US5364707A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Metal-film laminate resistant to delamination
Assignee: Multek Flexible Circuits Inc
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Filing: 1992-08-04
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Granted: 1994-11-15
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Expires: 2012-08-04
Abstract
Abstract A flexible metal-film laminate can comprise a layered film structure having a metal layer securely bonded to a film layer. The laminate contains a unique metal-oxide attachment structure between the film and metal layer comprising randomly distributed regions of metal-oxide. The peel strength of such a laminate is significantly improved over prior laminates and is resistant to peel strength reduction due to environmental stress. The preferred metal-film laminates made with polyester or polyimide can be used in the manufacture of high-quality, low cost, flexible printed circuit boards.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard L. Swisher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:51
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B15/00; B32B15/04; B32B15/08; C; C08; C08J; C08J7/00; C08J7/12; C08J7/123; B32B7/00; B32B7/04; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/02; C23C14/021; C23C14/022; C23C14/06; C23C14/08; C23C14/14; C23C14/20; H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/38; H05K3/388; C08J2379/00; C08J2379/04; C08J2379/08; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/03; H05K1/0393; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/01; H05K2201/0137; H05K2201/0154; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/09; H05K2203/095; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S205/00; Y10S205/924; Y10S205/926; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12451; Y10T428/12472; Y10T428/12493; Y10T428/12535; Y10T428/12542; Y10T428/12549; Y10T428/12556; Y10T428/12569; Y10T428/12771; Y10T428/12861; Y10T428/12903; Y10T428/1291
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A metal-film laminate, resistant to delamination of the metal from the film, which laminate comprises: (a) a film layer having at least one surface bearing a non-continuous random distribution of a metal and an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, manganese, zirconium or mixtures thereof; and (b) a metal surface adhered to the film through the random distribution, said metal surface comprising: (i) a first copper layer, formed on the metal-oxide by vapor metallization, having a thickness of about 50 to 500 nanometers; and (ii) a second metal layer having a thickness of 0.1 to 40 μM formed on the first copper layer; wherein the laminate is free of a metal tie-coat and a peel strength of the metal-film laminate is at least 3 pounds per inch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A metal-film laminate, resistant to delamination of the metal from the film, which laminate comprises: (a) a film layer having at least one surface bearing a non-continuous random distribution of a metal and an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, manganese, zirconium or mixtures thereof; and (b) a metal surface adhered to the film through the random distribution, said metal surface comprising: (i) a first copper layer, formed on the metal-oxide by vapor metallization, having a thickness of about 50 to 500 nanometers; and (ii) a second metal layer having a thickness of 0.1 to 40 μM formed on the first copper layer; wherein the laminate is free of a metal tie-coat and a peel strength of the metal-film laminate is at least 3 pounds per inch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The laminate of claim 1 wherein the metal and metal-oxide distributions result from a film treatment with a plasma comprising ionized oxygen, produced from a metallic electrode comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of manganese, chromium, nickel, iron, molybdenum or mixtures thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laminate of claim 1 wherein the second metal layer is a copper layer formed by electrodeposition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The laminate of claim 1 wherein the second metal layer comprises copper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The laminate of claim 1 wherein the film comprises a thermoplastic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The laminate of claim 5 wherein the thermoplastic comprises a polyester.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The laminate of claim 1 wherein the film comprises a thermoset resin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The laminate of claim 1 wherein the film comprises a polyimide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the film comprises a fluorine containing polymer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
130 words
A metal-film laminate, resistant to delamination of the metal from the film, which laminate comprises: (a) a polymeric film; (b) a non-continuous random distribution on the polymeric film, comprising a metal and an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of chromium, iron, nickel, manganese, zirconium or mixtures thereof; and (c) a metal surface adhered to the film through the random distribution, said surface comprising: (i) a copper metal layer formed by vapor metallization having a thickness of about 50 to 500 nanometers; and (ii) a second copper layer having a thickness of 0.1 to 40 μM formed on the metallized copper layer; wherein the laminate is free of a metal tie-coat and a peel strength of the metal film laminate is at least 5 pounds per inch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
130 words
A metal-film laminate, resistant to delamination of the metal from the film, which laminate comprises: (a) a polymeric film; (b) a non-continuous random distribution on the polymeric film, comprising a metal and an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of chromium, iron, nickel, manganese, zirconium or mixtures thereof; and (c) a metal surface adhered to the film through the random distribution, said surface comprising: (i) a copper metal layer formed by vapor metallization having a thickness of about 50 to 500 nanometers; and (ii) a second copper layer having a thickness of 0.1 to 40 μM formed on the metallized copper layer; wherein the laminate is free of a metal tie-coat and a peel strength of the metal film laminate is at least 5 pounds per inch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The laminate of claim 10 wherein the metal and metal-oxide distribution result from an oxygen plasma produced from a metallic electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The laminate of claim 10 wherein the second metal layer is formed by electrodeposition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laminate of claim 10 wherein the metal and metal-oxide distribution comprise a chromium-oxide in a thickness of less than 5 atom monolayers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
The laminate of claim 10 wherein the film comprises a thermoplastic.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The laminate of claim 14 wherein the thermoplastic comprises a polyester.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
10 words
The laminate of claim 15 wherein the polyester comprises poly-ethylene-terephthlate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The laminate of claim 10 wherein the film comprises a polyimide.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-11-14 | 1998-05-16 | 1998-11-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-14 | 2002-05-16 | 2002-11-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-14 | 2006-05-16 | 2006-11-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |