Materials

Binders & Pastes for Multilayer Ceramics

Clear Water

The Only Water-Based, Non-Toxic Tape Casting Binder System that Matches Existing Solvent Processes

Polymer Innovations supplies new water soluble and conventional solvent-based tape casting binder systems. The innovative water based system is binder and surfactant in one, allowing manufacturers to achieve tape properties that until now were only possible in solvent systems.

In combination with these systems, Polymer Innovations also provides compatible paste systems and paste vehicles. These can be customized to composition, for piezo or for your current tape or fuel cell application (based on propietary materials or ready to use compositions).

Polymer Innovations can also supply termination pastes and paste binders. A very successful product is the VT-series BME termination binder, fully compatible with the burn-out of copper containing systems.

Basic Water Based Binder System and Additives

Products Solids (%) Typical level
(wt.% in slip)
Comments
WB4101 35% 10 to 30 Water based binder with plasticizer (7%), basic defoamer, wetting agents and other additives. Binder also acts as ceramic dispersant and therefore typically 25-50% of the total binder should be included in the grinding stage.
WB40B-44 30% 10 to 30 Similar to WB4101 with a lower amount of plasticizer (5%) to make stiffer tapes
WB-40B-53 26% 10 to 30 Similar to WB4101 without plasticizer to make stiff tapes

Defoamers

Products Solids (%) Typical level
(wt.% in slip)
Comments
WT001 100 .05-.25 Non-silicone mild defoamer also helps wet out surface area of powders.
DF001 100 .05-.25 Modified silicone copolymer especially effective when combined with WT001 but with some powders can cause crater or fish eye defects.
DF002 100 .05-.25 Non-silicone mild defoamer most commonly used.

Plasticizers

Products Solids (%) Typical level
(wt.% in slip)
Comments
PL001 100 .5-2.5 Neutral pH standard type plasticizer to help flexibility and ability to laminate the tapes. Will cause some increase in viscosity.
PL002 100 .2-1.5 High pH plasticizer, similar to PL001 but more reactive with binder. Also increases binder dispersion power if included in stage 1. Due to high pH can make dried tape more susceptible to water attack.
PL005 100 .2-.6 Very high pH plasticizer, similar to PL002 but even more reactive with binder. Strong reactivity can help manage certain difficult powders. Due to high pH can make dried tape more susceptible to water attack.

Release agents

Products Solids (%) Typical level
(wt.% in slip)
Comments
BR008 100 .5-1.5 Added to second stage will help tapes release from steel belt casting surfaces. Should avoid premixing with the binder as it can cause temporary binder precipitation.
BR021 100 .5-1.5 Best belt release system, is typically used on the belt only.

Additives to allow thicker casting

(Useful when casting greater than 50 microns depending on the ceramic)
Products Solids (%) Typical level
(wt.% in slip)
Comments
TK004 30 .3-.6 Typically used about .4% TK004 and TK005 together. These additives work to stabilize thick sections of tape during drying to allow thicker casts. They prevent cracking and ceramic settling. They can also stabilize small bubbles which may require more rigorous defoaming or defoaming additives.
TK005 100 .3-.6 See TK004.

Dispersing Agents

Note: Normally the best dispersant for WB4101 is actually WB4101 since it is similar in nature to popular ammonium polyacrylate dispersants. The use of the popular ammonium polyacrylate dispersants will result in much lower tape strength. Below are compatible dispersants for specific applications.

Products Solids (%) Typical level
(wt.% in slip)
Comments
DS001 40 .5-2 Strong polymeric dispersant, useful with or without binder in dispersing stage.
DS002 100 .5-1.5 Phosphoric ester salt of polymeric dispersant.
DS005 50 .3-1.5 Strong polymeric dispersant
DS009 65% .3-1.5 Strong polymeric dispersant especially suited for zirconia if DS005 does not work

Wetting Agents

Products Solids (%) Typical level
(wt.% in slip)
Comments
WT001 100 .05-.25 Non-silicone, wets surface of powders. Does not increase siPET wetting. Acts as mild defoamer.
WT005 100 .01-.3 Modified silicone helpful in preventing pinholes, craters and mud cracking.
WT006 50 .1-.5 Water compatible acrylic leveling agent. Helpful in eliminating pinholes and craters.
WT007 100 .01-.15 Modified silicone helpful in preventing pinholes, craters and mud cracking. May increase foam and reduce ability to laminate.
WT012 50 0.05-.5 A modified silicone to increase wetting on silicone treated PET foil.
BR010 100 .05-.3 Modified silicone additive increases wetting to siPET film and powder. Allows for easier release from siPET.

PVB Solvent Based Additives

Products Solids (%) Typical level
(wt.% in slip)
Comments
MW1010 100 .5-3.0 Solid resin additive helpful for increasing viscosity stability and ability to tack tape for certain more reactive ceramics - especially containing boron. If ineffective try MW1020.
MW1020 100 .5-3.0 Liquid additive helpful for increasing viscosity stability and ability to tack tape for certain more reactive ceramics - especially containing boron. If ineffective try MW1010.

Vehicles

Products Comments
VS-series Available in a variety of drying rates and tack levels. Compatible with printing on most ceramic tapes and fired substrates. Supplied in constant solids high and low viscosity end members. Thinners also included.
VT-series For production of termination pastes including non-oxygen (BME) firing systems. Modifying additives also available.

Custom Thick Film Pastes

Inner electrode, thick film screen printing, precious metal, cutline, polymer thick film, adhesives, or with customer supplied filler.

Solvent based Tape casting materials

PVB-98

plasticizers

surfactants