Resistive Gravure Inks with Soy Protein

The major challenge faced by the printed electronics (PE) industry is to formulate low-cost, renewable, easily available alternatives for current solvent based conductive inks based on precious metals. This work is aimed to formulate the alternative inks based on renewable "green" raw materials such as soy polymer, in combination with conductive graphites and conductive carbon fillers. Water-based conductive acrylic and soy inks were formulated for the gravure printing process. Blends of graphene and conductive carbon fillers were used to replace the expensive silver. Simultaneously, a study was conducted to determine the potential of soy polymers as resin system to replace acrylic resins.