US4072771A
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Copper thick film conductor
Assignee: Bala Electronics Corp
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Filing: 1975-11-28
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Granted: 1978-02-07
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Expires: 1995-11-28
Abstract
Abstract A method of making a copper thick film conductor paste which includes the step of preoxidizing a controlled amount of the copper powder particles. A copper thick film conductor paste, and an electrical conductor element and a method of making it from the paste.
Inventors
- 👤 John D. Grier, Sr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:50
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01B; H01B1/00; H01B1/14; H01B1/16; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/09; H05K1/092; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/901; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24917; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2982; Y10T428/2991; Y10T428/2993
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of making a copper thick film conductor paste consisting essentially of taking a powder of fine copper particles, preoxidizing the surface of the fine copper particles to form an oxidized copper powder having a surface copper oxide, mixing the oxidized copper powder with a glass frit comprising about 1-10% by weight of the total solids in the solids mixture, said copper oxide being about 1 to about 5% by weight of the total solids in the solids mixture, and mixing the solids mixture with a volatile and decomposable fluid suspending vehicle to make a copper thick film conductor paste.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of making a copper thick film conductor paste consisting essentially of taking a powder of fine copper particles, preoxidizing the surface of the fine copper particles to form an oxidized copper powder having a surface copper oxide, mixing the oxidized copper powder with a glass frit comprising about 1-10% by weight of the total solids in the solids mixture, said copper oxide being about 1 to about 5% by weight of the total solids in the solids mixture, and mixing the solids mixture with a volatile and decomposable fluid suspending vehicle to make a copper thick film conductor paste.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, said suspending vehicle being about 15-25% by weight of the total mixture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, said glass frit being in the range of about 2% to about 5% by weight of the total solids content.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, said glass frit being lead borosilicate frit having a lead oxide content of between about 55 to 85%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, said oxidized copper powder being granular and having particle sizes in the range of about 1 to about 10 microns.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
128 words
The method of claim 1, said copper being about 95% by weight of the total solids in the solids mixture, said copper oxide being about 3% by weight of the total solids in the solids mixture, said glass frit being about 2% by weight of the total solids in the solids mixture, said glass frit being about 2% by weight of the total solids in the solids mixture and being a lead borosilicate frit having a lead oxide content of between about 55 to about 85%, said suspending vehicle being about 18% by weight of the total mixture, said suspending vehicle being 30% poly-n-butyl methacrylate in 60% butyl carbitol acetate, and said oxidized copper powder having particle sizes in the range of about 1 to about 10 microns.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
A copper thick film conductor paste adapted to be applied to and fired onto an insulating substrate to form an electrical conductor element, consisting essentially of a mixture of about 92-97% of free copper powder by weight of solids in the mixture, about 1-5% of copper oxide by weight of solids in the mixture, about 1-10% of glass frit by weight of solids in the mixture, and a volatile and decomposable fluid suspending vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
A copper thick film conductor paste adapted to be applied to and fired onto an insulating substrate to form an electrical conductor element, consisting essentially of a mixture of about 92-97% of free copper powder by weight of solids in the mixture, about 1-5% of copper oxide by weight of solids in the mixture, about 1-10% of glass frit by weight of solids in the mixture, and a volatile and decomposable fluid suspending vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The copper thick film conductor paste of claim 7, said suspending vehicle being about 15-25% by weight of the total mixture.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The copper thick film conductor paste of claim 7, the glass frit being in the range of about 2% to about 10% by weight of the total solids content.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The copper thick film conductor paste of claim 7, said glass frit being a lead borosilicate frit having a lead oxide content of between about 55 to 85%.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The copper thick film conductor paste of claim 7, said oxidized copper powder being granular and having particle sizes in the range of about 1 to about 10 microns.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
115 words
The copper thick film conductor paste of claim 7, said copper being about 95% by weight of the total solids in the solids mixture, said copper oxide being about 3% by weight of the total solids in the solids mixture, said glass frit being about 2% by weight of the total solids in the solids mixture and being a lead borosilicate frit having a lead oxide content of between 55% to about 85%, said suspending vehicle being about 18% by weight of the total mixture, said suspending vehicle being 30% poly-n-butyl methacrylate in 60% butyl carbitol acetate, and said oxidized copper powder having particle sizes in the range of about 1 to about 10 microns.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of making an electrical conductor element consisting essentially of the steps of taking a powder of fine copper particles, preoxidizing the copper to form an oxidized copper powder, mixing the oxidized copper powder with a glass frit comprising about 1-10% by weight of the total solids in the solids mixture, with the copper oxide being about 1- 5% by weight of the total solids in the solids mixture, mixing the solids mixture with a volatile and decomposable fluid suspending vehicle to form a copper thick film paste, applying the paste onto an insulating substrate, drying the paste on the substrate and evaporating the vehicle, and firing said substrate in an inert, non-oxidizing, non-reducing atmosphere to adehere said copper thereto.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of making an electrical conductor element consisting essentially of the steps of taking a powder of fine copper particles, preoxidizing the copper to form an oxidized copper powder, mixing the oxidized copper powder with a glass frit comprising about 1-10% by weight of the total solids in the solids mixture, with the copper oxide being about 1- 5% by weight of the total solids in the solids mixture, mixing the solids mixture with a volatile and decomposable fluid suspending vehicle to form a copper thick film paste, applying the paste onto an insulating substrate, drying the paste on the substrate and evaporating the vehicle, and firing said substrate in an inert, non-oxidizing, non-reducing atmosphere to adehere said copper thereto.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
130 words
The method of claim 13 in accordance with Example 1, including grinding the copper to a powder of fine copper particles about 1 to 10 microns in size, preoxidizing the copper particles by placing them in an air drying oven at 110° C for 26 hours at atmospheric pressure to form an oxidized copper powder, drying the paste on the substrate and evaporating the vehicle by subjecting the paste and substrate to a temperature of 150° C for a period of seven minutes in air to form unfired conductor elements, and then firing the conductor elements in an oven at a temperature of about 870° C for about 6 minutes in a nitrogen atmosphere to sinter the copper and adhere it to the substrate and form an electrical conductor element.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-02-06 | 1981-08-08 | 1982-02-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-02-06 | 1985-08-08 | 1986-02-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-02-06 | 1989-08-08 | 1990-02-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |