Effect of Silane Coupling Agent on The Performance of Electrically Conductive Adhesives

This study investigated the electrical and mechanical properties of electrically conductive adhesives (ECAs) filled with silver flakes and epoxy resin. Six silane coupling agents were selected to study their effects on the performance of ECAs, test the resistivity of ECAs after curing and the shear strength of the joints, and compare the changes in the performance of the ECAs before and after the damp-heat test. The results showed that, compared with other silane coupling agents, the addition of silane coupling agent 6040 significantly enhanced the conductivity of cured ECA, it had the lowest resistivity of 1.08×10-5Ω∙cm. And the addition of silane coupling agent KBM-303 dramatically increased the shear strength of cured ECA joints. The shear strength of the joints derived from ECA without silane coupling agent dropped by 32% after aging, while the shear strength of the joints derived from ECA with silane coupling agent 6040 improved by 10% after aging. It shows that silane coupling agents heve a significant effect on the resistivity and shear strength as well as the moisture and heat resistance of the ECAs.