Mixed Solvents in Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors (MLCC) Electronic Paste and Their Effects on the Properties of Organic Vehicle

The copper end paste used in multilayer ceramic capacitors sintered in nitrogen atmosphere leads to carbon residues of organic vehicles, which leads to a reduction in electrode conductivity and high scrap rate. With an attempt to leave no residue in the sintering, the compatibility of solvents and thickeners should be improved because it has an important influence on the hierarchical volatilization and carbon residue of organic vehicles. In this work, the volatility of different solvents was compared, and several solvents were mixed in a definite proportion to prepare an organic vehicle with polyacrylate resins. The hierarchical volatility and solubility parameters of mixed solvents were effectively adjusted by changing proportions of different components. The thermogravimetric curves of resins and organic vehicles were measured by thermogravimetric analyzer, and the effect of solubility parameter on the dissolvability of resins in the solvent and the residual of organic vehicles were studied. Results showed that the hierarchical volatilization of solvents can be obtained by mixing different solvents; the intrinsic viscosity of the organic vehicle is higher, and the thermal decomposition residue of polyacrylate resins is lower when the solubility parameters of mixed solvents and polyacrylate resins are closer. The low residual sintering of organic vehicles can be achieved by using a mixed solvent with hierarchical volatility and approximate solubility parameters as resins.