At VFP Ink Technologies, developing an ink goes far beyond chemical formulation. For more than 35 years, the company has been designing and manufacturing screen-printing inks for demanding industrial applications. This extensive expertise in the printing process itself has become a major asset in the development of advanced functional materials.
“SECTR is VFP Ink Technologies’ latest silver conductive ink”
The world of printed electronics is rapidly evolving. Once driven primarily by electrical performance and device miniaturisation, the industry is now facing new challenges. Reducing environmental impact, lowering energy consumption of manufacturing processes and designing products that support a more circular economy are all essential factors.
These transformations are encouraging manufacturers to not only rethink electronic device architectures, but also the materials from which they are made. Conductive inks play a key role in this transition. Today, they must combine high electrical conductivity, mechanical robustness, chemical resistance and compatibility with more sustainable manufacturing processes. It is within this context that Silver Electron Chemically and Thermally Resistant (SECTR) ink was developed. SECTR is VFP Ink Technologies’ latest silver conductive ink.
“One of SECTR’s key advantages is its exceptionally low curing temperature”
Unlike many product developments, the ink SECTR was not created as a simple extension of an existing product range. Its origins lie in the European CircEl-Paper project, which brings together industrial and academic partners with a common objective. The aim is to demonstrate that printed-electronic devices and circuit boards can be manufactured on paper substrates. At the same time, that recyclability can significantly improve at the end of their life cycle.
The project aims to integrate circular-economy principles from the very beginning of the product design process. This involves developing materials compatible with existing recycling streams and reducing the energy required during manufacturing. Additionally, development needs to facilitate the recovery of valuable materials, particularly metals.
For the R&D team at VFP Ink Technologies, this represented a significant challenge. As such, the need to develop a conductive ink capable of combining outstanding electrical performance with eco-design principles. The objective was to formulate an ink that would enable the conductive layer to detach from its substrate at the end of the product’s life. In this way, material separation is made easier and both substrate recycling and the recovery of valuable conductive materials can be improved.
Today’s printed-electronics applications are becoming increasingly demanding. Sensors, connected devices, smart labels and flexible electronics all require materials capable of maintaining their performance under challenging operating conditions.
The new formulation therefore needed to simultaneously meet several key requirements. Excellent electrical conductivity, resistance to repeated mechanical stress, high chemical durability and compatibility with heat-sensitive substrates, such as technical paper, PET and various polymer films were all goals to be met.
Another important objective was to reduce the energy required during manufacturing. This can be achieved by lowering the curing temperature compared to conventional conductive inks.
These combined challenges ultimately led VFP Ink Technologies to develop SECTR – an entirely new formulation.
SECTR combines low electrical resistivity (≤ 10mΩ/sq/mil), excellent adhesion (ISO 2409 Class 0) and outstanding chemical resistance. These factors make it particularly suitable for applications where long-term circuit reliability is essential.
One of its key advantages is its exceptionally low curing temperature. The ink can be cured from as low as 50°C or following industrial curing cycles of 80°C for 30 minutes. It can also be cured at 120°C in just five minutes. This flexibility minimises thermal stress on sensitive substrates. Additionally, it significantly reduces the energy consumption of the manufacturing process.
These characteristics enable the use of heat-sensitive materials – such as paper, polycarbonate and PVC – while maintaining excellent flexibility together with high mechanical and chemical durability.
The formulation also incorporates bio-based raw materials and recycled silver particles. This reflects VFP Ink Technologies’ commitment to developing more environmentally responsible materials, without compromising industrial performance.
SECTR has been specifically optimised for industrial screen printing. It provides stable viscosity, excellent repeatability and compatibility with high-volume production lines. SECTR enables the deposition of fine conductive patterns suitable for conductive tracks, multilayer interconnections and complex electronic architectures. Deposit precision directly influences the final performance of the device.
This comprehensive approach allows VFP Ink Technologies to support customers well beyond simply supplying an ink. It combines advanced materials’ development with deep process expertise.
CircEl-Paper served as the starting point for SECTR’s development. However, it now addresses a wide range of industrial applications across the printed-electronics sector.
SECTR has mechanical robustness, chemical resistance and low curing temperature. This makes it particularly well suited for printed sensors, flexible circuits, multilayer interconnections, smart labels, Internet of Things (IoT) devices and embedded electronics.
Beyond its technical performance, SECTR reflects a broader evolution within the printed-electronics industry. Functional materials are no longer evaluated solely on their electrical characteristics. They are increasingly expected to contribute to more sustainable manufacturing processes. At the same time, supporting a comprehensive life-cycle approach.
“SECTR reflects a broader evolution within the printed-electronics industry”
Originally developed to meet the challenges of circular electronics, SECTR has evolved into a high-performance industrial solution. It has been designed for the next generation of printed-electronic devices, where performance, sustainability and energy efficiency advance together.
Learn more about the CircEl-Paper project at www.circelpaper.eu
https://circelpaper.eu/