US companies Spectra and Cabot Corp Printable Electronics and Display are to jointly develop markets for conductive jetting fluids used in printable electronics applications. The two will develop, support, and promote Cabot's silver inkjet materials and dispersions using Spectra industrial inkjet printheads and related technologies. Initial targeted applications include printed circuits, RFID antennas, flat panel displays and membrane keyboards.
Printable electronics is a relatively new application said to offer "profound benefits" over current methods through the use of additive materials deposition rather than the time consuming, costly and cumbersome subtractive photolithographic and wet-etch methods currently used. Key benefits claimed for additive materials deposition are reduced manufacturing steps and lower cost - making small batch runs cost effective. The scalable architecture of inkjet also makes medium-to-large batch runs a target for this technology.
"We see electronic applications as the next logical progression for inkjet technology," says Chuck Edwards, general manager of Cabot PEDs. And Martin Schoeppler, Spectra vp, business development, confirms: "We believe as the entire market for electronics fabrication evolves from its current methodologies to more cost effective methods, fluids like Cabot PEDs conductive silver will lead the way to wide scale adoption."
| Contacts |
| Cabot-PEDs Tel: +1 678 2971300 Spectra Tel: +1 603 443 5300 |
