SPI-Chem™ Conductive Platinum Paint/Suspension

Exclusive conductive composition for high temperature applications

Explanation of Hazardous Labels

Properties of platinum metal:

Appearance: "platinum" colored suspension
CAS#: 7440-06-4
Atomic Number: 78
Atomic Weight: 195.078

The SPI Supplies Platinum Paint has been formulated for those applications requiring high temperature performance as well as chemical inertness. The product, when compared to silver, is roughly two orders of magnitude higher in cost, so it should be selected only after the SPI Supplies Silver Paint has been tried and found to not work under the conditions of the experiment, or would be known to not work, just on the basis of first principles. When applied on a surface, the thin layer, after firing, takes on the bulk properties of platinum.

There are other applications where silver fails because of its sublimation characteristics: In a vacuum at temperatures over ~ 550°C/1022°F, the sublimation rate of silver becomes appreciable, and therefore, can be taken above that temperature range only for short times, if at all, before running the risk of vacuum system contamination. Those working in high temperature superconductor (HTSC) applications encounter this problem presently; there is the demand for ever higher temperatures, but those using SPI Silver Paste Plus™ to adhere the wafer to the heater head, must stay below this temperature range.

SPI-Chem™ platinum paint vs. platinum paste from other sources:
The only real difference between a "paint" and a "paste" is the difference in platinum solids (the paste being substantially higher in metal content than the paint). But in the case of commercially available platinum pastes, they almost all contain a glass frit and are not pure platinum solids plus suspending medium.

These other products are referred to as "reactive bond" products, that is, they contain a glass frit which is specifically intended to promote adhesion to a zirconia substrate. SPI Conductive Platinum Paint contains no frit. It provides better chemical purity and temperature resistance, but at the risk of lower adhesion to many surfaces. The SPI-Chem™ platinum paint contains a much more sophisticated binder system than any other platinum paint or paste of which we are aware.

Adhesion of the SPI Platinum Paint to Substrates:
The properties of platinum, other than its corrosion resistance and high melting temperature, are not particularly good, and one cannot expect platinum to have mechanical properties like steel at any temperature. Some of our existing customers are known to be using this paint on substrates which are known to pose adhesion problems, such as ceramics and stainless steel, and they experience adequate adhesion, but this does not necessarily mean that the paint will have adhesion which is adequate for all situations when it is applied to other substrates. We can only remind the reader that the use of this kind of product has to be considered "research" in nature and in the end, it might be necessary to just "try" some and find out whether it will or will not work in their particular situation.

Some other useful comments:
We have received messages from prospective customers asking if we could have made a mistake in the placing of the decimal point in the price. No, there is no mistake. But the high price is dictated by the fact that a) the market price per gram of Pt is about 100X that of silver and b) the density of Pt is about double that of silver, so a given weight of Pt suspension has the appearance of being about half as much present as for silver.

We have also sometimes been asked by customers whether we "shorted" them on the fill of the material in the bottle because it just did not look like too much was there (in comparison to a bottle of SPI Supplies^® Brand silver paint). Well, we will admit that when compared to silver paint, there is not very much in the bottle. But there is enough to do what one wants to do with it (usually).

There is also a strong tendency for the platinum solids to settle out, probably because of the density of platinum. However, if some of the thinner is added, it can be resuspended. However, and again in comparison with silver paint, it will not suspend as easily. A few quick shakes of the wrist won't do it. But a few minutes in an ultrasonic bath will resuspend it quite easily.

This is a newly developed product of SPI Supplies and is the first step in our introduction of a family of products for use at high temperatures. We are presently formulating SPI Platinum Paste Plus™ and would be interested in hearing from those requiring a higher viscosity and solids product. However, those considering the use of the coming SPI Platinum Paste Plus™ should be prepared for "sticker shock" since the cost will be substantially higher than the cost of the platinum paint.

	SPI #	Each	In Stock
SPI Platinum Paint 10g	04990-AB	$ 975.00	Yes
SPI Platinum Paint 30g	04990-DA	2800.00	No
SPI Platinum Paint 60g	04990-GA	4700.00	No

Storage conditions: Room temperature
Hazardous from the stand point of shipping

Use this authentic thinner for the dilution of the SPI Platinum Paint; it has the exact composition of the paint but without the metal solids. This thinner can be used to not only replace evaporated suspending liquid, but also to dilute the suspension in order to make a fixed amount of this expensive product "go farther".

			SPI #	Each		In Stock
		Platinum Paint Thinner 30g	04989-AB	$ 21.96		Yes

Storage conditions: Room temperature
Hazardous from the stand point of shipping

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