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Message

making vias (was: Re: Plating thruholes.)

2004-08-15 by Mike

Okay, I'm going to risk being shouted at here...

I have been through the archives (not all, but a hefty chunk of it - 
including the discussion around msg 1100 about through-plating).

When the subject of conductive silver paint arises, it usually gets 
sidetracked into the use of activators, copper plating etc, but 
nobody so far seems to have tried using silver paint to create the 
actual body of the vias. According to the manufacturers, a typical 
paint has a resistance of 200 microOhms per cm, and it can be 
thinned. 2 or 3 applications should be enough. Whilst it is 
expensive, I would imagine 3 grammes of the stuff would go a heck of 
a long way.

I have used through-pin style vias for years, and I would like to 
move on to play around with multi layer laminated boards etc (one of 
these years I may get around to BGA). So, has anyone tried it, or am 
I going to be the one to save up for a bottle of silver?

Which reminds me, is it feasible to "solder" components with silver 
loaded epoxy? Obviously reworking would be a $"£%! of a job...

Mike

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