From particle to printed conductor A printed trace is the result of particle synthesis, formulation, deposition and cure acting together. Conductive inks and pastes must pass through a defined printing process, wet the substrate, dry without uncontrolled migration and form a continuous electrical network. Particle size, surface chemistry and agglomeration influence every stage. AM positions the particle population as an input to the customer’s formulation and printing process, not as a guarantee that a powder specification alone delivers final conductivity. Better particles specifications create better processes: - Particle population: Primary size, D10/D50/D90, agglomerate tail and lot-to-lot distribution. - Morphology and packing: Spherical, flake or blended populations selected for packing, rheology and contact-network formation. - Surface condition: Organic coverage, oxide state, storage stability and compatibility with the sintering atmosphere. - Process compatibility: Stencil or dispense route, wet/final bondline, drying profile, peak temperature, pressure and surface finish. - Joint targets: Porosity, thermal/electrical performance, die shear and reliability after thermal cycling or aging. Using AM's material process library to quickly develop your own formulation.
