Fabrication of a new type of electrically conductive micro-tracks via mechanical compression of beaded structures

In recent years, the importance of critical raw materials for global economic development has become increasingly evident, especially in electronics. A challenge in this industry is replacing traditional, unsustainable silver nanoparticle-based conductive pastes used for creating conductive paths. T...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Z. Rozynek, Y. Harkavyi, Ø.G. Martinsen, K. Giżyński
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Materials & Design
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525004058
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850233983135121408
author Z. Rozynek
Y. Harkavyi
Ø.G. Martinsen
K. Giżyński
author_facet Z. Rozynek
Y. Harkavyi
Ø.G. Martinsen
K. Giżyński
author_sort Z. Rozynek
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, the importance of critical raw materials for global economic development has become increasingly evident, especially in electronics. A challenge in this industry is replacing traditional, unsustainable silver nanoparticle-based conductive pastes used for creating conductive paths. This paper presents an approach to fabricating conductive micro-tracks from preassembled bead-like chains of microparticles. These single-particle-thick structures achieve high conductivity through a straightforward post-processing method — mechanical compression — offering a sustainable alternative to complex nanoparticle pastes. Our study explores the effects of uniaxial compression on malleable microparticles deposited additively on substrates, examining particle deformation, interparticle contact area changes, and their impact on conductivity. Through comprehensive numerical simulations, closely aligned with experimental observations, we establish a quantitative relationship between compressive strain (ε), compressive force (FN), the contact area between the compressing plate and the ball (A1), interparticle contact area (A2), and the electrical resistance (R) of the particle chain. We studied linear structures of monodisperse microparticles and investigated the effects of polydispersity and deviations from linearity. Furthermore, we studied the influence of compression force and process temperature on the stability of the substrate on which beaded structures are formed. This research presents a sustainable alternative to traditional nanoparticle pastes, offering a bottom-up method for developing optimized conductive paths.
format Article
id doaj-art-24e374ffff9049049042a06eaa25b11b
institution OA Journals
issn 0264-1275
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Materials & Design
spelling doaj-art-24e374ffff9049049042a06eaa25b11b2025-08-20T02:02:47ZengElsevierMaterials & Design0264-12752025-05-0125311398510.1016/j.matdes.2025.113985Fabrication of a new type of electrically conductive micro-tracks via mechanical compression of beaded structuresZ. Rozynek0Y. Harkavyi1Ø.G. Martinsen2K. Giżyński3CADENAS P.S.A., Prof. Sylwestra Kaliskiego 24, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland; Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 2, 61-614 Poznań, Poland; Corresponding author at: Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 2, 61-614 Poznań, Poland.Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 2, 61-614 Poznań, PolandDepartment of Physics, University of Oslo, Sem Sælands vei 24, 0371 Oslo, Norway; Department of Clinical and Biomedical Engineering, Oslo University Hospital, Sognsvannsveien 20, 0372 Oslo, NorwayInstitute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kasprzaka 44/52, 01-224 Warsaw, PolandIn recent years, the importance of critical raw materials for global economic development has become increasingly evident, especially in electronics. A challenge in this industry is replacing traditional, unsustainable silver nanoparticle-based conductive pastes used for creating conductive paths. This paper presents an approach to fabricating conductive micro-tracks from preassembled bead-like chains of microparticles. These single-particle-thick structures achieve high conductivity through a straightforward post-processing method — mechanical compression — offering a sustainable alternative to complex nanoparticle pastes. Our study explores the effects of uniaxial compression on malleable microparticles deposited additively on substrates, examining particle deformation, interparticle contact area changes, and their impact on conductivity. Through comprehensive numerical simulations, closely aligned with experimental observations, we establish a quantitative relationship between compressive strain (ε), compressive force (FN), the contact area between the compressing plate and the ball (A1), interparticle contact area (A2), and the electrical resistance (R) of the particle chain. We studied linear structures of monodisperse microparticles and investigated the effects of polydispersity and deviations from linearity. Furthermore, we studied the influence of compression force and process temperature on the stability of the substrate on which beaded structures are formed. This research presents a sustainable alternative to traditional nanoparticle pastes, offering a bottom-up method for developing optimized conductive paths.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525004058Conductive pathsMicro-tracksCompressive deformationCompressive strainSolder ballsLinear structure
spellingShingle Z. Rozynek
Y. Harkavyi
Ø.G. Martinsen
K. Giżyński
Fabrication of a new type of electrically conductive micro-tracks via mechanical compression of beaded structures
Materials & Design
Conductive paths
Micro-tracks
Compressive deformation
Compressive strain
Solder balls
Linear structure
title Fabrication of a new type of electrically conductive micro-tracks via mechanical compression of beaded structures
title_full Fabrication of a new type of electrically conductive micro-tracks via mechanical compression of beaded structures
title_fullStr Fabrication of a new type of electrically conductive micro-tracks via mechanical compression of beaded structures
title_full_unstemmed Fabrication of a new type of electrically conductive micro-tracks via mechanical compression of beaded structures
title_short Fabrication of a new type of electrically conductive micro-tracks via mechanical compression of beaded structures
title_sort fabrication of a new type of electrically conductive micro tracks via mechanical compression of beaded structures
topic Conductive paths
Micro-tracks
Compressive deformation
Compressive strain
Solder balls
Linear structure
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525004058
work_keys_str_mv AT zrozynek fabricationofanewtypeofelectricallyconductivemicrotracksviamechanicalcompressionofbeadedstructures
AT yharkavyi fabricationofanewtypeofelectricallyconductivemicrotracksviamechanicalcompressionofbeadedstructures
AT øgmartinsen fabricationofanewtypeofelectricallyconductivemicrotracksviamechanicalcompressionofbeadedstructures
AT kgizynski fabricationofanewtypeofelectricallyconductivemicrotracksviamechanicalcompressionofbeadedstructures