Soft blanket gravure printing technology for finely patterned conductive layers on three-dimensional or curved surfaces

Abstract

In this paper, we report on a newly developed printing method called the "soft blanket gravure" (SBG) printing method, which is based on a conventional gravure offset printing method but unlike it, SBG printing uses a very soft and thick offset blanket. SBG printing onto various curved, nonplanar surfaces as well as on planar surfaces using silver ink was successfully demonstrated by optimizing printing conditions such as printing pressure and printing speed. Finely printed conductive silver lines with a 30 μm line width were formed on the curved surfaces. This printing method will have new applications in three-dimensional printed electronics.