Patent ID: 7766218

Claim:
A pasty silver particle composition, characterized by comprising (A) non-spherical silver particles having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 18 μm, a surface at least partially coated with a higher fatty acid or its derivative, and wherein the coated particles have a non-zero carbon content of 1.0 weight % or less, wherein the ratio of silver oxide on the surface of the silver particles to silver particle surface area is less than 50%; and (B) a volatile dispersion medium having a boiling point from 100° C. to 400° C. in an amount sufficient to make the non-spherical silver particles of (A) pasty, selected from: water; a volatile monohydric alcohol selected from the group consisting of ethyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, pentyl alcohol, hexyl alcohol, heptyl alcohol, octyl alcohol, nonyl alcohol, decyl alcohol, and benzyl alcohol; an ether; aliphatic carboxylic acid ester; or aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent.