Electrically Conductive Inks for Inkjet Printing

Inkjets are flexible and versatile and can be set up with relatively low effort. However, there are some specifics for the ink. It should have high electrical conductivity and resistance to oxidation. It should be able to dry out without clogging the nozzle during printing and have good adhesion to the substrate. The lower particle aggregation and suitable viscosity and surface tension are important for selection of ink. There are some inconveniences for inkjets. The most conductive inks and pastes are based on silver filler and suffer from brittleness. To achieve a satisfactory conductivity, several passes should be applied. As a result, the thickness of paste will be augmented, which influences the flexibility and elasticity of the textile substrate. 

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