Carbon Conductive Inks: Some of its Applications!

 

The carbon-conductive inks are used as an inexpensive method of applying conductors and resistors to polyester films, conventional laminate, different forms of plastic, and other materials through the screen-printing process. It is used to replace gold, cross-over conductors, manufacture resistors, shielding surfaces, etc. The double-sided plated-through hole circuits were replaced by single-sided printed circuit boards. Hence, the carbon conductive ink system allows affordable and alternative concepts in printed circuit boards manufacturing.

 When printed circuit boards are manufactured in medium and large series, cost-saving becomes an integral asset. Thus, the cost can be controlled by the replacement of overpriced raw materials with more affordable and economical ones and a simplified production process.

 The replacement of gold with carbon conductive ink on contact points removes the requirement of using expensive raw materials and a time-consuming plating process. Moreover, the double-sided copper-covered base material can be replaced with the single-sided base material. Additionally, the use of carbon conductive ink delivers a safe production process.

Carbon Conductive Ink Usage

Besides the printed circuit board technology, carbon conductive ink is also used in different sectors of electrical/ electronics engineering. With carbon conductive ink, static electricity can be released from plastic components and insulators like paint coatings.

For Laminate Keyboards

With carbon conductive inks, the complete conductor pattern and the contact area is printed on a plastic film like polyester or polyimide. To do this, either one film or two different films are used, the two sections are folded together. An insulating film separates the two films and the laminate keyboard is cloaked by a printed cover foil. The application field is mainly related to keyboards for computers, control units, and electronic games.

As an alternative to Gold

The gold plating on printed circuit boards is done to protect the contact points like tip contacts, edge connectors, and sliding contacts, from chemical and mechanical attacks to attain long life. The carbon conductive ink removes this need for gold plating in tip contacts. Tip contacts produced with carbon conductive ink are enough for overprinting the contact areas with carbon conductive ink. This also protects the printed circuit board with solder resist. Hence, the aim of cost-saving is accomplished by saving gold as well as with a simple production process.

As etch resists

Here, the complete conductive pattern is printed on the copper-covered base material using carbon conductive ink. After the removal of uncoated copper, the completed circuit with conductive ink protected conductors and contact areas gets available. With this process, patent rights are needed to be observed.

Final Consideration

Carbon conductive ink has been widely used in place of other expensive methods. It allows inexpensive, affordable, and alternative concepts for the production of printed circuit boards.