US4717639A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for preparation of a stencil or resist image
Assignee: EIDP Inc
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Filing: 1985-12-06
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Granted: 1988-01-05
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Expires: 2005-12-06
Abstract
Abstract Process for formation of a hardened, insoluble or crosslinked stencil or resist image on a substrate, e.g., having a metal surface such as copper, and modifying the substrate or image surface comprising: A. forming an image on the substrate by applying a solvent-soluble thermoplastic copolymer of ethylene and alpha , beta -ethylenically unsaturated acid having an acid number of at least about 30, the copolymer reacting thermochemically with the substrate; B. fusing at a temperature and for a duration to induce the thermochemical reaction at a rate sufficient to partially insolubilize, harden or crosslink the polymeric image and adhere the polymeric image to the substrate surface to facilitate subsequent removal therefrom; C. modifying the uncovered substrate surface or the polymeric image surface, e.g., etching, plating, depositing, soldering; and D. removing the polymeric image. The image can be formed on the substrate by printing, electrostatic means, etc. The image may comprise particulate material having a plurality of fibers. The process is useful in making conductive printed circuits, chemical milling, etc.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan S. Dubin
- 👤 Robert A. McMillen
- 👤 R. David Mitchell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:08
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G13/00; G03G13/26; H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/0073; H05K3/0079; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/11; H05K2203/1105; H05K2203/13; H05K2203/1333; H05K2203/1355; H05K3/02; H05K3/06; H05K3/061; H05K3/10; H05K3/108; H05K3/22; H05K3/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A process for the formation of a hardened, insoluble or crosslinked polymeric stencil image on a substrate and modifying the surface of the substrate or image surface comprising: A. forming an image on a substrate by applying a solvent-soluble thermoplastic copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated acid having an acid number of at least about 30 to a surface of the substrate that reacts thermochemically with the copolymer; B. fusing at a temperature and for a duration to induce the thermochemical reaction at a rate of reaction sufficient to partially insolubilize, harden or crosslink the polymeric image and adhere the polymeric image to the substrate surface to facilitate subsequent removal therefrom; C. modifying either the uncovered substrate surface or the polymeric image surface; and D. removing the polymeric image from the substrate surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A process for the formation of a hardened, insoluble or crosslinked polymeric stencil image on a substrate and modifying the surface of the substrate or image surface comprising: A. forming an image on a substrate by applying a solvent-soluble thermoplastic copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated acid having an acid number of at least about 30 to a surface of the substrate that reacts thermochemically with the copolymer; B. fusing at a temperature and for a duration to induce the thermochemical reaction at a rate of reaction sufficient to partially insolubilize, harden or crosslink the polymeric image and adhere the polymeric image to the substrate surface to facilitate subsequent removal therefrom; C. modifying either the uncovered substrate surface or the polymeric image surface; and D. removing the polymeric image from the substrate surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric image is formed on the substrate by printing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric image is formed on the substrate by electrostatic means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic copolymer is a copolymer of ethylene (80 to 94.9%)/acrylic or methacrylic acid (20 to 5.1%)/alkyl ester of acrylic or methacrylic acid wherein alkyl is 1 to 5 carbon atoms (0 to 15%), the percentages being by weight percent of copolymer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic copolymer is a copolymer of ethylene (89%)/methacrylic acid (11%) having a melt index at 190° C. of 100, the percentages being by weight percent of the copolymer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric image comprises the thermoplastic copolymer and a colorant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process according to claim 6 wherein the colorant is a dye.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process according to claim 6 wherein the colorant is a pigment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process according to claim 8 wherein the pigment is a metal powder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein at least the surface of the substrate is a metal taken from the group consisting of copper, zinc, chromium, cadmium and nickel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
A process according to claim 12 wherein the metal is copper.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the uncovered substrate surface is modified by etching.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the uncovered substrate surface is modified by plating.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the uncovered substrate surface is modified by soldering.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the surface of the polymeric image is modified by electroless plating.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 3 wherein the polymeric image comprises the thermoplastic copolymer and means for imparting an electrostatic charge.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 16 wherein the polymeric image comprises particles of the thermoplastic copolymer having a plurality of fibers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 17 wherein the average thermoplastic copolymer particle has a diameter of less than 10 μm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
152 words
A process for the formation of a resist image on a copper surface and modifying the copper surface comprising: A. applying by electrostatic means a toned particulate image to the copper surface, the particulate image comprising particles less than 10 μm in diameter of a thermoplastic copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated acid having an acid number of at least about 30, and optionally a colorant; B. fusing the particulate image at a temperature and for a duration to induce a thermochemical reaction at a rate of reaction sufficient to partially insolubilize, harden or crosslink the particulate image and adhere the particulate image to the copper surface to facilitate subsequent removal therefrom, thereby forming a stencil resist image; C. modifying the uncovered copper surface by a treatment taken from the group consisting of etching, plating, depositing and soldering; and D. removing the fused particulate image by stripping from the substrate surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
152 words
A process for the formation of a resist image on a copper surface and modifying the copper surface comprising: A. applying by electrostatic means a toned particulate image to the copper surface, the particulate image comprising particles less than 10 μm in diameter of a thermoplastic copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated acid having an acid number of at least about 30, and optionally a colorant; B. fusing the particulate image at a temperature and for a duration to induce a thermochemical reaction at a rate of reaction sufficient to partially insolubilize, harden or crosslink the particulate image and adhere the particulate image to the copper surface to facilitate subsequent removal therefrom, thereby forming a stencil resist image; C. modifying the uncovered copper surface by a treatment taken from the group consisting of etching, plating, depositing and soldering; and D. removing the fused particulate image by stripping from the substrate surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein the thermoplastic copolymer is a copolymer of ethylene (89%)/methacrylic acid (11%) having a melt index at 190° C. of 100, the percentages being by weight percent of the copolymer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein the particulate image comprises particles having a plurality of fibers.
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) | 1991-01-04 | 1991-07-06 | 1992-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-01-04 | 1995-07-06 | 1996-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-01-04 | 1999-07-06 | 2000-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |