Composition of Conductive Ink：Conductive ink is a type of ink applied to substrates to provide the ability to conduct current and eliminate accumulated static charges. It is composed of conductive filler, binder, solvent, and additives. The conductive filler, also known as the conductive functional phase, is the main component responsible for conductivity. Common conductive fillers include silver, copper, graphene, and carbon nanotubes. The binder serves as the connecting substance and is primarily made of synthetic resins or photosensitive resins, forming the main film-forming material in the ink. The solvent is used to dissolve the resin, enhancing its binding effect and increasing adhesion to the substrate. Additives improve the printability of the ink and include dispersants, regulators, surfactants, defoamers, and binders.
Performance of Conductive Ink：Conductivity is a crucial parameter for evaluating the performance of conductive ink, usually measured by resistivity (ρ) and sheet resistance (Rs). The relationship between them is expressed as Rs = ρ/d, where d is the thickness of the ink layer. Additionally, the printability of conductive ink significantly impacts its performance, with factors such as viscosity, surface tension, drying time, stability, fluidity, thixotropy, and yield value being essential. Viscosity and surface tension are particularly influential on the choice of printing process and the quality of the printed pattern. Viscosity represents the internal cohesion of the ink and its resistance to flow or shear deformation. Temperature and pressure are key parameters affecting viscosity; as temperature increases, ink viscosity decreases, while pressure has a lesser effect. The conductive filler primarily determines the ink’s conductivity, while printing cycles, sintering time, and sintering temperature also influence it. Within certain limits, more printing cycles, longer sintering times, and higher sintering temperatures increase the ink’s conductivity. The properties of the binder, solvent, and additives mainly determine the ink’s printability. 