US4130671A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for preparing a thick film conductor
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1977-09-30
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Granted: 1978-12-19
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Expires: 1997-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A method for preparing a thick film conductor which comprises providing surface active glass particles, mixing the surface active glass particles with a thermally decomposable organometallic compound, for example, a silver resinate, and then decomposing the organometallic compound by heating, thereby chemically depositing metal on the glass particles. The glass particle mixture is applied to a suitable substrate either before or after the organometallic compound is thermally decomposed. The resulting system is then fired in an oxidizing atmosphere, providing a microstructure of glass particles substantially uniformly coated with metal.
Inventors
- 👤 Voddarahalli K. Nagesh
- 👤 Richard M. Fulrath, deceased
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 06:51
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01B; H01B1/00; H01B1/14; H01B1/16; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/09; H05K1/092
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for preparing a thick film conductor wherein a composite of glass particles and a metal is formed on an insulator base material, which method comprises: providing glass particles that have been surface activated by hydrogen ion emplacement on the surface thereof; mixing the surface active glass particles with an amount of a thermally decomposable organo-compound of the metal sufficient to provide a metal content of at least about 20 weight percent in the glass-metal composite; applying the surface active glass particle mixture to an insulator base material; decomposing the organometallic compound by heating, thereby chemically depositing metal particles on the glass particles; and heating the resulting system in an oxidizing atmosphere under conditions to provide a thick film conductor, said conductor consisting essentially of the insulator base material having formed thereon a glass-metal composite having a microstructure of glass particles surrounded by an interconnecting metallic film chemically bonded to the glass particles at the glass-metal interface; the resulting thick film conductor having a sheet resistivity of less than about 230 milliohms per square.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for preparing a thick film conductor wherein a composite of glass particles and a metal is formed on an insulator base material, which method comprises: providing glass particles that have been surface activated by hydrogen ion emplacement on the surface thereof; mixing the surface active glass particles with an amount of a thermally decomposable organo-compound of the metal sufficient to provide a metal content of at least about 20 weight percent in the glass-metal composite; applying the surface active glass particle mixture to an insulator base material; decomposing the organometallic compound by heating, thereby chemically depositing metal particles on the glass particles; and heating the resulting system in an oxidizing atmosphere under conditions to provide a thick film conductor, said conductor consisting essentially of the insulator base material having formed thereon a glass-metal composite having a microstructure of glass particles surrounded by an interconnecting metallic film chemically bonded to the glass particles at the glass-metal interface; the resulting thick film conductor having a sheet resistivity of less than about 230 milliohms per square.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the decomposition of the organometallic compound is accomplished prior to the step of applying the glass particle mixture to the insulator base material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the decomposition of the organometallic compound is accomplished during the step of heating the system in an oxidizing atmosphere.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said metal is a noble metal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein the noble metal organo-compound is a noble metal resinate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the noble metal resinate is silver resinate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the surface active glass particles are provided by treating glass particles with an acidic material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the size of the glass particles is in the range of from about 20 to about 40μ.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein the glass particles are treated with an acid under conditions to etch the surface of the glass particles to a depth of from about 0.25 μm to about 1 μm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the acid is dilute hydrochloric acid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the metal is a noble metal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein the noble metal organo-compound is a silver resinate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the resulting system is heated in an oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature in the range of from about 500° C. to about 750° C.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
191 words
A method for preparing a thick film conductor wherein a composite of glass particles and a noble metal is formed on an insulator base material, which method comprises: treating glass particles with an acidic material under conditions to react with and activate the surface thereof by emplacement of hydrogen ions thereon; mixing the resulting surface active glass particles with an amount of a noble metal organometallic compound sufficient to provide at least about 20 weight percent of noble metal in the glass-noble metal composite; applying the mixture of surface active glass particles and noble metal organometallic compound to an insulator base material; and heating the resulting system in an oxidizing atmosphere under conditions to decompose the noble metal organo-metallic compound, thereby depositing noble metal particles on the glass particles, and to provide a thick film conductor, said conductor consisting essentially of the insulator base material having formed thereon a glass-noble metal composite having a microstructure of glass particles surrounded by an interconnecting metallic film chemically bonded to the glass particles at the glass-metal interface; the resulting thick film conductor having a sheet resistivity of less than about 230 milliohms per square.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
191 words
A method for preparing a thick film conductor wherein a composite of glass particles and a noble metal is formed on an insulator base material, which method comprises: treating glass particles with an acidic material under conditions to react with and activate the surface thereof by emplacement of hydrogen ions thereon; mixing the resulting surface active glass particles with an amount of a noble metal organometallic compound sufficient to provide at least about 20 weight percent of noble metal in the glass-noble metal composite; applying the mixture of surface active glass particles and noble metal organometallic compound to an insulator base material; and heating the resulting system in an oxidizing atmosphere under conditions to decompose the noble metal organo-metallic compound, thereby depositing noble metal particles on the glass particles, and to provide a thick film conductor, said conductor consisting essentially of the insulator base material having formed thereon a glass-noble metal composite having a microstructure of glass particles surrounded by an interconnecting metallic film chemically bonded to the glass particles at the glass-metal interface; the resulting thick film conductor having a sheet resistivity of less than about 230 milliohms per square.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein the noble metal organometallic compound is a silver resinate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein the resulting system is heated at a temperature in the range of from about 500° C. to about 750° C.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein the glass particles are treated with an acid under conditions to etch the surface of the glass particles to a depth of from about 0.25 μm to about 1 μm.
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) | 1981-12-18 | 1982-06-19 | 1982-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-12-18 | 1986-06-19 | 1986-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-12-18 | 1990-06-19 | 1990-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |