Method for forming an article comprising a pathway of particles wherein a termination of the pathway of particles is exposed

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for forming an article comprising a pathway of particles wherein a termination of the pathway of particles is exposed. The method comprises arranging the particles by applying an electric field and/or a magnetic field at an interface between a water soluble or a non-water soluble matrix and a matrix comprising a viscous material and particles. After fixating the viscous material, the termination is exposed by dissolving the water soluble or non-water soluble matrix. The invention also relates to articles obtainable by said method, and to the use of said method in various applications.

1 . A method for arranging particles at an interface between at least one from the group consisting of a water soluble matrix and a non-water soluble matrix and a matrix comprising a viscous material and particles, said method comprising the steps of:
 contacting at least one from the group consisting of the water soluble matrix and the non-water soluble matrix and the matrix comprising a viscous material and particles with a support comprising at least one side, said at least one side of the support facing at least one from the group consisting of the water soluble and the non-water soluble matrix and the matrix comprising a viscous material and particles;   placing at least one from the group consisting of the water soluble matrix and the non-water soluble matrix in contact with the matrix comprising a viscous material and particles thereby providing a structure comprising at least one interface between at least one from the group consisting of the water soluble matrix and the non-water soluble matrix and said matrix comprising a viscous material and particles;   subjecting the particles in the structure to at least one from the group consisting of an electric field and a magnetic field thereby forming the particles into at least one pathway of particles, said at least one pathway of particles comprising a termination at the at least one interface between at least one from the group consisting of the water soluble matrix and the non-water soluble matrix and the matrix comprising a viscous material and particles; and   fixating the viscous material so as to fixate the at least one pathway of particles, said termination being exposed upon removal by dissolution of at least one from the group consisting of the water soluble matrix and the non-water soluble matrix.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water soluble matrix comprises a water soluble material. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one from the group consisting of the water soluble matrix and the non-water soluble matrix comprises particles. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one pathway of particles forms part of a network of particles. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of subjecting the at least one side of the support to a surface modification technique selected from corona, plasma or flame treatment. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of removing the support from at least one from the group consisting of the water soluble matrix and the non-water soluble matrix and the matrix comprising a viscous material and particles. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the water soluble matrix is removed by rinsing with at least one from the group consisting of water and an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-water soluble matrix is removed by rinsing with at least one from the group consisting of acids, bases, and organic solvents such as alcohols, esters, ketones, aldehydes, ethers, and hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the water soluble matrix comprises at least one from the group consisting of water soluble polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose ethers, polyethylene oxide, starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl methylether-maleic anhydride, polymaleic anhydride, styrene maleic anhydride, hydroxyethyl cellulose, methylcellulose, polyethylene glycols, carboxymethylcellulose, polyacrylicacid salts, alginates, acrylamide copolymers, guar gum, casein, ethylene-maleic anhydride resin, polyethyleneimine, ethyl hydroxyethylcellulose, ethyl methylcellulose, and hydroxyetyl methylcellulose. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the viscous material of the matrix comprising a viscous material and particles comprises at least one from the group consisting of an adhesive and an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the particles comprise conductive particles such as particles of at least one from the group consisting of carbon, metal and metal alloys. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pathway of particles is an electrically conducting pathway of particles. 
     
     
         13 . The particle according to the method of  claim 1 .