# US 2017/0283629 A1 · Metal-based ink for additive manufacturing process > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0283629 A1 - Document ID: US20170283629A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/472,325 - Filed: 2017-03-29 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-29 - Assignees: University of North Texas - Applicants: University of North Texas - Inventors: Aleksandra Fortier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170283629A1 ## CPC - C09D 11/03: characterised by features other than the chemical nature of the binder - B33Y 70/10: Composites of different types of material, e.g. mixtures of ceramics and polymers or mixtures of metals and biomaterials - C09D 11/10: based on artificial resins - C09D 11/30: Inkjet printing inks - C09D 11/322: Pigment inks - C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING ## Abstract The present invention includes an ink and method of applying the ink on a surface, wherein the ink comprises metal particles, an organic stabilizer, and a solvent, and methods of making electronic systems coated with the ink. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ink comprising, metal particles, an organic stabilizer, and a solvent. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ink of claim 1, wherein the metal is selected from tin (Sn), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), lithium (Li), bismuth (Bi), antimony (Sb), alloys, or high entropy alloys (HEAs). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ink of claim 1, wherein the organic stabilizer is provided at between 0.01% to 2.0% weight to volume. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ink of claim 1, wherein the organic stabilizer is provided at between 0.05% to 0.5% weight to volume. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ink of claim 1, wherein organic stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of agar, agarose, alginate, carrageenan, gelatin, guar gum, gum arabic, gum ghatti, gum tragacanth, karaya gum, locust bean gum, xanthan gum, cellulose, pectin, mucin, dextran, starch, heparin, chitosan, hydroxy starch, hydroxypropyl starch, carboxymethyl starch, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, acrylic polymer, polyamide, polyimide, polyester, polyether, polymeric vinyl compounds, polyalkene, substituted derivatives thereof, copolymers, substituted derivatives, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ink of claim 1, wherein the solvent is water. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ink of claim 1, wherein the organic stabilizer is a thixotropic agent. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The ink of claim 1, wherein the metal is defined further as metal particles having a size range from 5 to 250 nm, from 10 to 250 nm, from 50 to 150 nm, or an average size of 100, 125, 150, or 175 nm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ink of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a preservative, a flux, or a color. ### Claim 10 A method of using a metal ink comprising: mixing a stabilized ink comprising metal particles, an organic stabilizer, and a solvent, wherein the ink is loaded into an ink cartridge; preparing a surface of a substrate in need of coating with a metal; and spraying the stabilized ink from the cartridge using a printer, onto the substrate to increase at least one or appearance, solderability, or electric conductivity of the surface of the substrate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the metal is selected from tin (Sn), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), lithium (Li), bismuth (Bi), antimony (Sb), alloys, or high entropy alloys (HEAs). ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the organic stabilizer is provided at between 0.01% to 2.0% weight to volume. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the organic stabilizer is provided at between 0.05% to 0.5% weight to volume. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the organic stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of agar, agarose, alginate, carrageenan, gelatin, guar gum, gum arabic, gum ghatti, gum tragacanth, karaya gum, locust bean gum, xanthan gum, cellulose, pectin, mucin, dextran, starch, heparin, chitosan, hydroxy starch, hydroxypropyl starch, carboxymethyl starch, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, acrylic polymer, polyamide, polyimide, polyester, polyether, polymeric vinyl compounds, polyalkene, substituted derivatives thereof, copolymers, substituted derivatives, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the solvent is water. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the organic stabilizer is a thixotropic agent. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising at least one of a preservative, a flux, or a color. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the metal is defined further as metal particles having a size range from 5 to 250 nm, from 10 to 250 nm, from 50 to 150 nm, or an average size of 100, 125, 150, or 175 nm. ### Claim 19 A method of making an electronic device comprising: obtaining a stabilized ink comprising metal particles, an organic stabilizer, and a solvent, wherein the ink is loaded into an ink cartridge; preparing a surface comprising one or more electronic components in need of coating with a metal; and printing the stabilized ink from the cartridge using a printer onto the electronic component to increase at least one or appearance, solderability, or electric conductivity of the electronic component. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the metal is selected from tin (Sn), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), lithium (Li), bismuth (Bi), antimony (Sb), alloys, or high entropy alloys (HEAs). ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the organic stabilizer is provided at between 0.01% to 2.0% weight to volume. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the organic stabilizer is provided at between 0.05% to 0.5% weight to volume. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the organic stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of agar, agarose, alginate, carrageenan, gelatin, guar gum, gum arabic, gum ghatti, gum tragacanth, karaya gum, locust bean gum, xanthan gum, cellulose, pectin, mucin, dextran, starch, heparin, chitosan, hydroxy starch, hydroxypropyl starch, carboxymethyl starch, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, acrylic polymer, polyamide, polyimide, polyester, polyether, polymeric vinyl compounds, polyalkene, substituted derivatives thereof, copolymers, substituted derivatives, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the solvent is water. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the organic stabilizer is a thixotropic agent. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising at least one of a preservative, a flux, or a color. ### Claim 27 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the metal is defined further as metal particles having a size range from 5 to 250 nm, from 10 to 250 nm, from 50 to 150 nm, or an average size of 100, 125, 150, or 175 nm.