The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 03, 2001
Filed:
Sep. 10, 1998
Richard Allen Day, Whitney Point, NY (US);
David John Russell, Apalachin, NY (US);
Donald Herman Glatzel, New Milford, PA (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
According to the present invention, an improved photoimagable cationically polymerizable epoxy based solder mask is provided that contains a non-brominated epoxy resin system and from about 0.1 to about 15 parts, by weight per 100 parts of resin system, of a cationic photoinitiator. The non-brominated epoxy-resin system has solids that are comprised of from about 10% to about 80% by weight, of a polyol resin having epoxy functionality; from about 0% to about 90% by weight of a polyepoxy resin; and from about 25% to about 85% by weight of an difunctional epoxy resin. Since the photosensitive cationically polymerizable epoxy based solder mask does not contain bromine, it is particularly advantageous halogens in waste processing chemicals or in incinerated scrap circuit boards are regulated by environmental concerns. The photosensitive cationically polymerizable non-brominated epoxy based solder mask has a glass transition temperature greater than about 100° C., preferably greater than about 110° C. The solder mask dries to a tack-free film; thus, artwork used in the photoimaging process will not stick to the dried soldermask film. The polyol resin which is a condensation product of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol A, has a weight average molecular weight of between about 40,000 and 130,000. The polyepoxy resin is an epoxidized multi-functional bisphenol A formaldehyde novolak resin having a weight average molecular weight of 4,000 to 10,000. The epoxidized diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A has two epoxide groups per molecule, a melting point of between about 80° C. and about 110° C. and a weight average molecular weight of between about 600 and 2,500. The invention also relates to a cationically polymerized solder mask.