IP Library Granted Patent US 8,105,414
Granted Patent B2
US 8,105,414 · App. 12/512,315 · Granted Jan 31, 2012

Lead solder-free electronics

Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,105,414
App. No.
12/512,315
Granted
Jan 31, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A composition may have metal nanoparticles having a diameter of 20 nanometers or less and have a fusion temperature of less than about 220° C. A method of fabricating the metal nanoparticles may include preparing a solvent, adding a precursor with a metal to the solvent, adding a first surfactant, mixing in a reducing agent, and adding in a second surfactant to stop nanoparticle formation. Copper and/or aluminum nanoparticle compositions formed may be used for lead-free soldering of electronic components to circuit boards. A composition may include nanoparticles, which may have a copper nanocore, an amorphous aluminum shell and an organic surfactant coating. A composition may have copper or aluminum nanoparticles. About 30-50% of the copper or aluminum nanoparticles may have a diameter of 20 nanometers or less, and the remaining 70-50% of the copper or aluminum nanoparticles may have a diameter greater than 20 nanometers.

Claims (12)

1. A composition, comprising:

metal nanoparticles, said metal nanoparticles comprising copper or aluminum nanocores, wherein about 30-50% of the metal nanoparticles have a diameter of 20 nanometers or less but greater than zero, and the remaining 70-50% of the metal nanoparticles have a diameter greater than 20 nanometers.

2. The composition of claim 1 , comprising:

an organic surfactant coating said metal nanoparticles making the composition soluble in a solvent.

3. A printed circuit comprising a conductive line having the composition of claim 1 .

4. A composition, comprising:

nanoparticles comprising a copper nanocore, an amorphous aluminum shell and an organic surfactant coating, wherein about 30-50% of said nanoparticles have a diameter of 20 nanometers or less but greater than zero, and the remaining 70-50% of the nanoparticles have a diameter greater than 20 nanometers.

5. A printed circuit comprising a conductive line having the composition of claim 4 .

6. The composition of claim 4 , wherein the organic surfactant coating comprises at least one of an amine and a phosphine.

7. The composition of claim 4 , further comprising one or more of triethanolamine, acetic acid and hexadecanoic acid.

8. A composition comprising copper or aluminum nanoparticles, wherein about 30-50% of the copper or aluminum nanoparticles has a diameter of 20 nanometers or less but greater than zero, and the remaining 70-50% of the copper or aluminum nanoparticles has a diameter greater than 20 nanometers.

9. The composition of claim 8 , further comprising one or more of triethanolamine, acetic acid and hexadecanoic acid.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2019
From: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
To: KUPRION INC.
Reel/Frame 050412/0900 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded May 9, 2011
From: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
To: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE, THE
Reel/Frame 026271/0952 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2009
From: ZINN, ALFRED A.
To: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023029/0078 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61097175 · Sep 15, 2008
Related Publication 20100065616A1 · Mar 18, 2010