US4710401A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of printing electrically conductive images on dielectric substrates
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1987-02-09
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Granted: 1987-12-01
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Expires: 2007-02-09
Abstract
Abstract A process for generating electrically conductive patterns on a dielectric substrate, such as an insulating sheet, which comprises applying to preselected areas of the substrate a preselected concentration of an ink in the form of an oxidizing agent, such as a solution of a ferric salt, e.g., ferric chloride or ferric ethylbenzenesulfonate, and which can also contain a suitable binder or thickening agent, to form printed images on the substrate surface. The resulting printed surface of the substrate is then exposed to an excess of reactant, e.g., pyrrole monomer in vapor phase, which reacts with the oxidizing agent to develop conductive images, as by forming polypyrrole, in those printed areas of the substrate containing the oxidizing agent.
Inventors
- 👤 Leslie F. Warren, Jr.
- 👤 Louis Maus
- 👤 William F. Hall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:20
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/10; H05K3/18; H05K3/188; C; C08; C08G; C08G61/00; C08G61/12; C08G61/122; C08G61/123; C08G61/124; H01; H01B; H01B1/00; H01B1/06; H01B1/12; H01B1/124; H01B1/127; H01B1/14; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A process for generating electrically conductive patterns on a dielectric substrate which comprises: applying to preselected areas of the substrate a preselected concentration of an ink consisting essentially of a suitable oxidizing agent capable of reacting with a pyrrole monomer to form a printed ink surface, exposing the printed surface to a pyrrole monomer to form an electrically conductive polypyrrole material, and developing conductive images in those areas of the printed ink surface of the substrate containing the oxidizing agent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
A process for generating electrically conductive patterns on a dielectric substrate which comprises: applying to preselected areas of the substrate a preselected concentration of an ink consisting essentially of a suitable oxidizing agent capable of reacting with a pyrrole monomer to form a printed ink surface, exposing the printed surface to a pyrrole monomer to form an electrically conductive polypyrrole material, and developing conductive images in those areas of the printed ink surface of the substrate containing the oxidizing agent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1, said pyrrole monomer being in the form of vapors of a pyrrole.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1, said ink containing a suitable binder or thickener.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 3, said binder or thickener being fine silica or a suitable organic polymer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 4, said binder or thickener being polystyrenesulfonic acid or quaternary ammonium polymer salts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1, including the step of removing reaction by-products following said developing step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The process of claim 1, said oxidizing agent being a salt of a cation selected from the group consisting of Fe 3+ , Cu 2+ , Ce 4+ , NO + , NO 2 + , and (C 6 H 5 ) 3 C + cations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 7, said salt having an anion selected from the group consisting of sulfate, bisulfate, sulfonate, perchlorate, chloride, fluoborate, PF 6 - , AsF 6 - , and SbF 6 - anions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said ink is in the form of an aqueous ferric chloride solution.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 1, said ink being in the form of an aqueous solution or an organic solvent solution of said oxidant including an organic solvent which is inert with respect to said oxidant.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said ink is in the form of an aqueous ferric chloride solution containing fine silica as a thickener.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said ink is in the form of an organic solvent solution of a ferric sulfonate selected from the group consisting of ferric ethylbenzenesulfonate and ferric dodecylbenzenesulfonate, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1, said pyrrole monomer selected from the group consisting of pyrrole, a 3- and 3,4-alkyl and aryl C-substituted pyrrole, an N-alkylpyrrole and an N-arylpyrrole.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1, said pyrrole being a neat pyrrole.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1, said oxidant being present in the range of about 0.001 to about 2 molar.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1, said substrate being a fabric selected from the group consisting of fiberglass fabric, mixed oxide fabric and a synthetic organic fabric.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1, said substrate being selected from the group consisting of an aromatic polyamide, a polyester, a polyimide, a nylon-based material and paper.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
133 words
A process for producing an article in the form of a dielectric substrate having preselected conductive areas or patterns thereon, by a roller printing apparatus, which comprises: applying an ink consisting essentially of a solution of a ferric salt to a feed roller, transferring the ink on said feed roller to a printer roller having raised portions thereon corresponding to a predetermined pattern, passing a dielectric substrate into contact with said printer roller and forming a printed ink pattern on said substrate corresponding to said pattern on said printer roller, exposing the printed ink pattern on said substrate to the vapors of a pyrrole monomer, and oxidizing said pyrrole monomer as it contacts the ferric salt in the printed ink pattern, to develop conductive polypyrrole images in the printed areas on the substrate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
133 words
A process for producing an article in the form of a dielectric substrate having preselected conductive areas or patterns thereon, by a roller printing apparatus, which comprises: applying an ink consisting essentially of a solution of a ferric salt to a feed roller, transferring the ink on said feed roller to a printer roller having raised portions thereon corresponding to a predetermined pattern, passing a dielectric substrate into contact with said printer roller and forming a printed ink pattern on said substrate corresponding to said pattern on said printer roller, exposing the printed ink pattern on said substrate to the vapors of a pyrrole monomer, and oxidizing said pyrrole monomer as it contacts the ferric salt in the printed ink pattern, to develop conductive polypyrrole images in the printed areas on the substrate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 18, wherein said ink is in the form of an aqueous ferric chloride solution.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 18, wherein said ink is in the form of an organic solvent solution of a ferric sulfonate selected from the group consisting of ferric ethylbenzenesulfonate and ferric dodecylbenzenesulfonate, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 20, said solvent being selected from the group consisting of alcohols, nitriles, ketones and ethers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 18, wherein said ink includes a suitable binder or thickener in the form of fine silica in a suitable organic binder.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 18, said substrate being selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, an aromatic polyamide, a polyester, a polyimide, a nylon-based material and paper.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 18, including the step of smoothing the ink on said printer roller by heating.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 18, including rinsing said substrate with a solvent, following the development of said conductive polypyrrole images, to remove reaction by-products.
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) | 1990-11-30 | 1991-06-01 | 1991-12-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-11-30 | 1995-06-01 | 1995-12-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-11-30 | 1999-06-01 | 1999-12-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |