Copper Powder Conductive Ink

Technology
Copper Powder Conductive Ink

NYC Resistor’s Nick Vermeer is working on conductive ink:

I’ve recently had success in making a conductive ink using a fine copper powder suspended in an acrylic airbrush medium. This paper on conductive epoxies was really the key to getting this ink working.

The paper shows that etching the metal filler slightly before mixing it with the binder improves the conductivity of the ink. In this test I first used ammonium persulfate as the initial etching solution. After decanting off the resulting copper sulfate solution, the powder was then washed with deionized water. The wet powder was then mixed with an acrylic airbrush medium to make the resulting ink.

There is still quite a bit of experimentation to be done, but this is a very encouraging result!

10 thoughts on “Copper Powder Conductive Ink

  1. imgoinginsanefitness says:

    Can you give a pointer to the paper? What are you using for copper powder?

  2. Garcon says:

    AWESOME! I tried this a few years ago by using printmaking chemicals to break down the copper…. and failed. :- /

  3. Matthew Krawczun says:

    okay there ooks like there should be a link to this but I can’t get it to work is anyone not having any luck with it?

    1. John Baichtal says:

      Fixed, Matthew!

  4. Niels Johnson says:

    Amazing, can this ink be used to print electronics?

Comments are closed.

Discuss this article with the rest of the community on our Discord server!

My interests include writing, electronics, RPGs, scifi, hackers & hackerspaces, 3D printing, building sets & toys. @johnbaichtal nerdage.net

View more articles by John Baichtal

ADVERTISEMENT

Maker Faire Bay Area 2023 - Mare Island, CA

Escape to an island of imagination + innovation as Maker Faire Bay Area returns for its 15th iteration!

Buy Tickets today! SAVE 15% and lock-in your preferred date(s).

FEEDBACK