SPI Conductive Silver Paint

Some comments about plating base applications

The SPI Silver Paint products were originally developed for applications in electron microscopy, but apparently, as we have learned, some of the unique properties of the silver paint products makes them ideal for use in certain applications as a plating base. However, we do not know the details of how our customers are using these products.

Before selecting the SPI Silver Paint products for a plating base application, there are several things to think about, any one of which may be important to you in your application:

1. These paints are adequately conductive for their intended use in mounting samples for electron microscopy. They may or may not provide sufficient conductivity for a particular electroplating application. The SPI Supplies Brand of Silver Paint would work in some of these applications, but the SPI Carbon Paint definitely would not work.

2. There may be considerable variation in the conductivity of the paint layer, depending on the application technique. The conductors are flake-like colloids, and the conductivity of the paint depends on how the particles contact each other. The flat plate-like shape is what gives them good conductivity relative to a more spherical colloid and that is what attracts customers to these paints.

3. There may be issues with regard to the adhesion of the electroplated layer to the paint. This is especially true if there are stresses in the plated layer(s).

4. These paints do not buff or polish well. As a result, brush marks from plating may "print through" the painted layer.

5. Perhaps most important, the paint may or may not adhere well to the substrate you are plating. These systems cure by the evaporation of a solvent. Adhesion to a particular substrate may range from barely adequate to excellent. Adhesion to the mounts used for scanning electron microscopy, generally made from aluminum, is very good, but that doesn't mean that you will get good adhesion to your substrate.

Because of all of the above reasons, our general reaction to questions like yours is "try it; it might work". You are on your own, however, in testing the paint to determine whether it will perform well in your particular application.

Once you establish that the SPI Silver Paint is acceptable for your application, we can supply the suspension in bulk suspensions in roughly one gallon or four liter plastic bottles, and at a price per gram that is much lower than when the suspension is purchased in the small bottles for SEM applications.

To Ask a Question or Make a Comment

To Place an Order or Request a Quote

Return to:

. By Structure Probe, Inc.
Contacting Structure Probe, Inc.
All rights reserved.
All trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
Privacy Policy

Worldwide Distributors, Representatives, and Agents