Electrically-conductive ink formulations containing microcrystalline cellulose, methods of printing electrically-conductive traces, and laminates containing the same

A electrically-conductive ink composition comprising:

• (i) a particulate, electrically-conductive material;
• (ii) a carrier liquid;
• (iii) a polymer binder;
• and (iv) a microcrystalline cellulose component;
• wherein the particulate, electrically-conductive material comprises a component selected from the group consisting of silver flakes and silver platelets;
• and wherein the microcrystalline cellulose component comprises an unmodified microcrystalline cellulose powder and is present in an amount of from about 0.05% to about 10% by weight based on the composition and has an average particle size of from about 20 to about 100 μm.

A method comprising:

• (a) providing a substrate;
• (b) providing an electrically-conductive ink formulation comprising (i) a particulate, electrically-conductive material;
• (ii) a carrier liquid;
• (iii) a polymer binder;
• and (iv) a microcrystalline cellulose component;
• and
• (c) extrusion printing an electrically-conductive trace on the substrate.

A method comprising:

• (a) providing a substrate
• (b) providing an electrically-conductive ink formulation comprising (i) a particulate, electrically-conductive material;
• (ii) a carrier liquid;
• (iii) a polymer binder;
• and (iv) a microcrystalline cellulose component;
• (c) forming an electrically-conductive trace on the substrate;
• and
• (d) drying and compacting, in one or more steps, sequentially in any order or simultaneously, the formed electrically-conductive trace, wherein compacting comprises applying a pressure of at least about 1000 psi to the substrate and formed electrically-conductive trace.