Electrically conductive resinous material and radiation curable formulation for producing the same
AssigneeDymax Corporation
InventorJohn R. Arnold
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A radiation-curable formulation employs an electrically conductive filler comprised of elements of elongate form, which elements have surfaces that reflect the actinic radiation to which the photoinitiator employed is responsive. Silver-coated cylindrical fibers or rods will typically constitute the conductive filler, and solid deposits cured from the formulation may function as, for example, sealing elements, gaskets, and solder-like joints. In certain preferred embodiments the formulation will include an active oxygen free radical-generating catalyst, the presence of which enhances curing even though the reaction conditions are such that normal thermal catalysis temperatures are not attained.
Claims46
A radiation-curable formulation for producing an electrically conductive solid deposit, comprising:
- a radiation-curable composition containing at least one polymerizable ingredient, and a photoinitiator for effecting polymerization of said at least one ingredient;
- and
- an electrically conductive filler dispersed in said composition in an amount sufficient to impart substantial electrical conductivity to a cured deposit of said formulation, said electrically conductive filler being comprised of elements of elongate form having surfaces that reflect substantially at least one wavelength of actinic radiation to which said photoinitiator is responsive, said filler elements being randomly oriented in said composition so as to reflect impinging radiation of said at least one wavelength along multiple paths through a mass of said formulation.
A method for producing an electrically conductive solid deposit upon a substrate, comprising the steps:
- (a) providing a radiation-curable formulation comprised of (1) a radiation-curable composition containing at least one polymerizable ingredient and a photoinitiator for effecting polymerization of said at least one ingredient;
- and (2) an electrically conductive filler dispersed in said composition in an amount sufficient to impart substantial electrical conductivity to a cured deposit of said formulation, said electrically conductive filler being comprised of elements of elongate form having surfaces that reflect substantially at least one wavelength of actinic radiation to which said photoinitiator is responsive;
- (b) applying a mass of said formulation to at least one substrate;
- and
- (c) exposing said mass of said formulation to actinic radiation to effect substantial curing of said formulation to a solid deposit, said actinic radiation to which said mass is exposed including said at least one wavelength of radiation to which said photoinitiator is responsive, said filler elements being randomly oriented in said composition so as to reflect impinging radiation of said at least one wavelength along multiple paths through said mass, including paths by which penetration of said actinic radiation into said mass is promoted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.