Application Notes

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© 2017 / Bare Conductive Ltd.
First Floor, 98 Commercial St
London E1 6LZ, United Kingdom
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APPLICATION TIPS
Electric Paint is a unique material that can be applied in many different ways, from a paintbrush to
common printing processes like screen-printing. To achieve consistent electrical performance it is best to
apply Electric Paint in an even layer. If you’re interested in screen printing Electric Paint, it is best to use
a textile-type screen in order to achieve a generous layer thickness. We tend to use a 43T screen. Electric
Paint is not inkjet printer compatible. For more application tips visit www.bareconductive.com/tutorials
POWER SOURCES
Electric Paint is intended for use with low voltage DC power sources at low currents and has not been
tested with sources exceeding 12VDC at 50mA. Higher voltages are not recommended.
SUBSTRATES
Electric Paint is a water-based paint and acts much like other poster paints. Electric Paint adheres well
to wood, paper products, some plastics, corks, textiles and metal. Hydrophobic materials such as some
glass and plastics will exhibit poor adhesion, though this can be improved by roughing the surface with
sandpaper or similar.
DRYING TIPS
Electric Paint is fast drying at room temperature. This material dries rather than cures and gives off no
fumes during the drying process. Drying time can be moderately reduced by placing the material near a
low intensity heat source such as an incandescent lamp. Subjecting Electric Paint to a high temperature
environment will negatively affect both physical and electrical performance.
FLEXIBILITY
Electric Paint is somewhat exible, but this exibility depends on two factors, the layer thickness and
choice of substrate. Regardless of substrate, a consistently thin layer of paint creates the most exible
circuitry. Areas of paint with wide variation in thickness tend to produce fracturing. Substrates which are
exible, but not stretchy (such as paper) work better than materials like Lycra which stretch in multiple
dimensions.
COLD SOLDERING
Electric Paint works well as a cold solder joint. Whether used to solder a surface mount or through-hole
component onto a circuit board, or to adhere a component to a piece of paper, this material
is non-permanent and almost innitely repairable.These unique properties mean that components
can be harvested from projects, cleaned and reused.
RESISTANCE SAMPLES
The aim of these application notes is to give you as much information as you need to get your work
moving forward. As there are so many ways to apply Electric Paint, raw technical data is not always
the most useful way to present the product. Presenting sheet resistances at thicknesses not achievable
with screen printing are not helpful for someone wanting to experiment in a loose manner, yet still be able
to make meaningful calculations.
Page 3 showcases a series of samples which indicate the amount of electrical resistance (measured
end to end) that you might expect from a given area of Electric Paint. This assumes a reasonably
thin layer of material (i.e. carefully painted with a brush or home screen printed). The areas of paint below
are shown full size.
See next page for visual.