with a high resolution
 The printed patterns do not flow under the effect of their own weight before drying
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Dynamicviscosity(Pa.s)
Shear rate (1/s)
Dynamic viscosity vs. Shear rate
 Our ink is suited for 3D printing of conductive patterns
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Dynamicviscosity(Pa.s)
Shear rate (1/s)
Dynamic viscosity vs. Shear rate
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Conclusions
Outlook and future developments
 Development of an halogen-free version of the Silver Electron ink.
 Development of alternative formulations of Silver Electron for precise specifications of 3D printing.
 Our ink is free of nanoparticles and exhibit electrical conductivities compatible with the most of printed electronics
applications.
 Our production costs allows us to propose a competitive pricing.
 Rheological properties of the Silver Electron ink are interesting for the development that need thick patterns with a high
resolution.
Captronic – 20/09/2017
 This ink is suited for 3D printing technology.