Patent ID: 7510621
Filing Date: 2009-03-31
Classification: B32B,C09J,H01B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of forming an electrically conductive adhesive bond between a first bonding surface area on a first metallic member and a second bonding surface area on a second metallic member, the method comprising: applying a coating of an adhesive composition to at least one of the first and second bonding surface areas, the adhesive comprising electrically conductive particles; pressing the first and second bonding surface areas together to press the adhesive coating against both surface areas to form an adhesive layer interface between the bonding surface areas and separating them, the electrically conductive particles being dispersed in the adhesive layer interface for providing distinct electrically conductive pathways through the adhesive co-extensive with the bonding surface areas; applying an electrical potential between the first and second bonding areas and the adhesive coating for a time sufficient to fuse the electrically conductive particles without bringing the bonding surface areas into physical contact with each other; and removing the electrical potential to re-solidify the fused electrically conductive material into a plurality of separate electrical flow paths through a matrix of the adhesive from the first bonding surface area to the second bonding surface area, the adhesive layer between the two bonding surface areas then being bridged by the re-solidified conductive flow paths without direct contact of the bonding surface areas.