Screen Printing - Attractive, Versatile

Today, many RFID antennae are produced through an etching process where a UV etch-resistant mask is screen printed over the positive image of the plated copper or aluminum, leaving only the required metal for an antenna, Costenoble said. Another popular method of making an RFID antenna is plating where a copper-plate attracting layer is screen printed and then fortified with copper plating. As RFID technology evolves—sometimes progressing month-to-month—screen printing is being used to directly print the actual antenna using silver-based ink. "Rotary screen printing enables precision control over the thickness and width of the ink layer, whether you are printing the etch-resistant part or the conductive ink itself."