The biggest problem with conductive paints and inks is that they crack and loose their conductivity on fabric because the surface of fabric is porous and uneven. To print on stretch fabrics is an even bigger issue that might be resolved by combining the paints with flexible materials such as latex, silicone or fabric mediums. Painting on fabrics can lead to some nice results regarding stretch and bend sensing.
Also see: Tutorial on painting paper circuits
Copper Paint
CuPro-Cote from LessEMF is highly conductive and great for painting circuits. See above tutorial.
CuPro-Cote >> http://lessemf.com/paint.html (USA)
Carbon Paint
There are a range of carbon based paints available. While these are not as conductive as the copper one mentioned above, they are ideal for painting sensors.
YShield from LessEMF >> http://lessemf.com/paint.html (USA)
SPI Supplies >> http://www.2spi.com/catalog/spec_prep/cond_paints3.shtml (USA)
EMFields >> http://www.emfields.org/screening/paint.asp (USA)
Silver Paint
Pens containing silver ink. See: Conductive Pen
Maplin >> http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=36275&doy=17m4&C=SO&U=strat15 (UK)
Conductive Compounds
This company produces silver and carbon inks for electronics and screenprinting.
>> http://www.conductivecompounds.com
DuPont
Manufactures two silver screenprintable inks designed for flexible substrates.
>> http://www2.dupont.com/MCM/en_US/news_events/article20100413.html
Make your own conductive paints and glues!
By mixing conductive powders/pigments or particles with paintable mediums you can make your own conductive paints. You want to use a medium that will shrink when it dries rather than expand, bringing the conductive particles closer together, rather than further apart. Graphite powder is easy to buy as lock lubricant, but is relatively course, finer powders make better connections. I would recommend starting by making some samples. Mix as much conductive material with your medium as possible, before your medium is saturated and turns clumpy. If this is conductive, then make more samples with varying ratios, until you achieve the right result for your purposes.
!!! With latex i observed that the conductive material sinks to the bottom and the latex forms an isolating layer on top of them. So that, when you measure for conductivity it appears that the cured mix is not conductive, but if you measure from the bottom, or use needles to probe into the mixture, then you can read values.
The following links contain instructions on making your own conductive paints and glues:
>> http://smackaay.com/2009/01/13/making-a-conductive-adhesive/
>> http://www.instructables.com/id/Conductive-Glue-And-Conductive-Thread-Make-an-LED/step1/Make-Conductive-Glue-Conductive-Paint-and-Conduc/
>> http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f38/diy-conductive-paint-cavity-shielding-589012/
>> http://www.ehow.com/how_5031497_make-conductive-ink.html
[...] (0.75$) Conductive fabric Thermochromic paint/dye (4.95$) Nitinol / shape memory alloy wire(2$) Conductive paint Neodymium magnets(0.24$) Copper tape / copper foil(1.27$) Tilt sensor (1.85$) Peltier Junction [...]
we are in need of conductive paint may be oil or water base in different colours or transperent like laqure.
pl inform if availabe with full details
I was wondering if this copper paint is conductive, apparently no ?
http://bloggingwithcopperliquidpaint.blogspot.com/2008/09/email-question-from-emily.html
The carbon paints are conductive but with a high resistance. Similarly you can make your own conductive paint by mixing graphite particles into a medium like latex and if the ratio is right (lots of graphite) then the mix will be conductive. The copper paint from less EMF is very conductive and great for painting circuits on paper!
I am interested in heating up conductive copper paint on paper enough to change thermochromatic ink, is this possible with arduino? any tips or direction you could point me in
Unfortunately i have no experience with using paint to heat thermochromatic inks. Not yet. I know it is possible with thick steel conductive thread, and that you need a 9V battery or so to provide enough power to heat it.
If you try anything out that works it would be great to hear about it!
Hi, I was wondering if it is possible to use conductive paint as a first coat and then paint over that layer while still maintaining conductivity? I am curious if it is possible to make some sort of programmable interactive conductive painting.
yes, as long as you do not wash away the coat of conductive paint, then painting over it with regular paint should not affect the conductivity of it.
but always test!!
[...] HOW TO GET WHAT YOU WANTCopper Paint … Carbon Paint … we are in need of conductive paint may be oil or water base in different colours or transperent like laqure. pl inform if availabe with full details… [...]
You wrote above: Similarly you can make your own conductive paint by mixing graphite particles into a medium like latex and if the ratio is right (lots of graphite) then the mix will be conuctive.
How much is lots of graphite? like 1/4 graphite for for each gallon of latex? Wouldn’t it be better to just paint and when paint it still fresh. To springle the graphite on the top of it?
good question. i added a paragraph on making your own conductive paint above. i would recommend starting by making some samples. try mixing your conductive material with your medium in a 1:1 ratio. then check the result (when dry). if is not conductive then make a new mix with more conductive material to medium…. and continue along these lines.
hope this helps!
Hello, we’ve been actively seeking a clear conductive paint for some time now, with no luck. Essentially, we’re trying to find something off-the-shelf which can be applied to various surfaces and sized objects – sprayed or brushed on. We’ve found many coloured options, because of the active ingredient but tt’s essential for our application that the coating/paint is clear. any suggestions, thanks.
This might do it & I need some too. Doubt it’ll be cheap though
http://www.hznano.com/en/Products.asp?id=391
update on using conductive paint to heat thermochromic paints:
it is possible, and you’ll get the best results with paints that are highly conductive and uniform (no uneven patches of resistance once painted and dried). Silver paint is expensive but works well. Carbon paint, applied in multiple layers (to increase conductivity), also works. Copper paint also works, but tends to burn up in certain areas that have higher resistance.
here some links:
http://web.media.mit.edu/~plusea/?p=734
http://web.media.mit.edu/~plusea/?p=1210
http://web.media.mit.edu/~plusea/?p=143
Do you guys have any experience using conductive inks with inkjet (standard) printers to print on textile or paper? Do you recommend any particular type of inks?
I found that carbon or silver nano inks are suitable but still could not acquire them to test with.
I’m looking for an oil-based exterior paint with primer included and also with graphite or something else that’s rough to paint my outside steps. I live in snow country. Is there a quality brand you would recommend and a store or an online outlet you would recommend?
Hi,
For those of you looking for the transparent conductive paint from Shanghai Huzheng – I recently made a bulk order and am selling smaller quantities on ebay now:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320960807690#ht_836wt_1238
[...] CuPro-Cote ink at hand. Conductive ink comes in various forms and qualities (see Hannah’s summary) and our main goal will be to test whether we manage to get any reasonable circuits assembled from [...]
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Does anyone have a small amount of transparent conductive paint that we could buy off of you? We need about an ounce for a prototype and can’t really
afford to buy the minimum amount directly from the companies
We’ve found.
Thanks!
Can you make conductive paint with acrylic polymer mediums and gels, and – can you make acylic paint conductive? Looking to make an interactive/conductive artwork using high viscosity acrylics.
my friends make a new conductive ink called bare conductive
you might want to check it out
V