Electrical and water resistance properties of conductive paste based on gold/silver composites

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a corrosive environment on both the electrical and the water resistance properties of conductive paste based on gold/silver composites. The conductive paste was prepared by incorporating silver and gold powders, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride as adhesive components, and methyl isobutyl ketone as a diluent. The gold/silver composite powder was prepared with different mass ratios of gold and silver. The paste was coated on a substrate and heated at 80℃ to form the conductive paste film. Characterizations of conductive paste were performed by using FT-IR spectroscopy, electrometry, cyclic voltammetry, and contact angle measurements. Thus, the conductive paste films were tested under two conditions: the absence and the presence of exposure to nitric acid vapor. The results showed that the resistance and the contact angle of the conductive paste were more stable after exposure to nitric acid vapor, particularly in samples of higher gold content. Furthermore, the electrochemical behavior of the conductive paste with gold content remains unchanged after exposure to nitric acid vapor. Results suggest that gold has properties in terms of stability, resistance to oxidation, and maintaining surface characteristics, making it a preferable component for applications requiring resistance to corrosive environments.