In today’s Internet of Things (IoT) world, radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology is found in a variety of devices for information transfer applications. For high-volume RFID applications, printed electronics conductive inks provide greater production scalability than traditional manufacturing methods. High-conductivity silver ink compositions, in combination with functional carbon & dielectric inks, enable users to print HF & UHF antennas for RFID devices including smart cards, passports, credit cards, smart labels for tracking and inventory management, various transportation systems, and more. Henkel has a long history of developing LOCTITE® conductive inks for RFID devices which continue to enable the next generation of ID products.
In addition to flexibility, adhesion, and compatibility requirements, electronic inks used for RFID products must be capable of transmitting and receiving specific radio frequencies. This requires good permeability, surface roughness, and low impedance such that all of the elements with a given ink system interact effectively with the RF fields. Henkel inks available through Tekra are optimized for RFID antenna performance.
Tekra offers a variety of conductive inks for RFID devices and printed antennas for information transfer applications like contactless smart cards and labels, including:
Silver Inks:
- LOCTITE® ECI 1010 is highly conductive and designed for screen printing
- LOCTITE® ECI 1016 is highly conductive with humidity and heat resistance and designed for high-speed rotary screen presses
- LOCTITE® EDAG PM406V1 is screen printable and compatible with temperature-sensitive substrates like PVC and paper
- LOCTITE® EDAG PD 056 is a highly conductive silver coating designed for high-speed printing that is blendable with LOCTITE® SS 24600 carbon coating to provide a range of resistances
- LOCTITE® SP 413 is an RF/EMI shielding coating that is blendable with LOCTITE® EDAG 109 carbon ink to provide a range of resistances
Carbon Inks:
- LOCTITE® EDAG PF 407C is screen printable and compatible with temperature and solvent-sensitive substrates
- LOCTITE® EDAG PF 407A has improved screen residence time and is compatible with temperature and solvent-sensitive substrates
- LOCTITE® ECI 7005 is a water-based ink designed for high-speed printing
- LOCTITE® ECI 7007 is designed for high-speed printing and compatible with temperature-sensitive substrates
- LOCTITE® SS 24600 is carbon coating designed for high-speed printing and blendable with LOCTITE® EDAG PD 056 silver coating to provide a range of resistances
- LOCTITE® EDAG 109 is designed for high-speed printing and blendable with LOCTITE® SP 413 silver coating to provide a range of resistances
Dielectric Inks:
- LOCTITE® EDAG 452SS is a green-translucent ink intended for insulating and protecting flexible circuitry and encapsulating surface mount devices (SMDs)
- LOCTITE® EDAG PF 455B is a green-translucent ink intended for insulating and protecting crossovers on flexible circuitry
- LOCTITE® EDAG PF 455BC is a clear-translucent ink intended for insulating and protecting crossovers on flexible circuitry
RFID Ink from Tekra
Tekra is an authorized distributor of Henkel Electronic Materials's full line of conductive inks that include silver conductive inks, carbon conductive inks, and dielectric inks. Tekra's partnership with Henkel provides our customers access to world class products used in the production of flexible circuitry, biosensors, antennas, flexible heating elements, and membrane touch switches.
Henkel's line of conductive inks is complimented by Tekra's offering of Mylar® Specialty Films’s (formerly DuPont Teijin Films™) Mylar® and Melinex® polyester and SABIC's LEXAN™ polycarbonate films, as well as 3M's extensive line of transfer tapes and adhesives. You can rely on Tekra and Henkel to provide a complete solution for your printed electronics needs.
