Screen printing liquid metal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018201010-A1
Application number	US-201715409372-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 18, 2017
Priority date	Jan 18, 2017
Publication date	Jul 19, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Examples are disclosed that relate to screen printing liquid metal materials. One example provides a method to deposit a metal pattern onto a substrate. The method includes placing a textile over the substrate, the textile having a plurality of pores wettable by a liquid metal. The method further includes forcing the liquid metal through the pores of the textile and onto the substrate, and separating the substrate and textile.

First claim

1 . A method to deposit a metal pattern onto a substrate, the method comprising:
placing a textile over the substrate, the textile having a plurality of pores wettable by a liquid metal; forcing the liquid metal through the pores of the textile and onto the substrate; and separating the substrate and the textile.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the textile is a pore-patterned textile comprising a pattern of filled pores and unfilled pores.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid metal includes an alloy of gallium with one or more of indium and tin.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the textile comprises a metal.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the textile comprises metallized fibers.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the textile comprises metal fibers.

7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the liquid metal forms an alloy with the metal of the textile.

8 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the metal comprises one or more of copper, silver, gold, nickel, iron, and tin.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein forcing the liquid metal through the pores includes applying mechanical force.

10 . A metal pattern formed by the method of claim 1 .

11 . A method for depositing a metal pattern onto a substrate, the method comprising:
placing a metal-containing textile over the substrate, the metal-containing textile having a plurality of pores wettable by a liquid metal; forcing the liquid metal through the pores of the metal-containing textile and onto the substrate; and separating the substrate and the metal-containing textile.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the liquid metal forms an alloy with a metal of the metal-containing textile.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the liquid metal comprises gallium alloyed with one or more of indium and tin.

14 . A textile for screen printing a metal pattern onto a substrate, the textile comprising:
an arrangement of metal-containing fibers defining a plurality of pores wettable by a liquid metal; and a pore-filling solid permeating the intimate arrangement of metal-containing fibers within a defined area, thereby defining a pattern of filled and unfilled pores.

15 . The textile of claim 14 , wherein the arrangement of metal-containing fibers includes a knit or woven mesh.

16 . The textile of claim 14 , wherein the arrangement of metal-containing fibers is non-woven or felted.

17 . The textile of claim 14 , wherein the metal-containing fibers are metallic.

18 . The textile of claim 14 , wherein the metal-containing fibers are metalized.

19 . The textile of claim 14 , wherein the metal-containing fibers include an electroless deposition of metal.

20 . The textile of claim 14 , wherein the metal-containing fibers include one or more of copper, silver, gold, nickel, iron, indium, and tin.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Ma Siyuan
• Holbery James David
• Fassler Andrew Lewis
• Ladd Collin Alexander

Classifications

• H05K3/1233

  Methods or means for supplying the conductive material and for forcing it through the screen or stencil · CPC title

• B41N1/247

  Meshes, gauzes, woven or similar screen materials; Preparation thereof, e.g. by plasma treatment · CPC title

• H05K3/1225

  Screens or stencils; Holders therefor · CPC title

• B41F15/0868 Primary

  for printing on filamentary articles · CPC title

• B41M3/006

  Patterns of chemical products used for a specific purpose, e.g. pesticides, perfumes, adhesive patterns; use of microencapsulated material; Printing on smoking articles · CPC title