Composition containing a polymer or copolymer of a 3,4-dialkoxythiophene and non-aqueous solvent

Abstract

A method for preparing a composition containing between 0.08 and 3.0% by weight of polymer or copolymer of a 3,4-dialkoxythiophene in which the two alkoxy groups may be the same or different or together represent an optionally substituted oxy-alkylene-oxy bridge, a polyanion and at least one non-aqueous solvent from a dispersion of the polymer or copolymer of (3,4-dialkoxythiophene) and the polyanion in water which is prepared in the substantial absence of oxygen, comprising in the following order the steps of: i) mixing at least one of the non-aqueous solvents with the aqueous dispersion of the polymer or copolymer of (3,4-dialkoxythiophene) and the polyanion; and ii) evaporating water from the mixture prepared in step i) until the content of water therein is reduced by at least 65% by weight; a printing ink, printing paste or coating composition, capable of yielding layers with enhanced conductivity at a given transparency, prepared according to the above-described method; a coating process with the coating composition thereby producing a layer with enhanced conductivity at a given transparency; and a printing process with the printing ink or paste thereby producing a layer with enhanced conductivity at a given transparency.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for preparing a composition containing between 0.08 and 3.0% by weight of a polymer or copolymer of a 3,4-dialkoxythiophene in which said two alkoxy groups may be the same or different or together represent an optionally substituted oxy-alkylene-oxy bridge, a polyanion and at least one non-aqueous solvent from a dispersion of said polymer or copolymer of (3,4-dialkoxythiophene) and said polyanion in water which is prepared in the substantial absence of oxygen, comprising in the following order the steps of: i) mixing at least one of said non-aqueous solvents with said aqueous dispersion of said polymer or copolymer of (3,4-dialkoxythiophene) and said polyanion; and ii) evaporating water from the mixture prepared in step i) until the content of water therein is reduced by at least 65% by weight.  
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the water in said mixture from step i) is reduced by at least 80% by weight.  
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the water in said mixture from step i) is reduced by at least 90% by weight.  
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the water in said mixture from step i) is reduced by at least 95% by weight.  
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein a dye or pigment is added in a further process step.  
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymer or copolymer of a (3,4-dialkoxythiophene) is selected from the group consisting of: poly(3,4-methylenedioxy-thiophene), poly(3,4-methylenedioxythiophene) derivatives, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy-thiophene) derivatives, poly[3,4-(propylenedioxy)thiophene], poly[3,4-(propylenedioxy)thiophene] derivatives, poly(3,4-butylenedioxythiophene), poly(3,4-butylenedioxythiophene) derivatives and copolymers therewith.  
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein said polyanion is poly(styrene sulphonate).  
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein said non-aqueous solvent is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-propandiol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, N-methylpyrrolidinone and carbitol acetate.  
     
     
         9 . A coating composition, capable of yielding layers with enhanced conductivity at a given transparency, prepared according to a method for preparing a composition containing between 0.08 and 3.0% by weight of a polymer or copolymer of a 3,4-dialkoxythiophene in which said two alkoxy groups may be the same or different or together represent an optionally substituted oxy-alkylene-oxy bridge, a polyanion and at least one non-aqueous solvent from a dispersion of said polymer or copolymer of (3,4-dialkoxythiophene) and said polyanion in water which is prepared in the substantial absence of oxygen, comprising in the following order the steps of: i) mixing at least one of said non-aqueous solvents with said aqueous dispersion of said polymer or copolymer of (3,4-dialkoxythiophene) and said polyanion; and ii) evaporating water from the mixture prepared in step i) until the content of water therein is reduced by at least 65% by weight.  
     
     
         10 . A coating process comprising the steps of: providing a coating composition prepared according to a method for preparing a composition containing between 0.08 and 3.0% by weight of a polymer or copolymer of a 3,4-dialkoxythiophene in which said two alkoxy groups may be the same or different or together represent an optionally substituted oxy-alkylene-oxy bridge, a polyanion and at least one non-aqueous solvent from a dispersion of said polymer or copolymer of (3,4-dialkoxythiophene) and said polyanion in water which is prepared in the substantial absence of oxygen, comprising in the following order the steps of: i) mixing at least one of said non-aqueous solvents with said aqueous dispersion of said polymer or copolymer of (3,4-dialkoxythiophene) and said polyanion; and ii) evaporating water from the mixture prepared in step i) until the content of water therein is reduced by at least 65% by weight; coating said coating composition on an optionally subbed support, a dielectric layer, a phosphor layer or a transparent conductive layer thereby producing a layer with enhanced conductivity at a given transparency.  
     
     
         11 . Coating process according to  claim 10 , wherein said support is paper, polymer film, glass or ceramic.  
     
     
         12 . A printing ink or paste, capable of yielding layers with enhanced conductivity at a given transparency, prepared according to a method for preparing a composition containing between 0.08 and 3.0% by weight of a polymer or copolymer of a 3,4-dialkoxythiophene in which said two alkoxy groups may be the same or different or together represent an optionally substituted oxy-alkylene-oxy bridge, a polyanion and at least one non-aqueous solvent from a dispersion of said polymer or copolymer of (3,4-dialkoxythiophene) and said polyanion in water which is prepared in the substantial absence of oxygen, comprising in the following order the steps of: i) mixing at least one of said non-aqueous solvents with said aqueous dispersion of said polymer or copolymer of (3,4-dialkoxythiophene) and said polyanion; and ii) evaporating water from the mixture prepared in step i) until the content of water therein is reduced by at least 65% by weight.  
     
     
         13 . Printing ink according to  claim 12 , wherein said printing ink is a lithographic printing ink, a gravure printing ink, a flexographic printing ink, a screen printing ink, an ink-jet printing ink or an offset printing ink.  
     
     
         14 . A printing process comprising the steps of: providing a printing ink or paste prepared according to a method for preparing a composition containing between 0.08 and 3.0% by weight of a polymer or copolymer of a 3,4-dialkoxythiophene in which said two alkoxy groups may be the same or different or together represent an optionally substituted oxy-alkylene-oxy bridge, a polyanion and at least one non-aqueous solvent from a dispersion of said polymer or copolymer of (3,4-dialkoxythiophene) and said polyanion in water which is prepared in the substantial absence of oxygen, comprising in the following order the steps of: i) mixing at least one of said non-aqueous solvents with said aqueous dispersion of said polymer or copolymer of (3,4-dialkoxythiophene) and said polyanion; and ii) evaporating water from the mixture prepared in step i) until the content of water therein is reduced by at least 65% by weight; printing said printing ink on an optionally subbed support, a dielectric layer, a phosphor layer or a transparent conductive layer thereby producing a layer with enhanced conductivity at a given transparency.  
     
     
         15 . Printing process according to  claim 14 , wherein said support is paper, polymer film, glass or ceramic.