US4892798A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrophoretic imaging metal-toner fluid dispersion
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1988-12-13
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Granted: 1990-01-09
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Expires: 2008-12-13
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to toner fluid dispersions comprising electrostatically charged colloidal elemental metal particles dispersed in nonconductive organic liquid media of low dielectric constant and containing a charge-inducing surfactant. In other aspects, processes are disclosed for electrophoretically depositing the colloidal elemental metal particles of the toner fluid to produce nonconductive, continuous coatings or patterns and methods of enhancing the coatings or patterns to make them electrically conductive.
Inventors
- 👤 William M. Lamanna
- 👤 Robin E. Wright
- 👤 Hsin-hsin Chou
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 18:44
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G5/00; G03G13/00; G03G13/06; G03G13/10; G03G9/00; G03G9/08; G03G9/12; G03G9/122; H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/10; H05K3/12; H05K3/1266; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/05; H05K2203/0502; H05K2203/0517
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A toner fluid dispersion comprising electrostatically charged, colloidal elemental non-ferromagnetic metal particles dispersed in an electrically nonconductive organic carrier liquid of dielectric constant less than 3.5 and having a volume resistivity greater than 10 12 ohm.cm, and an amount of a soluble surfactant effective to charge and stabilize said dispersion, said metal particles having sizes in the range of 1 to 100 nm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
A toner fluid dispersion comprising electrostatically charged, colloidal elemental non-ferromagnetic metal particles dispersed in an electrically nonconductive organic carrier liquid of dielectric constant less than 3.5 and having a volume resistivity greater than 10 12 ohm.cm, and an amount of a soluble surfactant effective to charge and stabilize said dispersion, said metal particles having sizes in the range of 1 to 100 nm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The toner fluid according to claim 1 wherein said metal particles are selected from the group of non-ferromagnetic metals having atomic numbers in the range of 11 to 106.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The toner fluid according to claim 1 wherein said metals are selected from the group consisting of aluminum, scandium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, copper, zinc, gallium, germanium, yttrium, zirconium, niobium, molybdenum, technetium, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, cadmium, indium, tin, antimony, lanthanum, hafnium, tantalum, tungsten, rhenium, osmium, iridium, platinum, gold, thallium and lead.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The toner fluid according to claim 1 wherein said metals are selected from the group consisting of copper, gold, iridium, manganese, palladium, platinum, rhodium, silver, rhenium, ruthenium, osmium, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, indium, tin and lead.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The toner fluid according to claim 1 wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of copper, gold, iridium, manganese, palladium, platinum, rhodium, silver, rhenium, ruthenium, osmium, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, indium, tin, and lead.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The toner fluid according to claim 1 wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, copper, platinum, palladium, iridium, rhodium, rhenium, ruthenium, and osmium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The toner fluid according to claim 1 wherein said metals are selected from the group consisting of gold, palladium, platinum, silver, and copper.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The toner fluid according to claim 1 wherein said metal particles have sizes in the range of 2 to 50 nm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The toner fluid according to claim 1 wherein said metal particles are present in the range of 0.001 to 1.0 percent by weight in the carrier liquid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The toner fluid according to claim 9 wherein said metal particles are present in the range of 0.001 to 0.1 percent by weight.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The toner fluid according to claim 1 wherein said carrier liquid is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and halocarbons.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The toner fluid according to claim 1 wherein said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic surfactants and combinations thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The toner fluid according to claim 1 wherein said surfactant is present in the range of 0.001 to 10.0 g/100 mL of carrier liquid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The toner fluid according to claim 1 wherein said metal particles comprise a continuous or discontinuous layer of oxide on a metal core.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The toner fluid according to claim 1 wherein said metal particles further comprise a continuous or discontinuous outer layer of said surfactant chemically or physically adsorbed thereon.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The toner fluid according to claim 14 wherein said particles further comprise a continuous or discontinuous outer layer of surfactant chemically or physically adsorbed thereon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The toner fluid according to claim 13 wherein said surfactant is present in the range of 0.01 to 1.0 g/100 mL of carrier liquid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
126 words
A method comprising the steps: (a) providing the toner fluid dispersion according to claim 1, and providing a dielectric or photoconductive substrate, (b) electrophoretically and irreversibly depositing the charged, colloidal, elemental metal particles of the toner fluid in a continuous or imagewise fashion on at least one of the surfaces of said substrate using standard electrographic techniques to provide a nonconductive, colloidal, elemental metal coating thereon, and (c) optionally, in the case of a catalytically active colloidal, elemental metal, subjecting the resulting colloidal metal coated substrate to an electroless metal plating solution to induce selective metal plating on the elemental colloidal metal coated portions of the substrate surface, to provide a second elemental metallic coating on said portions of the substrate surface which is electrically conductive.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A catalytic article prepared according to the method of claim 18, steps (a) and (b).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A catalytic circuit prepared according to the method of claim 18, steps (a), (b), and (c).
Claim 22
Independent Claim
153 words
A method comprising the steps: (a) providing a toner fluid dispersion comprising electrostatically charged, colloidal, elemental metal particles dispersed in an electrically nonconductive organic carrier liquid of dielectric constant less than 3.5 and having a volume resistivity greater than 10 12 ohm.cm, and providing a dielectric or photoconductive substrate, (b) electrophoretically and irreversibly depositing the charged, colloidal, elemental metal particles of the toner fluid in a continuous or imagewise fashion on at least one of the surfaces of said substrate using standard electrographic techniques to provide a nonconductive, colloidal, elemental metal coating thereon, and (c) optionally, in the case of a catalytically active colloidal, elemental metal, subjecting the resulting colloidal metal coated substrate to an electroless metal plating solution to induce selective metal plating on the elemental colloidal metal coated portions of the substrate surface, to provide a second elemental metallic coating on said portions of the substrate surface which is electrically conductive.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
153 words
A method comprising the steps: (a) providing a toner fluid dispersion comprising electrostatically charged, colloidal, elemental metal particles dispersed in an electrically nonconductive organic carrier liquid of dielectric constant less than 3.5 and having a volume resistivity greater than 10 12 ohm.cm, and providing a dielectric or photoconductive substrate, (b) electrophoretically and irreversibly depositing the charged, colloidal, elemental metal particles of the toner fluid in a continuous or imagewise fashion on at least one of the surfaces of said substrate using standard electrographic techniques to provide a nonconductive, colloidal, elemental metal coating thereon, and (c) optionally, in the case of a catalytically active colloidal, elemental metal, subjecting the resulting colloidal metal coated substrate to an electroless metal plating solution to induce selective metal plating on the elemental colloidal metal coated portions of the substrate surface, to provide a second elemental metallic coating on said portions of the substrate surface which is electrically conductive.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
A catalytic article prepared according to the method of claim 21, steps (a) and (b).
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
A printed circuit prepared according to the method of claim 21, steps (a), (b), and (c).
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-01-08 | 1993-07-10 | 1994-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-08 | 1997-07-10 | 1998-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-08 | 2001-07-10 | 2002-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |