# US 9,752,040 B2 · Nanosilver ink compositions comprising polystyrene additives > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,752,040 B2 - Document ID: US9752040B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/594,746 - Filed: 2015-01-12 - Published: 2016-07-14 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-12 - Assignees: Xerox Corporation - Applicants: Xerox Corporation - Inventors: Adela Goredema; Yiliang Wu; Barkev Keoshkerian; Jenny Eliyahu; Cuong Vong; Biby Esther Abraham - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752040B2 ## CPC - C09D 11/52: Electrically conductive inks - C09D 11/037: characterised by the pigment - C09D 11/106: containing macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds - C09D 125/06: Polystyrene - C09D 7/20: Diluents or solvents - C09D 7/65: macromolecular (C09D7/41-C09D7/48 take precedence) - 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) ## Abstract A nanosilver ink composition including silver nanoparticles; polystyrene; and an ink vehicle. A process for preparing a nanosilver ink composition comprising combining silver nanoparticles; polystyrene; and an ink vehicle. A process for forming conductive features on a substrate using flexographic and gravure printing processes comprising providing a nanosilver ink composition comprising silver nanoparticles; polystyrene; and an ink vehicle; depositing the nanosilver ink composition onto a substrate to form deposited features; and heating the deposited features on the substrate to form conductive features on the substrate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A nanosilver ink composition comprising: silver nanoparticles; poly(4-methylstyrene); and an ink vehicle; wherein the poly(4-methylstyrene) is present in the ink composition in an amount of 1 percent by weight based on the total weight of the ink composition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The nanosilver ink composition of claim 1, wherein the silver nanoparticles are present in the ink composition in an amount of from about 40 to about 75 percent by weight based on the total weight of the ink composition. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The nanosilver ink composition of claim 1, wherein the silver nanoparticles comprise elemental silver, a silver alloy, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The nanosilver ink composition of claim 1, wherein the silver nanoparticles comprise silver-containing nanoparticles having a stabilizer associated with a surface of the silver nanoparticle, the stabilizer consisting of an organoamine stabilizer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The nanosilver ink composition of claim 1, wherein the silver nanoparticles comprise silver-containing nanoparticles having a stabilizer on the surface thereof wherein the stabilizer is an organoamine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The nanosilver ink composition of claim 1, wherein the silver nanoparticles have a volume average particle diameter of from about 0.5 to about 100 nanometers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The nanosilver ink composition of claim 1, wherein the ink vehicle comprises a non-polar solvent. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The nanosilver ink composition of claim 1, wherein the ink vehicle comprises a member of the group consisting of decalin, bicyclohexyl, xylene, hexadecane, toluene, tetradecane, methyl naphthalene, tetrahydronaphthalene, tetramethyl benzene, ethyl benzene, and mixtures and combinations thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The nanosilver ink composition of claim 1, wherein the ink vehicle comprises a mixture of decalin and bicyclohexyl. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The nanosilver ink composition of claim 1, wherein the ink vehicle is present in the ink composition in an amount of from about 5 to about 50 percent by weight based on the total weight of the ink composition. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The nanosilver ink composition of claim 1, wherein the ink has a viscosity of from about 15 to about 60 centipoise at a temperature in the range of from about 20 to about 30° C. and shear rate of from about 40 to about 400 s−1. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The nanosilver ink composition of claim 1, wherein the ink has a bulk conductivity that is more than about 50,000 S/cm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The nanosilver ink composition of claim 1, wherein electrically conductive lines prepared with the nanosilver ink composition, have a line thickness of from about 0.1 to about 20 micrometers. ### Claim 14 A process for preparing a nanosilver ink composition comprising: combining silver nanoparticles; poly(4-methylstyrene); and an ink vehicle; wherein the poly(4-methylstyrene) is present in the ink composition in an amount of 1 percent by weight based on the total weight of the ink composition. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The process of claim 14, wherein the ink has a viscosity of from about 15 to about 60 centipoise at a temperature in the range of from about 20 to about 30° C. and shear rate of from about 40 to about 400 s−1. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The process of claim 14, wherein the ink vehicle is a mixture of decalin and bicyclohexyl. ### Claim 17 A process comprising: providing a nanosilver ink composition comprising silver nanoparticles; poly(4-methylstyrene); and an ink vehicle; wherein the poly(4-methylstyrene) is present in the ink composition in an amount of 1 percent by weight based on the total weight of the ink composition; depositing the nanosilver ink composition onto a substrate to form deposited features; and heating the deposited features on the substrate to form conductive features on the substrate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The process of claim 17, wherein the process comprises a flexographic printing process or a gravure printing process. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The process of claim 17, wherein the conductive features comprise conductive lines having a line thickness of from about 0.1 to about 20 micrometers.