Preferred and/or optional features of the invention will now be set out. Any aspect of the invention may be combined with any other aspect of the invention unless the context demands otherwise. Any of the preferred and/or optional features of any aspect may be combined, either singly or in combination, with any aspect of the invention unless the context demands otherwise.
For example, the discussion of the inorganic particle mixture content, raw materials and particle size distribution is applicable to the aspects of the invention relating to pastes, methods and blends equally.
Conductive pastes of the present invention include an organic medium and a solids portion. The solids portion includes electrically conductive material and an inorganic particle mixture. Each of these will be discussed, as will various methods of using them to make a conductive paste.
Inorganic (e.g. Oxide) Particle Mixture—Content
The solids portion of the conductive pastes described herein contains a blend of substantially crystalline inorganic materials in particulate form. This inorganic blend is sometimes referred to as an oxide particle mixture herein. The oxides, carbonates, nitrates or other materials as described below can be mixed (for example, by co-milling) and then incorporated into a conductive paste.