IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,226,831
Granted Patent B2
US 12,226,831 · App. 17/342,339 · Granted Feb 18, 2025

Direct printing and writing using undercooled metallic core-shell particles

Inventors: Martin Thuo (Ames, IA); Christophe Frankiewicz (Boone, IA); Ian Tevis (Ames, IA)
Assignees: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.; The Indium Corporation of America
B22F7/04B22F1/16B22F7/004B22F10/20B29C64/135H05K3/125B22F2007/042B22F2999/00B33Y10/00H05K2201/0254H05K2203/128
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,226,831
App. No.
17/342,339
Granted
Feb 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of direct printing or writing of a metallic material involves depositing, with a printing device or writing device, an ink comprising of at least undercooled liquid metallic particles dispersed in a carrier fluid. The ink is deposited on any substrate surface to deposit the undercooled liquid metal particles thereon as one or more layers that can form a desired pattern or layered structure.

Claims (33)

1. A printing or writing ink comprising:

undercooled liquid metallic core-shell particles dispersed in a carrier fluid, the undercooled liquid metallic core-shell particles comprising a liquid metallic core material, wherein the core-shell particles are 5 wt % to 80 wt % of the printing or writing ink, wherein the printing or writing ink is a printable or writable suspension of the core-shell particles.

2. The ink of claim 1 , wherein the ink is writable using a rollerball pen, a ball point pen, a felt tip pen, and/or a quill pen.

3. The ink of claim 1 , wherein the ink is printable using offset lithography, flexography, inkjet, xerography, letterpress, gravure, and/or screen printing.

4. The ink of claim 1 , wherein the core-shell particles each comprise a liquid metallic core within an outer oxide shell.

5. The ink of claim 4 , wherein the outer oxide shell is functionalized with an organic moiety comprising acetate or phosphate.

6. The ink of claim 1 , wherein the carrier fluid comprises water, an alcohol, ethylene glycol, cellulose base liquid, or combinations thereof.

7. The ink of claim 5 , wherein the carrier fluid comprises the alcohol, wherein the alcohol comprises ethanol and/or methanol.

8. The ink of claim 1 , wherein the carrier fluid comprises a cellulose solution.

9. The ink of claim 1 , wherein the carrier fluid comprises hydroxyethyl cellulose.

10. The ink of claim 1 , wherein the carrier fluid comprises

a) hydroxyethyl cellulose,

b) water, and

c) methanol or ethanol.

11. The ink of claim 1 , wherein the ink has a viscosity of 1,000 cP to 10,100 cP or 0.7 cP to 2,500 cP.

12. The ink of claim 1 , wherein the ink has a viscosity of 10 cP to 14 cP.

13. The ink of claim 1 , wherein the core-shell particles comprise a Bi—Sn alloy.

14. The ink of claim 1 , wherein the core-shell particles comprise a Bi—In—Sn alloy.

15. The ink of claim 1 , wherein the core-shell particles comprise a Bi—Pb—Sn alloy.

16. The ink of claim 1 , wherein the core-shell particles comprise Field's metal or Rose's metal.

17. The ink of claim 1 , wherein the core-shell particles comprise a 32.5:51:16.5 wt:wt:wt Bi—In—Sn alloy, a 58:42 wt:wt Bi—Sn alloy, or a 50:25:25 wt:wt:wt Bi—Pb—Sn alloy.

18. The ink of claim 1 , wherein the core-shell particles are 5 wt % to 60 wt % of the ink.

19. A printing or writing ink comprising:

undercooled liquid metallic core-shell particles dispersed in a carrier fluid, the undercooled liquid metallic core-shell particles comprising a liquid metallic core material, wherein the printing or writing ink is a printable or writable suspension of the core-shell particles;

wherein

the carrier fluid comprises a cellulose solution, or

the carrier fluid comprises hydroxyethyl cellulose, or

the carrier fluid comprises

hydroxyethyl cellulose,

water, and

methanol or ethanol.

20. A printing or writing ink comprising:

undercooled liquid metallic core-shell particles dispersed in a carrier fluid, the undercooled liquid metallic core-shell particles comprising a liquid metallic core material, wherein the core-shell particles comprise a Bi—Pb—Sn alloy, wherein the printing or writing ink is a printable or writable suspension of the core-shell particles.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2023
From: SAFI-TECH, INC.
To: THE INDIUM CORPORATION OF AMERICA
Reel/Frame 064455/0785 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2021
From: THUO, MARTIN; FRANKIEWICZ, CHRISTOPHE
To: IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
Reel/Frame 057362/0310 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2021
From: TEVIS, IAN
To: SAFI-TECH, INC.
Reel/Frame 056528/0133 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2021
From: THUO, MARTIN; FRANKIEWICZ, CHRISTOPHE
To: IIOWA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
Reel/Frame 056528/0297 →
Continuity (3)
Division 15932990 · Jun 6, 2018
Provisional Application 62603776 · Jun 9, 2017
Related Publication 20210291269A1 · Sep 23, 2021
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