# US 7,744,717 B2 · Process for enhancing the resolution of a thermally transferred pattern > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,744,717 B2 - Document ID: US7744717B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/789,842 - Filed: 2007-04-25 - Published: 2008-01-17 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2006-07-17 - Assignees: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company - Inventors: Gerald Donald Andrews; Richard Kevin Bailey; Graciela Beatriz Blanchet; John W. Catron; Feng Gao; Gary Delmar Jaycox; Lynda Kaye Johnson; Roupen Leon Keusseyan; Jeffrey Scott Meth; Frank S. Principe; Rinaldo S. Schiffino; Robert Mar Yohannan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744717B2 ## CPC - B41M 5/38207: {characterised by aspects not provided for in groups B41M5/385 - B41M5/395} - B41M 5/38214: {Structural details, e.g. multilayer systems (composition of individual layers B41M5/42)} - H05K 3/046: {by selective transfer or selective detachment of a conductive layer} - H05K 3/26: Cleaning or polishing of the conductive pattern - H10K 71/18: using non-liquid printing techniques, e.g. thermal transfer printing from a donor sheet - H05K 2201/0761: Insulation resistance, e.g. of the surface of the PCB between the conductors - H05K 2203/0191: Using tape or non-metallic foil in a process, e.g. during filling of a hole with conductive paste - H05K 2203/0528: Patterning during transfer, i.e. without preformed pattern, e.g. by using a die, a programmed tool or a laser - H05K 2203/107: Using laser light - H10K 10/466: {Lateral bottom-gate IGFETs comprising only a single gate} - H10K 10/471: {the gate dielectric comprising only organic materials} - H10K 85/615: {Polycyclic condensed aromatic hydrocarbons, e.g. anthracene} - H10K 85/655: {comprising only sulfur as heteroatom} - B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES ## Abstract Provided are processes for enhancing the resolution of a thermally transferred pattern on an imaged thermal transfer receiver, wherein the imaged thermal transfer receiver comprises a surface having an exposed portion and a non-exposed portion of one or more thermally transferred layer(s), comprising: (a) contacting said surface with an adhesive layer for a contact period to provide a laminate; (b) separating said adhesive layer from the laminate to provide a treated thermal transfer receiver having a surface substantially free of said non-exposed portion of one or more thermally transferred layer(s). The processes are useful in the fabrication of electronic devices including thin film transistors, circuits, electromagnetic interference shields, touchpad sensors and other electronic devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process comprising a) providing a thermally transferred pattern on an imaged thermal transfer receiver, wherein the imaged thermal transfer receiver comprises a surface having an exposed portion and a non-exposed portion of one or more thermally transferred layer(s); b) contacting said surface with an adhesive layer for a contact period to provide a laminate; and c) separating said adhesive layer from the laminate to remove the non-exposed portion of one or more thermally transferred layers; whereby a treated thermal transfer receiver having a surface substantially free of said non-exposed portion of one or more thermally transferred layer(s) is provided; and d) optionally transferring one or more additional patterns onto the receiver and repeating steps b and c. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the adhesive layer comprises a base film. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The process of claim 2 wherein the base film comprises a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of: poly(vinyl chloride), poly(ethylene), poly(propylene), poly(carbonate), polyethylene terephthalate, triacetyl cellulose, polyethylene naphthalate, and polyimide. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The process of claim 2 wherein the adhesive layer further comprises a metallized layer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The process of claim 4 wherein the metallized layer comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of: Ti, Zr, V, Nb, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Fe, Go, Ni, Cu, Ag, and Al, and alloys thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The process of claim 2 wherein the adhesive layer further comprises an adhesive dielectric layer comprising one or more dielectric polymer(s). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The process of claim 6 wherein the adhesive dielectric layer comprises one or more dielectric polymer(s) selected from the group consisting of: acrylic and styrenic polymers selected from the group consisting of: acrylic, styrenic and styrenic-acrylic latex, solution-based acrylic, styrenic and styrenic-acrylic polymers, and combinations thereof; heteroatom-substituted styrenic polymers selected from the group consisting of: partially hydrogenated poly(4-hydroxy)styrene, poly(4-hydroxy)styrene, and copolymers of poly(4-hydroxy)styrene with hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, alkyl (meth)acrylate, styrene, and alkyl-substituted styrene wherein the alkyl group is a C1 to C18 straight or branched chain alkyl group; phenolaldehyde (co)polymers and (co)oligomers and combinations thereof; and poly(vinyl acetate). ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The process of claim 7 wherein the one or more dielectric polymer(s) is selected from the group consisting of: acrylic and styrenic polymers selected from the group consisting of: acrylic, styrenic and styrenic-acrylic latexes, solution-based acrylic, styrenic and styrenic-acrylic polymers, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The process of claim 7 wherein the one or more dielectric polymer(s) is selected from the group consisting of: acrylic, styrenic and styrenic-acrylic latexes; comprising at least about 85 wt % of monomers selected from the group consisting of: alkyl (meth)acrylate, styrene, and alkyl-substituted styrene wherein the alkyl group is a C1 to C18 straight or branched chain alkyl group. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the contact period is about 1 second to about 90 seconds. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the one or more thermally transferred layer(s) comprises nanoparticles that have an average longest dimension of about 5 nm to about 1500 nm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The process of claim 11 wherein the nanoparticles comprise a metal powder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12 wherein the metal powder is selected from the group consisting of: Ag, Cu, and alloys thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the one or more thermally transferred layer(s) comprises one or more conducting polymers selected from the group consisting of: polyaniline; polythiophene; polypyrrole; polyheteroaromatic vinylenes; and their derivatives. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the one or more thermally transferred layer(s) comprises one or more dielectric polymer(s). ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The process of claim 15 wherein the one or more dielectric polymer(s) is selected from the group consisting of: acrylic and styrenic polymers selected from the group consisting of: acrylic, styrenic and styrenic-acrylic latexes, solution-based acrylic, styrenic and styrenic-acrylic polymers, and combinations thereof; heteroatom-substituted styrenic polymers selected from the group consisting of: partially hydrogenated poly(4-hydroxy)styrene, poly(4-hydroxy)styrene, and copolymers of poly(4-hydroxy)styrene with hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, alkyl (meth)acrylate, styrene, and alkyl-substituted styrene wherein the alkyl group is a C1 to C18 straight or branched chain alkyl group; phenol-aldehyde (co)polymers and (co)oligomers and combinations thereof; and poly(vinyl acetate). ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the one or more thermally transferred layer(s) comprises a pigment. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The process of claim 17 wherein the pigment is selected from the group consisting of black pigments selected from the group consisting of: graphite, carbon black and metal oxides selected from the group consisting of: oxides of copper, copper-cobalt alloy and ruthenium; colored pigments selected from the group consisting of: cyanine, phthalocyanine, azo, pyrrolidone, and quinonacridine based pigments; and white pigments selected from the group consisting of: titanium dioxide, barium titanate, strontium titanate, and barium strontium titanate.