Method for depositing functional traces

A method for depositing traces of functional material on a substrate in a printing machine comprising a printing station followed by a film-applying station, comprising the following steps:

• a. providing the substrate,
• b. printing, in the printing station, a printing product according to a pattern on the substrate,
• c. providing a film comprising at least one application film coating comprising a material B, a film coating of functional material and a transport layer,
• d. applying, in the film-applying station, the film onto the substrate under pressure and temperature conditions leading to the selective co-adhesion between the pattern printing product and the application film coating,
• e. removing the film from the substrate,
• e. 1. the substrate comprising the application film coating co-adhered to the pattern printing product and thus forming the traces of functional material according to said pattern,
• e. 2. the remainder of the film coating of functional material, and preferably of the application film coating, being recovered with the film removed, wherein
• the printing product comprises a thermoplastic material A,
• the material B of the application film coating is thermoplastic,
• the materials A and B each have a glass transition temperature Tg, and
• that the conditions of step d are such that the Tgs of each of the materials A and B are achieved and that chemical bonds are created between the materials A and B.