Electrically conductive metal oxide coatings
Assignee3M Company
InventorDavid C. Koskenmaki
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Abstract
A method for forming a metal oxide film on a substrate is provided comprising the steps of depositing a continuous metal layer having an exposed surface onto a substrate, forming a metal oxide layer on the exposed surface, contacting the oxide layer with an effective amount of a fluxing agent, providing a protective polymeric layer on the oxide layer and forming discrete metal microspheres by melting the metal layer. A metal polymer composite comprising a continuous metal oxide layer which may be transparent is thus provided.
Claims25
A method for forming a metal oxide film on a substrate comprising the steps of:
- (a) depositing a continuous metal layer onto a substrate, said layer of metal having an exposed surface;
- (b) forming a metal oxide layer on said exposed surface;
- (c) contacting said oxide layer with an effective amount of a fluxing agent;
- (d) providing a protective polymer layer on said oxide layer;
- and
- (e) forming discrete metal microspheres by melting said metal layer.
A method for forming a metal/polymer composite comprising the steps:
- (a) providing a chamber having a substantial vacuum therein;
- (b) forming a metal vapor in said chamber by evaporation of a metal selected from the group consisting of indium, indium-tin, tin, cadmium, cadmium-tin, mixtures thereof, and such metals, alloys and mixtures which have been doped with antimony or flourine;
- (c) depositing said vapor on said substrate to form a metal layer at least about 500 angstroms thick on a polymeric substrate, said metal layer having an exposed substrate;
- (d) heating said polymeric substrate and said metal layer in the presence of oxygen to a temperature of between about 90.degree. C. and about 150.degree. C. for a time sufficient to form a metal oxide layer of between about 50 and about 100 Angstroms thick on said exposed surface;
- (e) contacting said metal oxide layer with an effective amount of week acid;
- (f) coating said oxide layer with a protective polymer layer;
- (g) heating said composite to a temperature sufficient to melt said metal layer and form discrete metal microspheres;
A metal/polymer composite comprising:
- (a) a substrate;
- supported by said
- (b) a metal oxide layer substrate, said metal oxide layer comprising discrete microspheres of said metal embedded in a continuous layer of said metal oxide;
- and
- (c) a protective polymer overlying said metal oxide layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.