US3881914A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Preparation of electronic grade copper
Assignee: OI Glass Inc
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Filing: 1974-04-26
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Granted: 1975-05-06
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Expires: 1994-04-26
Abstract
Abstract Electronic grade, elemental copper suitable for use in forming thick film conductive circuits is reproducibly provided by a process which involves reacting copper sulfate or copper acetate with hypophosphorous acid in water, separating the formed elemental copper, washing the separated copper with a water miscible, inert organic solvent, and then vacuum drying the material with the vacuum upon completion of the drying, being released by the introduction of an inert gas.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric X Heidelberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:39
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B15/00; C22B15/0063; C22B15/0084; C22B15/0086; B; B22; B22F; B22F9/00; B22F9/16; B22F9/18; B22F9/24; C22B15/0065; C22B15/0067; C22B15/0082; C22B15/0089; C22B15/0093; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A process for producing electronic grade copper comprising: combining copper sulfate or copper acetate with water and at least about 2 moles of hypophosphorous acid per mole of copper sulfate or copper acetate; allowing said combination to react at a time and for a temperature sufficient to obtain elemental copper; separating said elemental copper; washing said separated elemental copper with a water miscible, inert organic solvent; vacuum drying said washed copper and upon completion of the drying releasing the vacuum by introducing an inert gas into the drier.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
A process for producing electronic grade copper comprising: combining copper sulfate or copper acetate with water and at least about 2 moles of hypophosphorous acid per mole of copper sulfate or copper acetate; allowing said combination to react at a time and for a temperature sufficient to obtain elemental copper; separating said elemental copper; washing said separated elemental copper with a water miscible, inert organic solvent; vacuum drying said washed copper and upon completion of the drying releasing the vacuum by introducing an inert gas into the drier.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein about 2 to about 3 moles of hypophosphorous acid is employed per mole of copper sulfate or copper acetate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 2 wherein copper sulfate is employed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 2 wherein copper acetate is employed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the mole ratio of hypophorphorous to copper acetate or copper sulfate is about 2:1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said combination is allowed to react at a temperature of between about 80*C and about 99*C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said water miscible organic solvent is methanol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said water miscible organic solvent is ethanol.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said inert gas is argon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 9 wherein said vacuum drying is done at a pressure of about 20 to about 100 millimeters of mercury.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the amount of water is between about 50 to about 60 moles of water per mole of copper sulfate or copper acetate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
101 words
THE PROCESS FOR PRODUCING SMALL PARTICLE SIZE, PURE, ELEMENTAL COPPER SUITABLE FOR USE IN MANUFACTURING THICK FILM CONDUCTIVE CIRCUITS WHICH COMPRISES: REACTING A SYSTEM CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF COPPER SULFATE OR COPPER ACETATE, HYPOPHOSPHOROUS ACID AND WATER SO AS TO FROM ELEMENTAL COPPER, THE AMOUNT OF HYPOHPOSPHOROUS ACID BEING AT LEAST ABOUT 2 MOLES PER MOLE OF SULFATE OR ACETATE; SEPARATING SAID ELEMENTAL COPPER FROM SAID REACTED SYSTEM; WASHING SAID SEPARATED COPPER WITH A WATER MISCIBLE INERT ORGANIC SOLVENT; VACUUM DRYING SAID WASHED COPPER AND INTRODUCING, UPON COMPLETION OF SAID VACUUM DRYING, AN INERT GAS INTO SAID DRIER TO RELEASE THE VACUUM.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
101 words
THE PROCESS FOR PRODUCING SMALL PARTICLE SIZE, PURE, ELEMENTAL COPPER SUITABLE FOR USE IN MANUFACTURING THICK FILM CONDUCTIVE CIRCUITS WHICH COMPRISES: REACTING A SYSTEM CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF COPPER SULFATE OR COPPER ACETATE, HYPOPHOSPHOROUS ACID AND WATER SO AS TO FROM ELEMENTAL COPPER, THE AMOUNT OF HYPOHPOSPHOROUS ACID BEING AT LEAST ABOUT 2 MOLES PER MOLE OF SULFATE OR ACETATE; SEPARATING SAID ELEMENTAL COPPER FROM SAID REACTED SYSTEM; WASHING SAID SEPARATED COPPER WITH A WATER MISCIBLE INERT ORGANIC SOLVENT; VACUUM DRYING SAID WASHED COPPER AND INTRODUCING, UPON COMPLETION OF SAID VACUUM DRYING, AN INERT GAS INTO SAID DRIER TO RELEASE THE VACUUM.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said system is reacted between about 80*C and 99*C for at least about 10 minutes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said copper is separated by filtration.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said organic solvent is methanol.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said solvent is ethanol.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said inert gas is argon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-05 | 1978-11-04 | 1979-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-05 | 1982-11-04 | 1983-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-05 | 1986-11-04 | 1987-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |