Thick film conductor composition

Claim 1

A thick film conductor composition comprising an admixture of finely divided particles of A. 60-99% wt. of noble metal, noble metal alloy or mixtures thereof, B. 40-1% wt. inorganic binder consisting essentially of finely divided particles of (1) 100 parts of a glass corresponding to the formula Bi 4 Si 3-x Ge x O 12 , wherein x=0-3 having dissolved therein 0-20 pph PbO, basis glass, (2) (2) 0-100 pph Bi 2 O 3 , basis glass and PbO, and (3) 4-100 pph ZnO, basis glass and PbO, C. A glass bleed-out inhibitor selected from (1) 0.2-10% wt., basis solids, of finely divided particles of a pyrochlore-related oxide corresponding to the formula (M x M 2-x ')M" 2 O 7-z , wherein M is different than M and is selected from at least one of Pb, Bi, Cd, Cu, Ir, Ag, Y, rare earth metals having atomic numbers of 57-71 and mixtures thereof, M' is selected from Pb, Bi and mixtures thereof, M" is selected from Ru, Ir, Rh and mixtures thereof, x=0-0.5, and z=0-1; (2) 2-10% wt., basis solids, of a resinate of a metal selected from (a) the noble metals Ru, Rh, Re, Ir, Pt and mixtures thereof, and (b) the non-noble metals Mg, Si, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr, Nb, Ba, Ce, Ta, W and mixtures thereof, and mixtures of (1) and (2), all of components A through C being dispersed in D. an organic medium.