Overview
IEC 62899-203:2018 - Printed electronics - Part 203: Materials - Semiconductor ink - defines terms and specifies standard methods for the characterisation and evaluation of semiconductor inks and the semiconductive layers produced from them. Part of the IEC 62899 printed‑electronics series, this document provides standardized test conditions, measurement methods and storage/ageing guidance to ensure repeatable assessment of ink materials used in printed electronics.
Keywords: IEC 62899-203, semiconductor ink, printed electronics, characterisation, semiconductive layers, evaluation methods
Key Topics and Technical Requirements
The standard focuses on measurable properties and standard test procedures (see clause references in the document):
- Terms and definitions: clear definitions for “semiconductive material” and “semiconductor ink” aligned with IEC 62860.
- Atmospheric conditions: recommended conditioning and test atmosphere for reproducible results.
- Evaluation of ink composition:
- Solid content and non‑volatile content
- Density and evaporation characteristics
- Flash point and safety‑related properties
- Physical properties important for printing:
- Rheology (viscosity and flow behaviour)
- Surface tension
- Properties of formed semiconductive layers:
- Semiconductor type classification and test piece preparation (substrate, layer dimensions, processing)
- Electrical properties: charge mobility, dielectric behaviour, ionisation potential
- Optical properties: luminous transmittance, chromaticity, colour uniformity, haze, refractive index
- Storage and ageing: recommended storage conditions and methods to measure deterioration over time (including informative examples in Annex A and chromaticity test points in Annex B).
- Normative references: links to IEC 62860 and a range of ISO methods used for density, viscosity, refractive index, haze and colour measurements.
Practical Applications and Who Uses This Standard
IEC 62899-203 is intended for anyone involved in the development, supply, testing or procurement of semiconductor inks and printed semiconductive layers:
- Ink formulators and material suppliers - to characterize and certify ink batches
- Device manufacturers (printed transistors, sensors, OLEDs, flexible and wearable electronics) - for incoming inspection and process control
- Test laboratories and QA teams - to perform standardised measurements (rheology, mobility, optical metrics)
- R&D teams - to compare materials and report reproducible data
- Procurement and compliance - to specify material acceptance criteria
Related Standards
- IEC 62860 (characterization of organic transistors and materials)
- Relevant ISO standards referenced for density, viscosity, refractive index, haze, colourimetric and flash‑point measurements
Using IEC 62899-203 helps harmonize material data, improve reproducibility in printed electronics manufacturing, and support reliable selection of semiconductor inks for flexible, low-cost electronic applications.
