U.S. patent application number 12/929603 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-02 for molded ferrite sheet, sintered ferrite substrate and antenna module.
This patent application is currently assigned to TODA KOGYO CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Takanori Doi, Tomohiro Dote, Tetsuya Kimura, Yoji Okano, Kazumi Yamamoto.
Application Number | 20110129641 12/929603 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39493918 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110129641 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kimura; Tetsuya ; et
al. |
June 2, 2011 |
Molded ferrite sheet, sintered ferrite substrate and antenna
module
Abstract
The present invention relates to a molded ferrite sheet having
opposing surfaces and a thickness in a range of 30 .mu.m to 430
.mu.m, at least one surface of said opposing surfaces having the
following surface roughness characteristics (a) to (c): (a) a
center line average roughness is in a range of 170 nm to 800 nm,
(b) a maximum height is in a range of 3 .mu.m to 10 .mu.m, and (c)
an area occupancy rate of cross-sectional area taken along a
horizontal plane at a depth of 50% of the maximum height in a
square of side 100 .mu.m is in a range of 10 to 80%.
Inventors: |
Kimura; Tetsuya; (Otake-shi,
JP) ; Dote; Tomohiro; (Otake-shi, JP) ;
Yamamoto; Kazumi; (Otake-shi, JP) ; Doi;
Takanori; (Otake-shi, JP) ; Okano; Yoji;
(Otake-shi, JP) |
Assignee: |
TODA KOGYO CORPORATION
Hiroshima-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
39493918 |
Appl. No.: |
12/929603 |
Filed: |
February 3, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12073565 |
Mar 6, 2008 |
7910214 |
|
|
12929603 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
428/141 ;
264/175; 427/127; 451/38 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C04B 35/265 20130101;
C04B 2235/77 20130101; H01Q 17/00 20130101; C04B 2235/3234
20130101; C04B 2235/5445 20130101; C04B 2235/602 20130101; C04B
2235/963 20130101; C04B 2235/945 20130101; Y10T 428/24355 20150115;
C04B 35/62218 20130101; H01F 1/344 20130101; C04B 2235/3284
20130101; C04B 2235/3281 20130101; C04B 35/63408 20130101; H01F
41/16 20130101; C04B 2235/3279 20130101; Y10T 428/31609 20150401;
C04B 2235/6025 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
428/141 ;
427/127; 264/175; 451/38 |
International
Class: |
B32B 3/10 20060101
B32B003/10; B05D 5/12 20060101 B05D005/12; B29C 43/24 20060101
B29C043/24; B24C 1/00 20060101 B24C001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 7, 2007 |
JP |
2007-057892 |
Oct 31, 2007 |
JP |
2007-282576 |
Claims
1. A molded ferrite sheet having opposing surfaces and a thickness
in a range of 30 .mu.m to 430 .mu.m, at least one surface of said
opposing surfaces having the following surface roughness
characteristics (a) to (c): (a) a center line average roughness is
in a range of 170 nm to 800 nm, (b) a maximum height is in a range
of 3 .mu.m to 10 .mu.m, and (c) an area occupancy rate of
cross-sectional area taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of
50% of the maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m is in a
range of 10 to 80%.
2. A molded ferrite sheet as recited in claim 1, wherein said at
least one surface is roughened by sandblasting.
3. A molded ferrite sheet as recited in claim 1, wherein said
molded ferrite sheet is prepared by molding under pressure using a
mold or calender roll having a roughened surface so that the
roughness of the roughened surface of said mold or calender roll is
transferred to a surface of said molded ferrite sheet in contact
with the roughened surface of said mold or calender roll.
4. A molded ferrite sheet as recited in claim 1, wherein said
molded ferrite sheet is prepared by a method which comprises
applying a coating of a ferrite-dispersed coating liquid to a
surface of a plastic film, and drying the applied coating, and
wherein said surface of said plastic film has been roughened by
sandblasting so that the roughness of said plastic film is
transferred to a surface of the dried coating in contact with the
roughened surface of said plastic film.
5. A molded ferrite sheet as recited in claim 1, wherein said
molded ferrite sheet is prepared by a method which comprises
applying a coating of a ferrite-dispersed coating liquid to a
support and drying the applied coating, and wherein the ferrite has
been obtained by adjusting a particle size of a ferrite powder
having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 10 .mu.m so that said
surface roughness characteristics (a) to (c) are imparted to a
surface of the dried coating in contact with said support.
6. A molded ferrite sheet as recited in claim 1, wherein the
ferrite is Ni--Zn--Cu-based spinel ferrite or Mg--Zn--Cu-based
spinel ferrite.
7.-18. (canceled)
Description
[0001] This application is a divisional of application Ser. No.
12/073,565 filed Mar. 6, 2008, allowed, which in turn claims
priority to JP 2007-057892 filed Mar. 7, 2007 and JP 2007-282576
filed Oct. 31, 2007, the entire contents of each of which are
hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a molded ferrite sheet for
use in preparing a thin single-layer soft magnetic sintered ferrite
substrate, to a thin single-layer soft magnetic sintered ferrite
substrate, and to an antenna module for a noncontact IC tag using
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology.
[0003] In the fabrication of sintered ferrite substrates, a
plurality of superposed molded sheets of a ferrite powder or a
mixture of a ferrite powder and a resin are sintered at a time. In
this case, the resulting sintered ferrite substrates tend to stick
or bond to each other and/or to the sintering table on which they
are supported during sintering. When the stuck sintered ferrite
substrates are peeled from each other or removed from the sintering
table, the sintered ferrite substrates may be damaged. In order to
prevent the sticking, a releasing powder such as zirconia powder or
alumina powder is usually applied to the surfaces of the molded
ferrite sheets and the sintering table prior to sintering and
removed after sintering. This procedure is very troublesome. In
addition, the releasing powder is difficult to remove completely
from the sintered ferrite substrates and thus may contaminate the
electronic precision components in which the sintered ferrite
substrates are used.
[0004] For example, In Japanese Patent Application Laid-open
(KOKAI) No. 2-305416 (1990) which relates to a ferrite sheet for
supporting a ferrite core of a molded ferrite body and preventing
deformation thereof during sintering, it is described, in the
description of the related art, that alumina powder is customarily
provided on a setter as underlying powder to prevent the
deformation by shrinkage during sintering. The method in which the
ferrite sheet is used to prevent deformation of a ferrite core is
low in productivity. In addition, the use of such an additional
ferrite sheet is not desirable from the standpoint of cost. The
method using an underlying powder, on the other hand, has a problem
because, especially when the molded ferrite sheets to be sintered
are thin, the obtained sintered ferrite substrates are apt to
undulate or break due to physical contact of the substrates with
aggregates of the powder formed thereunder during sintering or some
other reasons.
[0005] In Japanese Patent Application Laid-open (KOKAI) No.
2006-174223, there is disclosed a method for preparing an
antenna-integrated magnetic sheet in which a plurality of 2 mm
square ferrite pieces are arranged on a sheet substrate and fixedly
bonded thereto. Another sheet substrate and an antenna pattern are
then placed over the ferrite pieces. This approach is, however,
impractical since it is difficult to arrange the ferrite pieces
regularly on a sheet substrate in an efficient manner.
[0006] When conventional antenna modules used in noncontact IC tags
using the RFID technology and so on cannot transmit or receive
radio waves when placed in the vicinity of a metal component
because a magnetic flux is converted into an eddy current by the
metal component. As a countermeasure against this drawback, a
method is widely used in which an antenna module having a
conductive loop coil is formed in a spiral shape in a plane and a
soft magnetic sheet is laminated in parallel to the coil. In recent
years, the demand for size reduction of electronic devices such as
cellular phones and for high-density mounting of electronic
components is increasing. In addition, the need for an antenna
module which is thinner and can provide stable communication even
if placed in the vicinity of a metal component is increasing more
and more.
[0007] In Japanese Patent No. 3,728,320, there is described an
invention of an antenna module having a loop coil and a magnetic
sheet laminate. A capacitor is connected in parallel to the loop
coil to tune the antenna module to a desired frequency such as
13.56 MHz prior to installation. However, when the antenna module
is incorporated in an electronic device and the electronic device
is placed in the vicinity of a metal component, the resonant
frequency of the antenna may be changed. This is a major problem in
practical applications. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-open
(KOKAI) No. 2005-340759, there is described an antenna module
having a metallic shield plate. The antenna module comprises a
ferrite sheet-laminated magnetic member having a thickness of about
0.5 mm and coated with PET or PPS, and a metallic shield plate
attached to the non-communication face of the magnetic member.
However, it is difficult to reduce the thickness of an antenna
module of this type, and the recent demand for size reduction of
electronic devices cannot be satisfied.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a molded
ferrite sheet which permits the preparation of clean and thin
sintered ferrite substrates which are not stuck to each other or to
the sintering table even without a releasing powder such as
zirconia powder or alumina powder. Another object of the present
invention is to provide a clean sintered ferrite substrate free of
residual releasing powder which may contaminate electronic
devices.
[0009] Some antennas for use in the vicinity of a metal component
are provided in advance with a magnetic sheet or the like for
tuning it to a desired frequency. However, when such an antenna is
placed in the vicinity of the metal component, the resonant
frequency of the antenna is changed. Thus, the antennas must be
tuned to a desired frequency after they have been incorporated in
electronic devices. It is, therefore, a further object of the
present invention to eliminate such a laborious procedure and to
provide a thin antenna module which has a specific frequency that
has been previously adjusted after mounting a magnetic member and
which does not undergo any significant change in its frequency even
when placed in the vicinity of a metal component.
[0010] It is yet a further object of the present invention to
eliminate the instability of the antenna characteristics of an
antenna for use in the vicinity of a metal component which has been
hitherto caused by the presence of gaps formed between a magnetic
member and a metallic shield plate.
[0011] The above-described technical problems can be solved by the
present invention as follows.
[0012] The present invention provides a molded ferrite sheet having
opposing surfaces and a thickness in a range of 30 .mu.m to 430
.mu.m, at least one surface of said opposing surfaces having the
following surface roughness characteristics (a) to (c):
[0013] (a) a center line average roughness is in a range of 170 nm
to 800 nm,
[0014] (b) a maximum height is in a range of 3 .mu.m to 10 .mu.m,
and
[0015] (c) an area occupancy rate of cross-sectional area taken
along a horizontal plane at a depth of 50% of the maximum height in
a square of side 100 .mu.m is in a range of 10 to 80% (Invention
1).
[0016] The present invention also provides a molded ferrite sheet
as recited in Invention 1, wherein said at least one surface is
roughened by sandblasting (Invention 2).
[0017] The present invention further provides a molded ferrite
sheet as recited in Invention 1, wherein said molded ferrite sheet
is prepared by molding under pressure using a mold or calender roll
having a roughened surface so that the roughness of the roughened
surface of said mold or calender roll is transferred to a surface
of said molded ferrite sheet in contact with the roughened surface
of said mold or calender roll (Invention 3).
[0018] The present invention further provides a molded ferrite
sheet as recited in Invention 1, wherein said molded ferrite sheet
is prepared by a method which comprises applying a coating of a
ferrite-dispersed coating liquid to a surface of a plastic film,
and drying the applied coating, and wherein said surface of said
plastic film has been roughened by sandblasting so that the
roughness of said plastic film is transferred to a surface of the
dried coating in contact with the roughened surface of said plastic
film (Invention 4).
[0019] The present invention further provides a molded ferrite
sheet as recited in Invention 1, wherein said molded ferrite sheet
is prepared by a method which comprises applying a coating of a
ferrite-dispersed coating liquid to a support and drying the
applied coating, and wherein the ferrite has been obtained by
adjusting a particle size of a ferrite powder having an average
particle diameter of 0.1 to 10 .mu.m so that said surface roughness
characteristics (a) to (c) are imparted to a surface of the dried
coating in contact with said support (Invention 5).
[0020] The present invention further provides a molded ferrite
sheet as recited in Invention 1, wherein the ferrite is
Ni--Zn--Cu-based spinel ferrite or Mg--Zn--Cu-based spinel ferrite
(Invention 6).
[0021] The present invention further provides a sintered ferrite
substrate having opposing surfaces and a thickness in a range of 25
.mu.m to 360 .mu.m, at least one surface of said opposing surfaces
having the following surface roughness characteristics (a) to
(c):
[0022] (a) a center line average roughness is in a range of 150 nm
to 700 nm,
[0023] (b) a maximum height is in a range of 2 .mu.m to 9 .mu.m,
and
[0024] (c) an area occupancy rate of cross-sectional area taken
along a horizontal plane at a depth of 50% of the maximum height in
a square of side 100 .mu.m is in a range of 10 to 80% (Invention
7).
[0025] The present invention further provides a sintered ferrite
substrate as recited in Invention 7, wherein the ferrite is
Ni--Zn--Cu-based spinel ferrite and wherein said sintered ferrite
substrate has a magnetic permeability with a real part .mu.r' and
an imaginary part .mu.r'' of not less than 80 and not greater than
20, respectively, at 13.56 MHz (Invention 8).
[0026] The present invention further provides a sintered ferrite
substrate as recited in Invention 7, wherein the ferrite is
Mg--Zn--Cu-based spinel ferrite and wherein said sintered ferrite
substrate has a magnetic permeability with a real part .mu.r' and
an imaginary part .mu.r'' of not less than 80 and not greater than
100, respectively, at 13.56 MHz (Invention 9).
[0027] The present invention further provides a sintered ferrite
substrate as recited in Invention 7, wherein a conductive layer is
provided on one of the opposing surfaces of the sintered ferrite
substrate (Invention 10).
[0028] The present invention further provides a sintered ferrite
substrate as recited in Invention 7, wherein grooves are formed on
at least one of the opposing surfaces of the sintered ferrite
substrate (Invention 11).
[0029] The present invention further provides a sintered ferrite
substrate as recited in Invention 7 or 8, wherein an adhesive film
is adhered to at least one of the opposing surfaces of the sintered
ferrite substrate and wherein the sintered ferrite substrate is
divided into a plurality of parts (Invention 12).
[0030] The present invention further provides an antenna module for
use in a radio communication medium and a radio communication
medium processing device, comprising a magnetic member, a
conductive loop antenna provided on one side of said magnetic
member, and a conductive layer provided on opposite side of said
magnetic member from the conductive loop antenna, said magnetic
member being a sintered ferrite substrate according to Invention 7
or 8 (Invention 13).
[0031] The present invention further provides an antenna module as
recited in Invention 13, wherein said conductive layer has a
thickness of not greater than 50 .mu.m and a surface electric
resistance of not greater than 3 .OMEGA./square (Invention 14).
[0032] The present invention further provides an antenna module as
recited in Invention 13, wherein said magnetic member is a
Ni--Zn--Cu-based spinel sintered ferrite substrate to which a
coating of an acrylic resin-based or epoxy resin-based conductive
paint has been applied to form said conductive layer (Invention
15).
[0033] The present invention further provides an antenna module as
recited in Invention 13, wherein said magnetic member is a
Mg--Zn--Cu-based spinel sintered ferrite substrate to which a
coating of an acrylic resin-based or epoxy resin-based conductive
paint has been applied to form said conductive layer (Invention
16).
[0034] The present invention further provides an antenna module as
recited in Invention 13, wherein said magnetic member is a
Mg--Zn--Cu-based spinel sintered ferrite substrate and wherein said
sintered ferrite substrate and said conductive layer provided
thereon are formed by forming a print of a silver paste on a molded
ferrite sheet, followed by sintering and integrating said silver
paint print and said molded ferrite sheet together (Invention
17).
[0035] The present invention further provides an antenna module as
recited in Invention 13, wherein said magnetic member is a
Ni--Zn--Cu-based spinel sintered ferrite substrate and wherein said
sintered ferrite substrate and said conductive layer provided
thereon are formed by forming a print of a silver paste on a molded
ferrite sheet, followed by sintering and integrating said silver
paint print and said molded ferrite sheet together (Invention
18).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view diagrammatically
illustrating a structure of an antenna module.
[0037] FIG. 2 is an image of the surface shape of a molded ferrite
sheet of Example 2.
[0038] FIG. 3 shows an image and the data of area occupancy rate of
the molded ferrite sheet of Example 2 obtained from bearing
analysis. In the drawing, an image of the cross-section of the
sample taken horizontally at 50% of the maximum height, a histogram
of the heights of surface irregularities of the sample, and a graph
of their area occupancy rates are shown.
[0039] FIG. 4 is an image of the surface shape of a sintered
ferrite substrate of Example 2.
[0040] FIG. 5 shows an image and the data of area occupancy rate of
the sintered ferrite substrate of Example 2 obtained from bearing
analysis. In the drawing, an image of the cross-section of the
sample taken horizontally at 50% of the maximum height, a histogram
of the heights of surface irregularities of the sample, and a graph
of their area occupancy rates are shown.
[0041] FIG. 6 is an image of the surface shape of a molded ferrite
sheet of Comparative Example 2.
[0042] FIG. 7 shows an image and the data of area occupancy rate of
the molded ferrite sheet of Comparative Example 2 obtained from
bearing analysis. In the drawing, an image of the cross-section of
the sample taken horizontally at 50% of the maximum height, a
histogram of the heights of surface irregularities of the sample,
and a graph of their area occupancy rates are shown.
[0043] FIG. 8 is an image of the surface shape of a sintered
ferrite substrate of Comparative Example 2.
[0044] FIG. 9 shows an image and the data of area occupancy rate of
the sintered ferrite substrate of Comparative Example 2 obtained
from bearing analysis. In the drawing, an image of the
cross-section of the sample taken horizontally at 50% of the
maximum height, a histogram of the heights of surface
irregularities of the sample, and a graph of their area occupancy
rates are shown.
[0045] FIG. 10 is an image of the surface shape of a molded ferrite
sheet of Comparative Example 5.
[0046] FIG. 11 shows an image and the data of area occupancy rate
of the molded ferrite sheet of Comparative Example 5 obtained from
bearing analysis. In the drawing, an image of the cross-section of
the sample taken horizontally at 50% of the maximum height, a
histogram of the heights of surface irregularities of the sample,
and a graph of their area occupancy rates are shown.
[0047] FIG. 12 is an image of the surface shape of a sintered
ferrite substrate of Comparative Example 5.
[0048] FIG. 13 shows an image and the data of area occupancy rate
of the sintered ferrite substrate of Comparative Example 5 obtained
from bearing analysis. In the drawing, an image of the
cross-section of the sample taken horizontally at 50% of the
maximum height, a histogram of the heights of surface
irregularities of the sample, and a graph of their area occupancy
rates are shown.
[0049] FIG. 14 is an image of the surface shape of a molded ferrite
sheet of Example 11.
[0050] FIG. 15 shows an image and the data of area occupancy rate
of the molded ferrite sheet of Example 11 obtained from bearing
analysis. In the drawing, an image of the cross-section of the
sample taken horizontally at 50% of the maximum height, a histogram
of the heights of surface irregularities of the sample, and a graph
of their area occupancy rates are shown.
[0051] FIG. 16 is an image of the surface shape of a sintered
ferrite substrate of Example 11.
[0052] FIG. 17 shows an image and the data of area occupancy rate
of the sintered ferrite substrate of Example 11 obtained from
bearing analysis. In the drawing, an image of the cross-section of
the sample taken horizontally at 50% of the maximum height, a
histogram of the heights of surface irregularities of the sample,
and a graph of their area occupancy rates are shown.
[0053] FIG. 18 is an image of the surface shape of a molded ferrite
sheet of Comparative Example 10.
[0054] FIG. 19 shows an image and the data of area occupancy rate
of the molded ferrite sheet of Comparative Example 10 obtained from
bearing analysis. In the drawing, an image of the cross-section of
the sample taken horizontally at 50% of the maximum height, a
histogram of the heights of surface irregularities of the sample,
and a graph of their area occupancy rates are shown.
[0055] FIG. 20 is an image of the surface shape of a sintered
ferrite substrate of Comparative Example 10.
[0056] FIG. 21 shows an image and the data of area occupancy rate
of the sintered ferrite substrate of Comparative Example 10
obtained from bearing analysis. In the drawing, an image of the
cross-section of the sample taken horizontally at 50% of the
maximum height, a histogram of the heights of surface
irregularities of the sample, and a graph of their area occupancy
rates are shown.
[0057] FIG. 22 is an image of the surface shape of a molded ferrite
sheet of Comparative Example 13.
[0058] FIG. 23 shows an image and the data of area occupancy rate
of the molded ferrite sheet of Comparative Example 13 obtained from
bearing analysis. In the drawing, an image of the cross-section of
the sample taken horizontally at 50% of the maximum height, a
histogram of the heights of surface irregularities of the sample,
and a graph of their area occupancy rates are shown.
[0059] FIG. 24 is an image of the surface shape of a sintered
ferrite substrate of Comparative Example 13.
[0060] FIG. 25 shows an image and the data of area occupancy rate
of the sintered ferrite substrate of Comparative Example 13
obtained from bearing analysis. In the drawing, an image of the
cross-section of the sample taken horizontally at 50% of the
maximum height, a histogram of the heights of surface
irregularities of the sample, and a graph of their area occupancy
rates are shown.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0061] 1: sintered ferrite substrate [0062] 2: insulator film
[0063] 3: conductive layer [0064] 4: double coated adhesive tape
[0065] 5: conductive loop [0066] 6: separator member
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0067] A molded ferrite sheet according to the present invention
will be first described.
[0068] The molded ferrite sheet of the present invention has at
least one surface having the following surface roughness
characteristics (a) to (c):
[0069] (a) a center line average roughness (Ra) is in a range of
170 nm to 800 nm,
[0070] (b) a maximum height (Rmax) is in a range of 3 .mu.m to 10
.mu.m, and
[0071] (c) an area occupancy rate of cross-sectional area taken
along a horizontal plane at a depth of 50% of the maximum height in
a square of side 100 .mu.m is in a range of 10 to 80%.
[0072] Preferably, the center line average roughness is in a range
of 180 to 700 nm, and the maximum height is in a range of 4 to 8
.mu.m. In the present invention, it is necessary to control the
density of surface irregularities, which cannot be expressed by the
center line average roughness and the maximum height. In a bearing
analysis performed on a 100 .mu.m box image to measure the surface
roughness of the molded ferrite sheet, the area occupancy rate of
cross-sectional area taken along a horizontal plane (in parallel
with the sheet) at a depth of 50% of the maximum height is in a
range of 10 to 80%, preferably in a range of 15 to 75%, based on
the box area (10,000 .mu.m.sup.2). When the area occupancy rate is
within this range, the molded ferrite sheets are not stuck or
bonded to each other during sintering even when the sheets are
superposed one upon another and no releasing powder is used. As a
result, sintered ferrite substrates intended by the present
invention can be obtained.
[0073] When the center line average roughness is less than 170 nm
or the maximum height is less than 3 .mu.m, the sheets are stuck to
each other during sintering. When the center line average roughness
is greater than 800 nm or the maximum height is greater than 10
.mu.m, the molded sheet has so large a contact area that the molded
sheet is difficult to release from molds. In addition, since the
resulting sintered ferrite substrate lacks surface smoothness, it
breaks easily. Further, gaps tend to be formed between the molded
ferrite sheet and an insulator film or conductive layer provided
thereon. Furthermore, the resulting sintered ferrite substrate has
only a small sintered cross-sectional area and thus has a low
magnetic permeability, resulting in poor antenna characteristics.
The surface roughness is critical especially when the sintered
ferrite substrate has a small thickness of not greater than 200
.mu.m. When the area occupancy rate of cross-sectional area taken
along a horizontal plane at a depth of 50% of the maximum height in
a square of side 100 .mu.m is less than 10% or greater than 80%,
superposed sheets are stuck to each other during sintering and the
obtained sintered ferrite substrates will be difficult to separate
from each other.
[0074] The ferrite powder for the molded ferrite sheet of the
present invention is preferably an Ni--Zn--Cu spinel ferrite powder
or an Mg--Zn--Cu spinel ferrite powder. When an Ni--Zn--Cu spinel
ferrite powder is used, it is preferably composed of 40 to 50 mol %
of Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, 10 to 30 mol % of NiO, 10 to 30 mol % of ZnO
and 0 to 20 mol % of CuO. When an Mg--Zn--Cu spinel ferrite powder
is used, it is preferably composed of 40 to 50 mol % of
Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, 15 to 35 mol % of MgO, 5 to 25 mol % of ZnO and 0
to 20 mol % CuO. The ferrite powder can be obtained by uniformly
mixing oxide powder ingredients, calcining the mixture at
750.degree. C. to 950.degree. C. for two hours, and pulverizing the
calcined product. The use of a ferrite powder having a cumulative
50% volume diameter of 0.5 to 1.0 .mu.m is preferred.
[0075] A method for producing the molded ferrite sheet according to
the present invention will be next described.
[0076] Although the method for obtaining the molded ferrite sheet
of the present invention is not specifically limited, a
sandblasting method, which is widely used in the field of metal
polishing, can be used for roughening a surface of the molded
ferrite sheet of the present invention. That is, the molded ferrite
sheet with a roughened surface can be obtained by injecting an
aqueous solution in which a polishing material such as glass or
alumina is dispersed onto a molded ferrite sheet and then washing
the molded ferrite sheet with water.
[0077] In another method for obtaining the molded ferrite sheet of
the present invention, a melt of a mixture of a ferrite powder and
a thermoplastic plastic is used. The melt is molded into a sheet
under pressure using a calender roll or mold having a treated
(roughened) surface. Examples of usable thermoplastic resins
include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polyvinyl butyral
(PVB). A thermoplastic plastic elastomer such as
styrene-ethylene-butylenes-based resins and olefin-based resins can
be also used. When necessary, two or more thermoplastic resins
and/or thermoplastic plastic elastomer may be used in combination.
A mixture of 1000 parts by weight of a coupling agent-treated
ferrite powder, obtained by treating 1000 parts by weight of a
ferrite powder with 10 to 50 parts by weight of a coupling agent,
and 70 to 120 parts by weight of a resin is kneaded in a pressure
kneader or the like kneading device at 120 to 140.degree. C. for 20
to 60 minutes and the kneaded mixture is formed by molding under
pressure using mold having a roughened surface. It is preferred to
use a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or polyvinyl butyral (PVB)
since they are decomposed during sintering. The thermoplastic resin
is preferably used in an amount of 70 to 110 parts by weight per
1000 parts by weight of the coupling agent-treated ferrite.
[0078] A further method for obtaining the molded ferrite sheet of
the present invention is to apply a coating of a ferrite-dispersed
coating liquid to a surface of a plastic film. The
ferrite-dispersed coating liquid is preferably composed of 1000
parts by weight of an Ni--Zn--Cu ferrite powder, 70 to 120 parts by
weight of a polyvinyl alcohol resin, 15 to 25 parts by weight of
butyl butylphthalate as a plasticizer and 400 to 600 parts by
weight of a solvent. Examples of usable solvents include glycol
ether solvents, MEK, toluene, methanol, ethanol and n-butanol. In
view of the dispersiblity of the ferrite powder and for ease of
mixing and drying, the coating liquid is preferably composed of
1000 parts by weight of ferrite, 80 to 110 parts by weight of a
polybutyral resin, 18 to 22 parts by weight of butyl butylphthalate
and 450 to 550 parts by weight of a solvent.
[0079] The method for preparing the coating liquid is not
specifically limited but the use of a ball mill is preferred. When
the solvent and ferrite are first mixed in a ball mill and then the
mixture is mixed with the resin and plasticizer, a uniform coating
liquid can be obtained. It is important that the thus obtained
coating liquid should be subjected to vacuum defoaming in a vacuum
vessel sufficiently to prevent cracking of the coated film during
drying.
[0080] The method for coating the ferrite-dispersed coating liquid
is not specifically limited. A roll coater or doctor blade can be
used. The use of a doctor blade is preferred since it can form a
layer with high thickness accuracy and does not affect the
stability of the coating liquid. The coating liquid is applied to a
plastic film with a doctor blade to form a layer of a desired
thickness. The applied layer is then dried at 80 to 130.degree. C.
for 30 to 60 minutes to obtain a molded ferrite sheet.
[0081] The plastic film on which the ferrite-dispersed coating
liquid is to be applied is not specifically limited. A sandblasted
polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate
(PET) or polyimide film can be suitably used. The use of a
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film is preferred for ease of
surface treatment and thermal stability during the coating and
drying processes. When a sandblasted plastic film is used, the
surface roughness (surface irregularities) of the plastic film can
be transferred to the molded ferrite sheet, whereby a molded sheet
having a desired surface roughness can be obtained.
[0082] Yet a further method for obtaining the molded ferrite sheet
of the present invention is to control the surface roughness of the
molded ferrite sheet by adjusting the particle diameter of the
ferrite powder. When a mixture of 100 parts by weight of a ferrite
powder having a cumulative 50% volume diameter of 0.1 to 1.0 .mu.m
and 5 to 40 parts by weight of a ferrite powder having a cumulative
50% volume diameter of 3 to 10 .mu.m is used to form a
ferrite-dispersed coating liquid, a molded ferrite sheet having a
surface roughness as required in the present invention can be
obtained by applying the coating liquid to a surface of a support.
The support may be a sandblasted plastic film. However, the
required surface roughness may be obtained even when the support
has not been sandblasted. In view of the surface roughness of the
sheet, it is preferred to mix 100 parts by weight of a ferrite
powder having a cumulative 50% volume diameter of 0.3 to 0.7 .mu.m
with 10 to 40 parts by weight of a ferrite powder having a
cumulative 50% volume diameter of 3 to 7 .mu.m.
[0083] In the present invention, the molded ferrite sheet is
heat-treated to obtain a sintered ferrite substrate.
[0084] In the heat treatment, 5 to 20 molded ferrite sheets of the
present invention are generally stacked on an alumina support plate
having a porosity of 30% and sintered at a time in an electric
furnace or the like. It is important to control the heat treatment
conditions so that removal of the resin component and growth of the
ferrite particles proceed effectively. To remove the resin
component, the molded ferrite sheets are preferably maintained at
150.degree. C. to 550.degree. C. for 5 to 80 hours. To grow the
ferrite particles, the molded ferrite sheets are then preferably
maintained at 850.degree. C. to 1200.degree. C. for 1 to 5
hours.
[0085] To prevent thermal deformation and/or cracking of the
sheets, it is preferred that the temperature be raised from room
temperature at a rate of 10 to 20.degree. C./hour and then
maintained constant in the process of removing the resin component.
It is also preferred that the temperature be then raised at a rate
of 30 to 60.degree. C./hour, maintained constant to sinter the
molded ferrite sheets until the ferrite particles grows
sufficiently. The sintered product is then gradually cooled. The
retention time and temperature in each process are suitably
selected depending on the number of the molded ferrite sheets to be
treated.
[0086] The sintered ferrite substrate according to the present
invention will be next described.
[0087] The sintered ferrite substrate of the present invention has
a surface roughness such that the center line average roughness
(Ra) is in a range of 50 to 700 nm and the maximum height (Rmax) is
in a range of 2 to 9 .mu.m. Preferably, the center line average
roughness (Ra) is in a range of 160 to 600 nm and the maximum
height is in a range of 3 to 8 .mu.m.
[0088] In addition, the area occupancy rate of cross-sectional area
taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of 50% of the maximum
height in a square of side 100 .mu.m is in a range of 5 to 70%,
preferably in a range of 10 to 60%, more preferably in a range of
10 to 50%.
[0089] When the molded ferrite sheet as described before is
sintered, a sintered ferrite substrate having a center line average
roughness (Ra) of not less than 150 nm and a maximum height (Rmax)
of not less than 2 .mu.m can be obtained. When the center line
average roughness (Ra) is greater than 700 nm or the maximum height
(Rmax) is greater than 9 .mu.m, the sintered ferrite substrate
lacks surface smoothness and breaks easily. Also, gaps tend to be
formed between the sintered ferrite substrate and an insulator film
or a conductive layer provided thereon, resulting in poor antenna
characteristics. Further, the resulting sintered ferrite substrate
has only a small sintered cross-sectional area and thus has a low
magnetic permeability. The surface roughness is critical especially
when the sintered ferrite substrate has a small thickness of 200
.mu.m or less.
[0090] When the molded ferrite sheet as described before is
sintered, the area occupancy rate of cross-sectional area taken
along a horizontal plane at a depth of 50% of the maximum height in
a square of side 100 .mu.m will be in a range of 5 to 70%.
[0091] The sintered ferrite substrate according to the present
invention preferably has a sintered density in a range of 4.6 to
5.0 g/cm.sup.3. When the sintered ferrite substrate has a sintered
density below 4.4 g/cm.sup.3, it is not sufficiently sintered. In
this case, the sintered ferrite substrate breaks easily and has a
magnetic permeability with a low real part .mu.r.cndot.. However,
it is not necessary to sinter the molded ferrite sheet until the
sintered density exceeds 5.0 g/cm.sup.3. The sintered density is
more preferably in a range of 4.5 to 4.9 g/cm.sup.3.
[0092] Bendability may be suitably imparted to the sintered ferrite
substrate of the present invention by dividing the substrate into
parts with an adhesive film provided on at least one side thereof.
When the sintered ferrite substrate is divided into parts, its
magnetic permeability is lowered. However, the magnetic
permeability changes depending on how it is divided. Thus, when
grooves are formed in a surface of the substrate at regular
intervals so that the sintered ferrite substrate can be easily
divided along the grooves, the magnetic characteristics of the
sintered ferrite substrate divided into parts and provided with
bendability can be stabilized.
[0093] To provide the sintered ferrite substrate of the present
invention with grooves, V-shaped grooves with an apex angle of 25
to 45 degrees may be formed in one side of the molded sheet with an
embossing roll or metal blade. The grooves are formed such that the
distance between the bottoms of the adjacent two grooves is in a
range of 1 to 5 mm. When the distance is less than 1 mm, the
magnetic permeability is lowered when the sintered ferrite
substrate is divided along the grooves. Further, such narrow spaced
grooves are difficult to form. On the other hand, when the distance
is greater than 5 mm, the sintered ferrite substrate cannot have
sufficient flexibility. The distance between the grooves is
preferably in a range of 2 to 4 mm.
[0094] The depth of the grooves is in a range of 0.4 to 0.7 as
expressed in terms of the ratio of the depth to the thickness of
the molded sheet (groove depth/sheet thickness ratio). When the
groove depth/sheet thickness ratio is less than 0.4, the sintered
ferrite substrate may not be divided along the grooves but be
broken irregularly, resulting in unstable magnetic permeability.
When the groove depth is greater than 0.7, the molded ferrite sheet
may be broken along the grooves during sintering. Preferably, the
groove depth/sheet thickness ratio is in a range of 0.4 to 0.6.
[0095] The pattern of the grooves to be formed in a sheet surface
may be any suitable pattern such as equilateral triangles, grids or
polygons. It is important that when the sintered ferrite substrate
is divided into parts along the grooves, the parts should be as
uniform as possible in size and shape and that the magnetic
permeability of the substrate should hardly change even when the
resulting substrate is bent.
[0096] The sintered ferrite substrate of the present invention is
thin and breaks easily. However, it has been found that when the
sintered ferrite substrate produced from an Ni--Zn--Cu spinel
ferrite powder is divided into parts with an adhesive protective
film provided on at least one side thereof, and when the real part
.mu.r' and the imaginary part .mu.r'' of the magnetic permeability
at 13.56 MHz are maintained at not less than 80 and not greater
than 20, respectively, the sintered ferrite substrate has adequate
flexibility and is very excellent as a thin sintered ferrite
substrate with a thickness in a range of 25 to 360 .mu.m for a loop
antenna module.
[0097] When the real part .mu.r' of the magnetic permeability of
the sintered ferrite substrate made from an Ni--Zn--Cu spinel
ferrite powder is less than 80, the resulting antenna module has a
low coil inductance and can transmit and receive radio waves over
only a short distance. When the imaginary part .mu.r'' of the
magnetic permeability is greater than 20, loss will increase and
the antenna has a low resonance Q and can transmit and receive
radio waves over only a short distance. The imaginary part .mu.r''
is preferably not greater than 10, more preferably not greater than
5.
[0098] It has been found that when a sintered ferrite substrate is
produced from an Mg--Zn--Cu spinel ferrite powder, and when the
real part .mu.r' and imaginary part .mu.r'' of the magnetic
permeability at 13.56 MHz are maintained at not less than 80 and
not greater than 100, respectively, the sintered ferrite substrate
has suitable flexibility and is very excellent as a thin sintered
ferrite substrate with a thickness of 25 to 360 .mu.m for a loop
antenna module.
[0099] When the real part .mu.r' of the magnetic permeability of
the sintered ferrite substrate made from an Mg--Zn--Cu spinel
ferrite powder is less than 80, the resulting antenna module has a
low coil inductance and can transmit and receive radio waves over
only a short distance. When the imaginary part .mu.r'' of the
magnetic permeability is greater than 150, loss will increase and
the antenna has a low resonance Q and can transmit and receive
radio waves over only a short distance. The real part .mu.r' and
the imaginary part .mu.r'' of the magnetic permeability are
preferably not less than 85 and not greater than 90,
respectively.
[0100] An antenna module according to the present invention will be
next described.
[0101] The antenna module of the present invention comprises a
sintered ferrite substrate as a magnetic member, a conductive loop
antenna provided on one side of the sintered ferrite substrate, and
a conductive layer provided on opposite side of the sintered
ferrite substrate from the antenna. The conductive loop antenna
comprises an insulator film, such as polyimide film or PET film,
with a thickness in a range of 20 to 60 .mu.m and a spiral
conductive loop with a thickness in a range of 20 to 30 .mu.m
provided on one side of the insulator film. The conductive layer
may be formed on a sintered ferrite substrate with a thickness in a
range of 25 to 360 .mu.m by coating a conductive paint on one side
thereof and drying the coated paint. Alternatively, the
conductively layer may be formed by forming a print of a silver
paste on a molded ferrite sheet and sintering and integrating the
silver paste print and the molded ferrite sheet together.
[0102] The conductive layer preferably has a thickness in a range
of 5 to 50 .mu.m. When the conductive loop antenna is attached to
opposite side of the sintered ferrite substrate from the conductive
layer with a double coated adhesive tape having a thickness in a
range of 20 to 60 .mu.m and when the same adhesive tape is provided
on the conductive layer, an antenna module with a total thickness
in a range of 110 to 620 .mu.m as shown in FIG. 1 can be
obtained.
[0103] The insulator film is not specifically limited but
preferably has a surface electric resistance of not less than 5
M.OMEGA./square, preferably not less than 10 M.OMEGA./square, to
prevent minute leakage current.
[0104] The conductive paint may be prepared by dispersing copper or
silver powder as a conductive filler in a mixture of an acrylic
resin or epoxy resin and an organic solvent such as butyl acetate
or toluene.
[0105] The conductive paint is applied to one side of the sintered
ferrite substrate and dried and cured in atmosphere at a
temperature of room temperature to 100.degree. C. for 30 minutes to
3 hours to form a conductive layer with a thickness in a range of
20 to 50 .mu.m. The conductive layer preferably has a surface
electric resistance of not greater than 3 .OMEGA./square. To reduce
changes in antenna characteristics when the antenna module is
placed in the vicinity of a metal component, the surface electric
resistance is desired to be not greater than 1 .OMEGA./square. The
thickness of the conductive layer may be in the range of 20 to 30
.mu.m to reduce the total thickness of the antenna module.
[0106] A sintered ferrite substrate with a conductive layer can be
obtained by sintering and integrating a molded ferrite sheet and a
conductive paste layer provided on one side of the molded ferrite
sheet by a green sheet method. To prevent the conductive layer from
exposing in an electronic device, an insulating protective film may
be provided thereon. A capacitor is connected in parallel to the
loop to adjust and tune the thus obtained antenna module to a
resonant frequency of to 13.56 MHz as is well known in the art so
that the antenna module can resonate at a desired frequency.
[0107] The antenna module having a conductive loop antenna, an
adhesive layer, a sintered ferrite substrate and a conductive layer
which are closely bonded and integrated together and a capacitor
connected in parallel to the loop circuit to tune the resonant
frequency of the antenna module to 13.56 MHz as described above
undergoes no significant change in its antenna characteristics and
can provide stable radio communication even when placed in the
vicinity of a metal component of an electronic device of various
types.
[0108] According to the present invention, clean and thin molded
ferrite sheets which are not stuck or bonded without any previous
releasing treatment using a zirconia powder or alumina powder, and
sintered ferrite substrates free of releasing powder which may
contaminate electronic devices in which they are used can be
provided.
[0109] According to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the sintered ferrite substrate having a thickness in a
range of 25 to 360 .mu.m and a magnetic permeability with a real
part .mu.r' and an imaginary part .mu.r'' of not less than 80 and
not greater than 20, respectively (when the ferrite is an
Ni--Zn--Cu spinel ferrite) or not less than 80 and not greater than
100, respectively (when the ferrite is an Mg--Zn--Cu spinel
ferrite), at 13.56 MHz can be suitably used as a magnetic member
for an antenna module. The sintered ferrite substrate can
contribute significantly to the reduction in thickness of an
antenna module.
[0110] According to the preferred embodiment the of present
invention, since a thin conductive layer is formed by a coating or
printing method on a sintered ferrite substrate as a magnetic
member of an antenna module to be used in the vicinity of a metal
component, the total thickness of the antenna module can be as
small as 100 to 580 .mu.m. Also, according to the present
invention, since the resonant frequency is adjusted after the
conductive loop coil, magnetic member (soft magnetic layer) and
conductive layer have been integrated together, the antenna
undergoes little change in its characteristics after being
incorporated in a device. Thus, it requires no complicated
adjustment after being incorporated in a device.
[0111] According to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, since no gap can be formed between a magnetic member and
a conductive layer in an antenna module to be used in the vicinity
of a metal component, the antenna module has very stable antenna
characteristics.
[0112] According to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, since the sintered ferrite substrate as a magnetic
member is provided with an adhesive film on at least one side
thereof and is divided into parts to provide it with bendability,
the antenna module is easy to handle and changes in characteristics
of the antenna module caused by breaking of the magnetic member can
be minimized.
[0113] According to the present invention, since a desired
roughness can be easily imparted to at least a surface of the
molded ferrite sheet, molded ferrite sheets which are not bonded
even if sintered in a stack without using a releasing powder can be
produced industrially.
[0114] The sintered ferrite substrate according to the present
invention has a relatively small thickness but has a high magnetic
permeability. In addition, since a plurality of such sintered
ferrite substrates can be sintered in a stack without using a
releasing powder such as zirconia or alumina powder, the sintered
ferrite substrate does not cause contamination by such a powder
when being incorporated in an electronic device. Therefore, the
sintered ferrite substrate is highly suitable as a magnetic core of
a high-density mounted antenna module for RFID (Radio Frequency
Identification) tags, which are widely used in recent years.
[0115] An antenna module obtained by integrally combining a
sintered ferrite substrate of the present invention provided with a
conductive layer with a thickness in a range of 20 to 50 .mu.m on
one side thereof and a conductive loop antenna does not undergo any
significant change in characteristics even when incorporated in an
electronic device for RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)
communication and placed in the vicinity of a metal component and
has a relatively small thickness. Therefore, the antenna module can
meet the demand for high-density mounting of electronic
devices.
EXAMPLES
[0116] The measurement methods used in the following examples will
be described.
Surface Roughness:
[0117] The surface roughnesses of the molded ferrite sheet and
sintered ferrite substrate were determined by measuring the center
line average roughness Ra and maximum height Rmax in a region of a
square of side 100 .mu.m using an atomic force microscope AFM (Nano
Scope III, manufactured by Digital Instrument).
[0118] To determine the surface irregularity in terms of height
distribution, bearing analysis software of the apparatus was used.
When the area occupancy rate of cross-sectional area taken along a
horizontal plane at a depth of 50% of the maximum height (Rmax) in
a square of side 100 .mu.m is obtained on the image used to obtain
the surface roughness, the surface profile can be compared with
that of other samples. When the area occupancy rate is in a range
of 10 to 80%, sticking or bonding of the molded ferrite sheets
during sintering can be prevented. When the area occupancy rates of
sintered ferrite substrates after sintering were measured, sintered
ferrite substrates which were not stuck to each other had an area
occupancy rate in a range of 5 to 70%. The surface roughness of a
sintered ferrite substrate of Comparative Examples which was stuck
heavily was measured at portion on a broken piece where no sticking
occurred.
Cumulative 50% Volume Diameter:
[0119] The average particle diameter of the ferrite powder was
measured by a wet method using Microtrack MT3300 manufactured by
Nikkiso Co. Ltd. 5 Gram of the ferrite powder was added to 100 ml
of an aqueous solution containing 0.2% of hexametaphosphoric acid
as a dispersant and 0.05% of a nonionic surfactant (Triton X-100
manufactured by Dow Chemical Company) as a surfactant and the
resulting mixture was dispersed for 300 seconds using an ultrasonic
homogenizer (Type 300W manufactured by Nikkiso Co. Ltd.). Then, the
volumetric distribution was measured under the following
conditions; measuring time: 30 seconds, measurement range: from
0.021 to 1408 .mu.m, solvent refractive index: 1.33, particle
refractive index: 2.94 and particle shape: nonspherical.
Sheet Thickness:
[0120] The thicknesses of the four corners of a sample piece with
an external size of 80 mm.times.80 mm cut from the molded sheet
were measured with Digimatic Indicator ID-S112 manufactured by
Mitsutoyo Corporation and the average of the thicknesses was taken
as the thickness of the sheet.
Sintered Density:
[0121] The sintered density of the sintered ferrite substrate was
calculated from its volume obtained from outer dimensions thereof
and its weight.
Magnetic Permeability:
[0122] The sintered ferrite substrate was cut into a test piece
having a ring shape with an outer diameter of 14 mm and an inner
diameter of 8 mm and its thickness was measured. The magnetic
permeability of the test piece at a frequency of 13.56 MHz was
measured using an Impedance Analyzer HP4291A (manufactured by
Hewlett-Packard Development Company) and a jig (HP1645A) attached
to the test station thereof or Impedance Analyzer (E4991A
manufactured by Agilent Technologies Co., Ltd.) and a jig (16454A)
attached to its test station.
Resonant Frequency and Degree of Resonance:
[0123] The resonance characteristics of the antenna module were
obtained by measuring the resonance characteristics of a conductive
loop antenna having a structure as shown in FIG. 1. The frequency
characteristics of the impedance of the power supply line for the
laminated antenna module configured as shown in FIG. 1 were
measured. A capacitor was connected in parallel to the power supply
line and its capacitance was adjusted. Then, when the resonant
frequency became 13.56 MHz, the degree of resonance Q was measured
using an impedance analyzer HP4291A manufactured by Hewlett-Packard
Development Company. In Examples 7 to 9 and 16 to 18, and
Comparative Examples 6 to 8 and 14 to 16, the resonant frequency
and the degree of resonance Q were measured under the same
conditions as those set for the case where no iron plate was
laminated for comparison.
Surface Electric Resistance:
[0124] The surface electric resistance of the conductive layer was
measured by a four probe method (according to JISK 7149) using an
electric resistivity meter Loresta-GP (MCP-T600 manufactured by
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation).
Example 1
[0125] Using a pressure kneader, 1,000 parts by weight of a ferrite
powder, obtained by surface-treating 1,000 parts by weight of
Ni--Zn--Cu ferrite powder (composition: Fe.sub.2O.sub.3: 48.5 mol
%, NiO: 20.5 mol %, ZnO: 20.5 mol %, CuO: 10.5 mol %; calcinations
conditions: 850.degree. C., 90 minutes; cumulative 50% volume
diameter: adjusted to 0.7 .mu.m) with 10 parts by weight of a
titanate-based coupling agent (KR-TTS manufactured by Ajinomoto
Co., Inc.), 50 parts by weight of a thermoplastic elastomer
(LUMITAC 22-1 manufactured by Tosoh Corporation), 100 parts by
weight of polyethylene having a density of 0.9 g/cm.sup.3 and 20
parts by weight of stearic acid were kneaded at 130.degree. C. for
40 minutes. The thus obtained kneaded mass of a ferrite resin
composition was press molded at a temperature of 160.degree. C.
under a pressure of 100 kg/cm.sup.2 for a pressurization time of 3
minutes using an iron plate, which had been sandblasted to have a
center line average roughness of 450 nm and a maximum height of 8
.mu.m, to obtain a molded ferrite sheet having a thickness of 77
.mu.m and a size of 100 mm square. Ten such sheets were prepared
and stacked one upon another. The stacked substrates were placed
between top and bottom alumina setters (manufactured by Kikusui
Chemical Industries Co., Ltd.) as support plate means and heated at
500.degree. C. for 10 hours for removing the organic binder,
followed by sintering at 920.degree. C. for 2 hours to obtain
sintered substrates. After cooling, the sintered substrates were
peeled from each other. It was found that the sintered substrate
was able to be easily peeled off without causing any damage. The
sintered substrate had a thickness of 65 .mu.m and an outer
dimension of 80 mm square. A test piece having an outer diameter of
14 mm and an inner diameter of 8 mm was cut out from the substrate
and measured for its magnetic permeability using Impedance Analyzer
(HP4291A manufactured by Hewlett-Packard Inc.) and a jig (HP16454A)
attached to its test station. It was found that .mu.r' and .mu.r''
were 98 and 2.2, respectively, at 13.56 MHz. Thus, the obtained
sintered ferrite substrates were not stuck to each other and had
good magnetic characteristics.
[0126] The above-obtained molded ferrite sheet was found to have a
surface roughness such that the center line average roughness was
420 nm, the maximum height was 6.5 .mu.m and an area occupancy rate
of the cross-sectional area, taken along a horizontal plane at a
depth of 50% of the maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m,
was 48%. The obtained sintered ferrite substrate was found to have
a surface roughness such that the center line average roughness was
400 nm, the maximum height was 5.5 .mu.m and an area occupancy rate
of the cross-sectional area, taken along a horizontal plane at a
depth of 50% of the maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m,
was 45%.
Example 2
[0127] Using a ball mill, 100 parts by weight of the same
Ni--Zn--Cu ferrite as used in Example 1, 2 parts by weight of butyl
phthalyl butyl glycolate, 12 parts of a polyvinylalcohol resin
(ESLEK B BM-1 manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) and 60
parts by weight of a mixed solvent composed of 4 parts of n-butanol
and 6 parts of toluene were mixed, dissolved or dispersed to obtain
a ferrite-dispersed coating liquid. The ferrite-dispersed coating
liquid was defoamed by an oil rotary vacuum pump and uniformly
applied with a doctor blade to a PET film (LUMIMAT 50S200 TRES
manufactured by Panak Co., Ltd.), one side of which had been
sandblasted to have a center line average roughness of 530 nm and a
maximum height of 5.6 .mu.m, to a given thickness. The coating was
dried with hot wind at 100.degree. C. for 30 minutes to obtain a
molded ferrite sheet having a thickness of 204 .mu.m. The molded
ferrite sheet was cut into squares of side 100 mm. Each of the cut
sheets was peeled off from the PET film. The sheets were then
sintered in the same conditions as those in Example 1 to obtain
sintered ferrite substrates. The obtained sintered ferrite
substrate was evaluated for its physical properties and was found
to have a thickness of 160 .mu.m, an outer dimension of 80 mm
square and magnetic permeability with .mu.r' of 96 and .mu.r'' of
3. Further, the obtained sintered ferrite substrates did not stick
to each other and were easily peeled off from each other.
[0128] The above-obtained molded ferrite sheet was found to have a
surface roughness such that the center line average roughness was
370 nm, the maximum height was 4.0 .mu.m and an area occupancy rate
of the cross-sectional area, taken along a horizontal plane at a
depth of 50% of the maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m,
was 73%. The surface of the above-obtained molded ferrite sheet
which had not been brought into contact with the PET film was found
to have a center line average roughness of 104 nm, a maximum height
of 1.3 .mu.m and an area occupancy rate of the cross-sectional
area, taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of 50% of the
maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m, of 93%. Thus, it was
understood that the surface roughness was able to be controlled at
will by the PET film used. The above-obtained molded ferrite sheet
was found to have a surface roughness such that the center line
average roughness was 292 nm, the maximum height was 3.5 .mu.m and
an area occupancy rate of the cross-sectional area, taken along a
horizontal plane at a depth of 50% of the maximum height in a
square of side 100 .mu.m, was 12%.
Example 3
[0129] A kneaded mass of a ferrite resin composition was prepared
in the same manner as that in Example 1 except that a mixture of
300 parts by weight of Ni--Zn--Cu ferrite powder (composition:
Fe.sub.2O.sub.3: 48.5 mol %, NiO: 20.5 mol %, ZnO: 20.5 mol %, CuO:
10.5 mol %; calcination conditions: 1,000.degree. C., 90 minutes;
cumulative 50% volume diameter: 6 .mu.m) and 700 parts by weight of
the same Ni--Zn--Cu ferrite powder (cumulative 50% volume diameter:
0.7 .mu.m) as used in Example 1 was used. The thus obtained kneaded
mass was press molded at a temperature of 160.degree. C. under a
pressure of 100 kg/cm.sup.2 for a pressurization time of 3 minutes
using an iron plate, which had been processed to have a center line
average roughness of 120 nm and a maximum roughness of 2 .mu.m, to
obtain a molded ferrite sheet having a thickness of 200 .mu.m and
an outer size of 100 mm. Using the thus obtained sheet, sintered
ferrite substrates were prepared in the same manner as that in
Example 1. The obtained sintered ferrite substrate was evaluated
for its physical properties and was found to have a thickness of
167 .mu.m and magnetic permeability with .mu.r' of 80 and .mu.r''
of 1.1 at 13.56 MHz. Further, the substrates did not stick to each
other and were easily peeled off from each other.
[0130] Because of the use of coarse particle ferrite, the
above-obtained molded ferrite sheet had a center line average
roughness of 270 nm, a maximum height of 5.0 .mu.m and an area
occupancy rate of the cross-sectional area, taken along a
horizontal plane at a depth of 50% of the maximum height in a
square of side 100 .mu.m, of 20%. The sintered ferrite substrate
had surface roughness such that the center line average roughness
was 250 nm, the maximum height was 4.0 .mu.m and the area occupancy
rate of the cross-sectional area, taken along a horizontal plane at
a depth of 50% of the maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m,
was 18%.
Example 4
[0131] Sintered ferrite substrates were obtained in the same manner
as that in Example 2 except that the application of the
ferrite-dispersed coating liquid using the doctor blade was carried
out under conditions so that a molded ferrite sheet obtained had a
thickness of 42 .mu.m. The obtained sintered ferrite substrate was
evaluated for its physical properties and was found to have a
thickness of 37 .mu.m and magnetic permeability with .mu.r' of 95
and .mu.r'' of 2 at 13.56 MHz. Further, the substrates did not
stick to each other and were easily peeled off from each other.
[0132] The obtained molded ferrite sheet had surface roughness such
that the center line average roughness of 435 nm, the maximum
height of 6.3 .mu.m and the area occupancy rate of the
cross-sectional area, taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of
50% of the maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m, was 52%.
The sintered ferrite substrate had surface roughness such that the
center line average roughness was 425 nm, the maximum height was
4.9 .mu.m and the area occupancy rate of the cross-sectional area,
taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of 50% of the maximum
height in a square of side 100 .mu.m, was 50%.
Example 5
[0133] Sintered ferrite substrates were obtained in the same manner
as that in Example 2 except that the application of the
ferrite-dispersed coating liquid using the doctor blade was carried
out under conditions so that a molded ferrite sheet obtained had a
thickness of 405 .mu.m. The obtained sintered ferrite substrate was
evaluated for its physical properties and was found to have a
thickness of 350 .mu.m and magnetic permeability with .mu.r' of 102
and .mu.r'' of 3.2 at 13.56 MHz. Further, the substrates did not
stick to each other and was easily peeled off from each other.
[0134] The obtained molded ferrite sheet had surface roughness such
that the center line average roughness of 409 nm, the maximum
height of 6.8 .mu.m and the area occupancy rate of the
cross-sectional area, taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of
50% of the maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m, was 58%.
The sintered ferrite substrate had surface roughness such that the
center line average roughness was 388 nm, the maximum height was
5.6 .mu.m and the area occupancy rate of the cross-sectional area,
taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of 50% of the maximum
height in a square of side 100 .mu.m, was 41%.
Comparative Example 1
[0135] A kneaded mass of a ferrite resin composition was prepared
in the same manner as that in Example 1. Using the kneaded mass,
sintered ferrite substrates were prepared in the same manner as
that in Example 1 except that an iron plate processed to have a
center line average roughness of 120 nm and a maximum roughness of
2 .mu.m was used in the press molding. The substrates stuck so
tightly to each other that it was difficult to peel off the
substrates from each other. Although the substrate was partly
unstuck from each other, breakage occurred when it was forcibly
separated therefrom. Thus, no sintered ferrite substrates having a
size of 80 mm square were obtained. The obtained sintered ferrite
substrate had magnetic permeability with .mu.r' of 98 and .mu.r''
of 1.9 at 13.56 MHz.
[0136] The obtained molded ferrite sheet had surface roughness such
that the center line average roughness of 115 nm, the maximum
height of 1.8 .mu.m and the area occupancy rate of the
cross-sectional area, taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of
50% of the maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m, was 2%.
The sintered ferrite substrate had surface roughness such that the
center line average roughness was 98 nm, the maximum height was 1.1
.mu.m and the area occupancy rate of the cross-sectional area,
taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of 50% of the maximum
height in a square of side 100 .mu.m, was 2%.
Comparative Example 2
[0137] A ferrite-dispersed coating liquid was prepared in the same
manner as that in Example 2. The obtained coating liquid was
uniformly applied with a doctor blade to a PET film (not
sandblasted) having a center line average roughness of 17 nm, a
maximum height of 0.3 .mu.m and a thickness of 50 .mu.m. This was
dried with hot wind at 100.degree. C. for 30 minutes to obtain a
molded ferrite sheet having a thickness of 202 .mu.m. The sheet was
peeled off from the PET film. Ten such sheets were stacked one upon
another and heated in the same manner as that in Example 0.1 to
obtain sintered ferrite substrates. The obtained substrate was
evaluated for its properties and was found to have a thickness of
165 .mu.m. Since the substrates stuck so tightly to each other it
was not possible to peel off the substrates from each other.
[0138] The obtained molded ferrite sheet had surface roughness such
that the center line average roughness of 66 nm, the maximum height
of 1.3 .mu.m and the area occupancy rate of the cross-sectional
area, taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of 50% of the
maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m, was 90%. The sintered
ferrite substrate had surface roughness such that the center line
average roughness was 44 nm, the maximum height was 0.9 .mu.m and
the area occupancy rate of the cross-sectional area, taken along a
horizontal plane at a depth of 50% of the maximum height in a
square of side 100 .mu.m, was 1%.
Comparative Example 3
[0139] A sheet was prepared in the same manner as that in
Comparative Example 2 and was peeled off from the PET film. That
surface of the molded ferrite sheet which had been in contact with
the PET film was applied with 50 mg of zirconia powder having an
average particle diameter of 5 .mu.m by brushing. Thereafter, a
calcination treatment was carried out in the same manner as that in
Comparative Example 2 to obtain sintered ferrite substrates. The
evaluation of the sintered ferrite substrate revealed that the
substrate had magnetic permeability with .mu.r' of 96 and .mu.r''
of 1.8 at 13.56 MHz. The obtained sintered ferrite substrates had
deposits of zirconia powder. During the removal of the zirconia
powder deposits using a brush, three of the ten substrates were
broken. The application of the powder and the removal of the powder
were significantly troublesome. The powder deposits were not able
to be completely removed.
Comparative Example 4
[0140] Sintered ferrite substrates were prepared in the same manner
as that in Example 1 except that an iron plate processed to have a
center line average roughness of 1200 nm and a maximum height of 14
.mu.m was used in the press molding. The substrates did not stuck
to each other and were able to be peeled off from each other. The
obtained sintered ferrite substrate had magnetic permeability with
.mu.r' of 75 and .mu.r'' of 0.6 at 13.56 MHz and, thus, did not
have satisfactory magnetic characteristics. Such deterioration of
the magnetic permeability is considered to be attributed to the
high surface roughness of the iron plate which resulted in an
increase of void spaces in the cross-sections of the sintered
ferrite substrate.
Comparative Example 5
[0141] A ferrite-dispersed coating liquid was prepared in the same
manner as that in Example 2. The obtained coating liquid was
uniformly applied with a doctor blade to a PET film (U4-50
manufactured by Teijin DuPont Co., Ltd) which had been processed to
have a center line average roughness of 252 nm and a maximum height
of 3.3 .mu.m. The coating was dried with hot wind at 100.degree. C.
for 30 minutes to obtain a molded ferrite sheet having a thickness
of 200 .mu.m. The sheet was peeled off from the PET film. Ten such
sheets were stacked one upon another and heat-treated in the same
manner as that in Example 1 to obtain sintered ferrite substrates.
The obtained substrate was evaluated for its properties and was
found to have a thickness of 171 .mu.m. Since the substrates stuck
so tightly to each other it was not possible to peel off the
substrates from each other. The obtained molded ferrite sheet had
surface roughness such that the center line average roughness of
319 nm, the maximum height of 3.3 .mu.m and the area occupancy rate
of the cross-sectional area, taken along a horizontal plane at a
depth of 50% of the maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m,
was 95%. The sintered ferrite substrate had surface roughness such
that the center line average roughness was 246 nm, the maximum
height was 3.3 .mu.m and the area occupancy rate of the
cross-sectional area, taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of
50% of the maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m, was
96%.
[0142] It will be understood from above results that not only
control of the surface roughness but also control of the area
occupancy rate of the cross-sectional area is important in order to
obtain the effects of the present invention.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Molded Ferrite Sheet Surface Roughness
Bearing Thickness Ra Rmax Analysis Data (.mu.m) (nm) (.mu.m) Area
Rate* (%) Example 1 77 420 6.5 48 Example 2 204 370 4.0 73 Example
3 200 270 5.0 20 Example 4 42 435 6.3 52 Example 5 405 409 6.8 58
Comparative 78 115 1.8 2 Example 1 Comparative 202 66 1.3 90
Example 2 Comparative 199 68 1.1 2 Example 3 Comparative 49 1120
12.5 23 Example 4 Comparative 200 319 3.3 95 Example 5 Sintered
Ferrite Substrate Surface Roughness Bearing Thickness Ra Rmax
Analysis Data (.mu.m) (nm) (.mu.m) Area Rate* (%) Example 1 63 400
5.5 45 Example 2 170 292 3.5 12 Example 3 167 250 4.0 18 Example 4
37 425 4.9 50 Example 5 350 388 5.6 41 Comparative 66 98 1.1 2
Example 1 Comparative 165 44 0.9 1 Example 2 Comparative 166 51 0.8
2 Example 3 Comparative 40 980 9.6 24 Example 4 Comparative 171 246
3.3 96 Example 5 Sintered Ferrite Substrate Sticking Magnetic
Permeability State .mu.r' .mu.r'' Example 1 No sticking 98 2.2
Example 2 No sticking 96 3 Example 3 No sticking 80 1.1 Example 4
No sticking 95 2 Example 5 No sticking 102 3.2 Comparative Stuck 98
1.9 Example 1 Comparative stuck 97 2.3 Example 2 Comparative Partly
stuck 96 1.8 Example 3 Comparative No sticking 75 0.6 Example 4
Comparative stuck 99 2.2 Example 5 *Area occupancy rate of the
cross-sectional area, taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of
50% of the maximum height
Example 6
[0143] A double coated adhesive tape (Product name: 467 MP,
manufactured by Sumitomo 3M Limited) having a thickness of 50 .mu.m
was adhered onto the surface of the sintered ferrite substrate of
Example 1 to which roughness had been imparted, thereby obtaining a
laminate composed of a sintered ferrite substrate layer of 63 .mu.m
thick and a adhesive layer of 50 .mu.m thick. For the purpose of
imparting the laminate with bendability, the laminate was placed on
an urethane foam sheet having a thickness of 10 mm and an expansion
ratio of about 10-fold and was then pressed with a rubber roller
having an outer dimension of about 50 mm and a width of about 15
cm. The rubber roller was displaced in the X and Y directions of
the laminate with a roll linear pressure of about 1 kg/cm so that
cracks were formed throughout the sintered ferrite substrate. A
test piece having an outer diameter of 14 mm and an inner diameter
of 8 mm was cut out and measured for its magnetic permeability. The
magnetic permeability was found to have .mu.r' of 83 and .mu.r'' of
0.8 at 13.56 MHz. Also, the similar laminate was wound around an
iron rod having an outer diameter of 30 mm. In the same manner as
above, a test piece was cut out and measured for its magnetic
permeability. The magnetic permeability was found to have .mu.r' of
82.5 and .mu.r'' of 0.8 at 13.56 MHz and was similar to the above.
Thus, the obtained laminates had good bendability and good magnetic
permeability .mu.r' of more than 80.
Example 7
[0144] A planar antenna composed of a PET film with a thickness of
25 .mu.m and a 7-turn spiral conductive loop provided on the PET
film was prepared. The loop had a rectangular shape with a length
of 45 mm and a width of 75 mm. A molded ferrite sheet having a
thickness of 180 .mu.m was prepared in the same manner as that in
Example 2 using the same Ni--Zn--Cu ferrite as used in Example 1.
Using a Thomson blade having V-shaped edges of each 30.degree.,
V-shaped grooves with a depth of about 90 .mu.m are formed on one
side of the molded sheet. The grooves were arranged at an interval
of 2 mm in the form of a grid. The obtained molded ferrite sheet
having grooves was cut into 100 mm squares and the PET film was
peeled off. The cut ferrite sheets were calcined in the same manner
as that in Example 1 to obtain sintered ferrite substrates each
having a thickness of 150 .mu.m and an outer dimension of 80 mm
square. A conductive paint (Trade Name: DOTITE XE-9000,
manufactured by Fujikura Kasei Co., Ltd.) containing silver and
copper powder dispersed in a polyester-based resin was applied to
the surface of the substrate which was not formed with the grooves.
The applied coating was dried at 50.degree. C. for 30 minutes to
form a conductive layer having a thickness of 30 .mu.m and a
surface electric resistance of 0.2 .OMEGA./square. To the surface
of the conductive layer, a double coated adhesive tape (Product
name: 467 MP, manufactured by Sumitomo 3M Limited) was adhered. To
impart bendability to the resulting laminate, the sintered ferrite
substrate layer was divided in the same manner as that in Example
6. The divided pieces were substantially uniform in shape and each
in the form of a square of side 2 mm. The magnetic permeability of
the laminate sheet was found to have .mu.r' of 84 and .mu.r'' of
0.4.
[0145] Then, an antenna module was prepared by bonding the
above-obtained conductive loop antenna and the above-obtained
laminate sheet together using a double coated adhesive tape
(Product name: 467 MP, manufactured by Sumitomo 3M Limited) such
that the conductive loop of the antenna faces the opposite surface
of the sintered ferrite substrate from the conductive layer. The
bonding was carried out so that no gaps were formed in each of the
bonding surfaces. Since obtained module had a resonant frequency of
the antenna module to 10.8 MHz and Q of 68, a capacitor was
connected in parallel to the loop antenna to adjust the resonant
frequency to a range of 13.5 to 13.6 by changing the capacity.
After the adjustment, the Q value was 64. When the resonant
frequency was measured in a state where the conductive layer of the
antenna module was in contact with an iron plate having a thickness
of 1 mm, no change of the resonant frequency was observed before
and after the attachment of the iron plate.
Example 8
[0146] An antenna module was prepared in the same manner as that in
Example 7 except that the conductive layer was formed on the
sintered ferrite substrate by applying thereon a
nickel-acrylic-based conductive paint (Trade Name: DOTITE FN-101),
followed by drying at 50.degree. C. for 30 minutes and had a
surface electric resistance of 2 .OMEGA./square. The evaluation of
the obtained antenna module revealed that the resonant frequency
was 13.6 MHz and the Q value was 60. No change of the resonant
frequency was observed before and after the attachment of the iron
plate.
Example 9
[0147] An antenna module was prepared in the same manner as that in
Example 7 except that the conductive layer was formed on the
sintered ferrite substrate by printing a conductive silver paste on
a green sheet of the substrate, followed by sintering the laminate
at 900.degree. C. and had a thickness of 10 .mu.m. The evaluation
of the obtained antenna module revealed that the surface electric
resistance of the conductive layer was 0.1 .OMEGA./square, the
resonant frequency was 13.55 MHz and the Q value was 66. No change
of the resonant frequency was observed before and after the
attachment of the iron plate.
Comparative Example 6
[0148] An antenna module was prepared in the same manner as that in
Example 7 except that a conductive layer was not formed on the
sintered ferrite substrate. The obtained antenna module without an
iron plate laminated thereon had a resonant frequency of 13.55 MHz
and a Q value of 67. When the resonant frequency was measured with
an iron plate of 1 mm thick laminated in the same manner as that in
Example 7, the resonant frequency was 11.5 MHz and shifted to a low
frequency side by 2 MHz, though the Q value was 67 and not changed.
Because of the frequency shift, no resonance occurred at 13.56 MHz.
The communication strength was considerably low.
Comparative Example 7
[0149] An antenna module having the same constitution as that of
Comparative Example 6 except that the thickness of the sintered
ferrite substrate was 300 .mu.m was prepared and evaluated. The
obtained antenna module had a resonant frequency of 14.1 MHz, when
an iron plate was laminated thereon. Thus, the resonant frequency
change was smaller as compared with the antenna module of
Comparative Example 6. However, the communication strength was
reduced.
Comparative Example 8
[0150] An antenna module having the same constitution as that of
Example 7 except that the thickness of the conductive layer formed
on the sintered ferrite substrate was 5 .mu.m and that the surface
electric resistance was 5 .OMEGA./square was prepared in the same
manner as that in Example 7. The obtained antenna was measured for
its resonance characteristics. It was found that the resonant
frequency was changed to 10.9 MHz and that the communication
strength at 13.56 MHz was reduced.
Example 10
[0151] Using a pressure kneader, 1,000 parts by weight of a ferrite
powder, obtained by surface-treating 1,000 parts by weight of
Mg--Zn--Cu ferrite powder (composition: Fe.sub.2O.sub.3: 48.5 mol
%, MgO: 27.0 mol %, ZnO: 14.5 mol %, CuO: 10.0 mol %; calcination
conditions: 850.degree. C., 180 minutes; cumulative 50% volume
diameter: adjusted to 0.7 .mu.m) with 10 parts by weight of a
titanate-based coupling agent (KR-TTS manufactured by Ajinomoto
Co., Inc.), 50 parts by weight of a thermoplastic elastomer
(LUMITAC 22-1 manufactured by Tosoh Corporation), 100 parts by
weight of polyethylene having a density of 0.9 g/cm.sup.3 and 20
parts by weight of stearic acid were kneaded at 130.degree. C. for
40 minutes. The thus obtained kneaded mass of a ferrite resin
composition was press molded at a temperature of 160.degree. C.
under a pressure of 100 kg/cm.sup.2 for a pressurization time of 3
minutes using an iron plate, which had been sandblasted to have a
center line average roughness (Ra) of 450 nm and a maximum height
(Rmax) of 8 .mu.m, to obtain a molded ferrite sheet having a
thickness of 74 .mu.m and a size of 100 mm square.
[0152] Ten such sheets were prepared and stacked one upon another.
The stacked substrates were placed between top and bottom alumina
setters (manufactured by Kikusui Chemical Industries Co., Ltd.) as
support plate means and heated at 500.degree. C. for 10 hours for
removing the organic binder, followed by sintering at 940.degree.
C. for 2 hours to obtain sintered substrates. After cooling, the
sintered substrates were peeled from each other. It was found that
the sintered substrate was able to be easily peeled off without
causing any damage.
[0153] The obtained sintered substrate had a thickness of 60 .mu.m
and an outer dimension of 80 mm square. A test piece having an
outer diameter of 14 mm and an inner diameter of 8 mm was cut out
from the substrate and measured for its magnetic permeability using
Impedance Analyzer (E4991A manufactured by Agilent Technologies
Co., Ltd.) and a jig (16454A) attached to its test station. It was
found that .mu.r' and .mu.r'' were 161 and 48, respectively, at
13.56 MHz. Thus, the obtained sintered ferrite substrates were not
stuck to each other and had good magnetic characteristics.
[0154] The above-obtained molded ferrite sheet was found to have a
surface roughness such that the center line average roughness (Ra)
was 380 nm, the maximum height (Rmax) was 4.8 .mu.m and an area
occupancy rate of the cross-sectional area, taken along a
horizontal plane at a depth of 50% of the maximum height in a
square of side 100 .mu.m, was 38%.
[0155] The obtained sintered ferrite substrate was found to have a
surface roughness such that the center line average roughness (Ra)
was 366 nm, the maximum height (Rmax) was 4.1 .mu.m and an area
occupancy rate of the cross-sectional area, taken along a
horizontal plane at a depth of 50% of the maximum height in a
square of side 100 .mu.m, was 31%.
Example 11
[0156] Using a ball mill, 100 parts by weight of the same
Mg--Zn--Cu ferrite as used in Example 10, 2 parts by weight of
butyl phthalyl butyl glycolate, 12 parts of a polyvinylalcohol
resin (ESLEK B BM-1 manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) and
60 parts by weight of a mixed solvent composed of 4 parts of
n-butanol and 6 parts of toluene were mixed, dissolved or dispersed
to obtain a ferrite-dispersed coating liquid. The termite-dispersed
coating liquid was defoamed by an oil rotary vacuum pump and
uniformly applied with a doctor blade to a PET film (LUMIMAT 50S200
TRES manufactured by Panak Co., Ltd.), one side of which had been
sandblasted to have a center line average roughness (Ra) of 530 nm
and a maximum height (Rmax) of 5.6 .mu.m, to a given thickness. The
coating was dried with hot wind at 100.degree. C. for 30 minutes to
obtain a molded ferrite sheet having a thickness of 210 .mu.m.
[0157] The molded ferrite sheet was cut into squares of side 100
mm. Each of the cut sheets was peeled off from the PET film. The
sheets were then sintered in the same conditions as those in
Example 10 to obtain sintered ferrite substrates.
[0158] The obtained sintered ferrite substrate was evaluated for
its physical properties and was found to have a thickness of 174
.mu.m, an outer dimension of 80 mm square and magnetic permeability
with .mu.r' of 158 and .mu.r'' of 33. Further, the obtained
sintered ferrite substrates did not stick to each other and were
easily peeled off from each other.
[0159] The above-obtained molded ferrite sheet was found to have a
surface roughness such that the center line average roughness (Ra)
was 450 nm, the maximum height (Rmax) was 5.1 .mu.m and an area
occupancy rate of the cross-sectional area, taken along a
horizontal plane at a depth of 50% of the maximum height in a
square of side 100 .mu.m, was 40%.
[0160] The surface of the above-obtained molded ferrite sheet which
had not been brought into contact with the PET film was found to
have a center line average roughness (Ra) of 131 nm, a maximum
height (Rmax) of 1.8 .mu.m and an area occupancy rate of the
cross-sectional area, taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of
50% of the maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m, of 97%.
Thus, it was understood that the surface roughness was able to be
controlled at will by the PET film used.
[0161] The above-obtained molded ferrite sheet was found to have a
surface roughness such that the center line average roughness (Ra)
was 338 nm, the maximum height (Rmax) was 3.6 .mu.m and an area
occupancy rate of the cross-sectional area, taken along a
horizontal plane at a depth of 50% of the maximum height in a
square of side 100 .mu.m, was 21%.
Example 12
[0162] A kneaded mass of a ferrite resin composition was prepared
in the same manner as that in Example 10 except that a mixture of
300 parts by weight of Mg--Zn--Cu ferrite powder (composition:
Fe.sub.2O.sub.3: 48.5 mol %, MgO: 27.0 mol %, ZnO: 14.5 mol %, CuO:
10.0 mol %; calcination conditions: 1,000.degree. C., 180 minutes;
cumulative 50% volume diameter: 6 .mu.m) and 700 parts by weight of
the same Mg--Zn--Cu ferrite powder (cumulative 50% volume diameter:
0.7 .mu.m) as used in Example 10 was used. The thus obtained
kneaded mass was press molded at a temperature of 160.degree. C.
under a pressure of 100 kg/cm.sup.2 for a pressurization time of 3
minutes using an iron plate, which had been processed to have a
center line average roughness (Ra) of 120 nm and a maximum
roughness of 2 .mu.m, to obtain a molded ferrite sheet having a
thickness of 188 .mu.m and an outer size of 100 mm.
[0163] Using the thus obtained sheet, sintered ferrite substrates
were prepared in the same manner as that in Example 10. The
obtained sintered ferrite substrate was evaluated for its physical
properties and was found to have a thickness of 157 .mu.m and
magnetic permeability with .mu.r' of 144 and .mu.r'' of 21 at 13.56
MHz. Further, the substrates did not stick to each other and were
easily peeled off from each other.
[0164] Because of the use of coarse particle ferrite, the
above-obtained molded ferrite sheet had a center line average
roughness (Ra) of 361 nm, a maximum height (Rmax) of 6.2 .mu.m and
an area occupancy rate of the cross-sectional area, taken along a
horizontal plane at a depth of 50% of the maximum height in a
square of side 100 .mu.m, of 67%.
[0165] The sintered ferrite substrate had surface roughness such
that the center line average roughness (Ra) was 305 nm, the maximum
height (Rmax) was 4.0 .mu.m and the area occupancy rate of the
cross-sectional area, taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of
50% of the maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m, was
49%.
Example 13
[0166] Sintered ferrite substrates were obtained in the same manner
as that in Example 11 except that the application of the
ferrite-dispersed coating liquid using the doctor blade was carried
out under conditions so that a molded ferrite sheet obtained had a
thickness of 43 .mu.m.
[0167] The obtained sintered ferrite substrate was evaluated for
its physical properties and was found to have a thickness of 37
.mu.m and magnetic permeability with .mu.r' of 156 and .mu.r'' of
31 at 13.56 MHz. Further, the substrates did not stick to each
other and were easily peeled off from each other.
[0168] The obtained molded ferrite sheet had surface roughness such
that the center line average roughness (Ra) of 345 nm, the maximum
height (Rmax) of 4.0 .mu.m and the area occupancy rate of the
cross-sectional area, taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of
50% of the maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m, was
23%.
[0169] The sintered ferrite substrate had surface roughness such
that the center line average roughness (Ra) was 289 nm, the maximum
height (Rmax) was 3.1 .mu.m and the area occupancy rate of the
cross-sectional area, taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of
50% of the maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m, was
12%.
Example 14
[0170] Sintered ferrite substrates were obtained in the same manner
as that in Example 11 except that the application of the
ferrite-dispersed coating liquid using the doctor blade was carried
out under conditions so that a molded ferrite sheet obtained had a
thickness of 377 .mu.m.
[0171] The obtained sintered ferrite substrate was evaluated for
its physical properties and was found to have a thickness of 326
.mu.m and magnetic permeability with .mu.r' of 167 and .mu.r'' of
50 at 13.56 MHz. Further, the substrates did not stick to each
other and was easily peeled off from each other.
[0172] The obtained molded ferrite sheet had surface roughness such
that the center line average roughness (Ra) of 634 nm, the maximum
height (Rmax) of 7.8 .mu.m and the area occupancy rate of the
cross-sectional area, taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of
50% of the maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m, was
66%.
[0173] The sintered ferrite substrate had surface roughness such
that the center line average roughness (Ra) was 593 nm, the maximum
height (Rmax) was 7.8 .mu.m and the area occupancy rate of the
cross-sectional area, taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of
50% of the maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m, was
39%.
Comparative Example 9
[0174] A kneaded mass of a ferrite resin composition was prepared
in the same manner as that in Example 10. Using the kneaded mass,
sintered ferrite substrates were prepared in the same manner as
that in Example 10 except that an iron plate processed to have a
center line average roughness (Ra) of 120 nm and a maximum
roughness of 2 .mu.m was used in the press molding. The substrates
stuck so tightly to each other that it was difficult to peel off
the substrates from each other. Although the substrate was partly
unstuck from each other, breakage occurred when it was forcibly
separated therefrom. Thus, no sintered ferrite substrates having a
size of 80 mm square were obtained. The obtained sintered ferrite
substrate had magnetic permeability with .mu.r' of 160 and .mu.r''
of 48 at 13.56 MHz.
[0175] The obtained molded ferrite sheet had surface roughness such
that the center line average roughness (Ra) of 98 nm, the maximum
height (Rmax) of 0.9 .mu.m and the area occupancy rate of the
cross-sectional area, taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of
50% of the maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m, was
5%.
[0176] The sintered ferrite substrate had surface roughness such
that the center line average roughness (Ra) was 81 nm, the maximum
height (Rmax) was 0.8 .mu.m and the area occupancy rate of the
cross-sectional area, taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of
50% of the maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m, was
1%.
Comparative Example 10
[0177] A ferrite-dispersed coating liquid was prepared in the same
manner as that in Example 11. The obtained coating liquid was
uniformly applied with a doctor blade to a PET film (not
sandblasted) having a center line average roughness (Ra) of 17 nm,
a maximum height (Rmax) of 0.3 .mu.m and a thickness of 50 .mu.m.
This was dried with hot wind at 100.degree. C. for 30 minutes to
obtain a molded ferrite sheet having a thickness of 217 .mu.m.
[0178] The sheet was peeled off from the PET film. Ten such sheets
were stacked one upon another and heated in the same manner as that
in Example 10 to obtain sintered ferrite substrates. The obtained
substrate was evaluated for its properties and was found to have a
thickness of 177 .mu.m. Since the substrates stuck so tightly to
each other it was not possible to peel off the substrates from each
other.
[0179] The obtained molded ferrite sheet had surface roughness such
that the center line average roughness (Ra) of 78 nm, the maximum
height (Rmax) of 1.8 .mu.m and the area occupancy rate of the
cross-sectional area, taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of
50% of the maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m, was
87%.
[0180] The sintered ferrite substrate had surface roughness such
that the center line average roughness (Ra) was 54 nm, the maximum
height (Rmax) was 1.3 .mu.m and the area occupancy rate of the
cross-sectional area, taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of
50% of the maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m, was
0.2%.
Comparative Example 11
[0181] A sheet was prepared in the same manner as that in
Comparative Example 10 and was peeled off from the PET film. That
surface of the molded ferrite sheet which had been in contact with
the PET film was applied with 50 mg of zirconia powder having an
average particle diameter of 5 .mu.m by brushing. Thereafter, a
calcination treatment was carried out in the same manner as that in
Comparative Example 10 to obtain sintered ferrite substrates.
[0182] The evaluation of the sintered ferrite substrate revealed
that the substrate had magnetic permeability with .mu.r' of 157 and
.mu.r'' of 31 at 13.56 MHz. The obtained sintered ferrite
substrates had deposits of zirconia powder. During the removal of
the zirconia powder deposits using a brush, four of the ten
substrates were broken. The application of the powder and the
removal of the powder were significantly troublesome. The powder
deposits were not able to be completely removed.
Comparative Example 12
[0183] Sintered ferrite substrates were prepared in the same manner
as that in Example 10 except that an iron plate processed to have a
center line average roughness (Ra) of 1200 nm and a maximum height
(Rmax) of 14 .mu.m was used in the press molding. The substrates
did not stuck to each other and were able to be peeled off from
each other.
[0184] The obtained sintered ferrite substrate had magnetic
permeability with .mu.r' of 78 and .mu.r'' of 1 at 13.56 MHz and,
thus, did not have satisfactory magnetic characteristics. Such
deterioration of the magnetic permeability is considered to be
attributed to the high surface roughness of the iron plate which
resulted in an increase of void spaces in the cross-sections of the
sintered ferrite substrate.
Comparative Example 13
[0185] A ferrite-dispersed coating liquid was prepared in the same
manner as that in Example 11. The obtained coating liquid was
uniformly applied with a doctor blade to a PET film (U4-50
manufactured by Teijin DuPont Co., Ltd) which had been processed to
have a center line average roughness (Ra) of 252 nm and a maximum
height (Rmax) of 3.3 .mu.m. The coating was dried with hot wind at
100.degree. C. for 30 minutes to obtain a molded ferrite sheet
having a thickness of 198 .mu.m. The sheet was peeled off from the
PET film. Ten such sheets were stacked one upon another and
heat-treated in the same manner as that in Example 10 to obtain
sintered ferrite substrates.
[0186] The obtained substrate was evaluated for its properties and
was found to have a thickness of 169 .mu.m. Since the substrates
stuck so tightly to each other it was not possible to peel off the
substrates from each other.
[0187] The obtained molded ferrite sheet had surface roughness such
that the center line average roughness (Ra) of 246 nm, the maximum
height (Rmax) of 2.6 .mu.m and the area occupancy rate of the
cross-sectional area, taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of
50% of the maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m, was
97%.
[0188] The sintered ferrite substrate had surface roughness such
that the center line average roughness (Ra) was 201 nm, the maximum
height (Rmax) was 2.1 .mu.m and the area occupancy rate of the
cross-sectional area, taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of
50% of the maximum height in a square of side 100 .mu.m, was
96%.
[0189] It will be understood from above results that not only
control of the surface roughness but also control of the area
occupancy rate of the cross-sectional area is important in order to
obtain the effects of the present invention.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Molded Ferrite Sheet Surface Roughness
Bearing Thickness Ra Rmax Analysis Data (.mu.m) (nm) (.mu.m) Area
Rate* (%) Example 10 74 380 4.8 38 Example 11 210 450 5.1 40
Example 12 188 361 6.2 67 Example 13 43 345 4.0 23 Example 14 377
634 7.8 66 Comparative 82 98 0.9 5 Example 9 Comparative 217 78 1.8
87 Example 10 Comparative 180 60 1.2 5 Example 11 Comparative 53
1005 14.2 65 Example 12 Comparative 198 246 2.6 97 Example 13
Sintered Ferrite Substrate Sintered Surface Roughness Thickness
Density Ra Rmax (.mu.m) (g/cm.sup.3) (nm) (.mu.m) Example 10 60
4.64 366 4.1 Example 11 174 4.61 338 3.6 Example 12 157 4.59 305
4.0 Example 13 37 4.62 289 3.1 Example 14 326 4.71 593 7.8
Comparative 70 4.63 81 0.8 Example 9 Comparative 177 4.62 54 1.3
Example 10 Comparative 149 4.64 43 1.1 Example 11 Comparative 43
4.38 922 10.9 Example 12 Comparative 169 4.67 201 2.1 Example 13
Sintered Ferrite Substrate Bearing Analysis Data Sticking Magnetic
Permeability Area Rate* (%) State .mu.r' .mu.r'' Example 10 31 No
sticking 161 48 Example 11 21 No sticking 158 33 Example 12 49 No
sticking 144 21 Example 13 12 No sticking 156 31 Example 14 39 No
sticking 167 50 Comparative 1 Stuck 160 48 Example 9 Comparative
0.2 stuck 159 44 Example 10 Comparative 2 Partly stuck 157 31
Example 11 Comparative 55 No sticking 78 1.1 Example 12 Comparative
96 stuck 165 50 Example 13 *Area occupancy rate of the
cross-sectional area, taken along a horizontal plane at a depth of
50% of the maximum height
Example 15
[0190] A double coated adhesive tape (Product name: 467 MP,
manufactured by Sumitomo 3M Limited) having a thickness of 50 .mu.m
was adhered onto the surface of the sintered ferrite substrate of
Example 10 to which roughness had been imparted, thereby obtaining
a laminate composed of a sintered ferrite substrate layer of 60
.mu.m thick and a adhesive layer of 50 .mu.m thick.
[0191] For the purpose of imparting the laminate with bendability,
the laminate was placed on an urethane foam sheet having a
thickness of 10 mm and an expansion ratio of about 10-fold and was
then pressed with a rubber roller having an outer dimension of
about 50 mm and a width of about 15 cm. The rubber roller was
displaced in the X and Y directions of the laminate with a roll
linear pressure of about 1 kg/cm so that cracks were formed
throughout the sintered ferrite substrate.
[0192] A test piece having an outer diameter of 14 mm and an inner
diameter of 8 mm was cut out and measured for its magnetic
permeability. The magnetic permeability was found to have .mu.r' of
121 and .mu.r'' of 10 at 13.56 MHz.
[0193] Also, the similar laminate was wound around an iron rod
having an outer diameter of 30 mm. In the same manner as above, a
test piece was cut out and measured for its magnetic permeability.
The magnetic permeability was found to have .mu.r' of 120 and
.mu.r'' of 10 at 13.56 MHz and was similar to the above. Thus, the
obtained laminates had good bendability and good magnetic
permeability .mu.r' of more than
Example 16
[0194] A planar antenna composed of a PET film with a thickness of
25 .mu.m and a 7-turn spiral conductive loop provided on the PET
film was prepared. The loop had a rectangular shape with a length
of 45 mm and a width of 75 mm.
[0195] A molded ferrite sheet having a thickness of 185 .mu.m was
prepared in the same manner as that in Example 11 using the same
Mg--Zn--Cu ferrite as used in Example 10. Using a Thomson blade
having V-shaped edges of each 30.degree., V-shaped grooves with a
depth of about 90 .mu.m are formed on one side of the molded sheet.
The grooves were arranged at an interval of 2 mm in the form of a
grid. The obtained molded ferrite sheet having grooves was cut into
100 mm squares and the PET film was peeled off. The cut ferrite
sheets were calcined in the same manner as that in Example 10 to
obtain sintered ferrite substrates.
[0196] The obtained sintered ferrite substrate had a thickness of
143 .mu.m and an outer dimension of 80 mm square. A conductive
paint (Trade Name: DOTITE XE-9000, manufactured by Fujikura Kasei
Co., Ltd.) containing silver and copper powder dispersed in a
polyester-based resin was applied to the surface of the substrate
which was not formed with the grooves. The applied coating was
dried at 50.degree. C. for 30 minutes to form a conductive layer
having a thickness of 30 .mu.m and a surface electric resistance of
0.2 .OMEGA./square.
[0197] To the surface of the conductive layer, a double coated
adhesive tape (Product name: 467 MP, manufactured by Sumitomo 3M
Limited) was adhered. To impart bendability to the resulting
laminate, the sintered ferrite substrate layer was divided in the
same manner as that in Example 15. The divided pieces were
substantially uniform in shape and each in the form of a square of
side 2 mm. The magnetic permeability of the laminate sheet was
found to have .mu.r' of 119 and .mu.r'' of 9.0.
[0198] Then, an antenna module was prepared by bonding the
above-obtained conductive loop antenna and the above-obtained
laminate sheet together using a double coated adhesive tape
(Product name: 467 MP, manufactured by Sumitomo 3M Limited) such
that the conductive loop of the antenna faces the opposite surface
of the sintered ferrite substrate from the conductive layer. The
bonding was carried out so that no gaps were formed in each of the
bonding surfaces. Since obtained module had a resonant frequency of
the antenna module to 15.5 MHz and Q of 67, a capacitor was
connected in parallel to the loop antenna to adjust the resonant
frequency to a range of 13.5 to 13.6 by changing the capacity. No
change of Q was seen after the adjustment. When the resonant
frequency was measured in a state where the conductive layer of the
antenna module was in contact with an iron plate having a thickness
of 1 mm, no change of the resonant frequency was observed before
and after the attachment of the iron plate.
Example 17
[0199] An antenna module was prepared in the same manner as that in
Example 16 except that the conductive layer was formed on the
sintered ferrite substrate by applying thereon a
nickel-acrylic-based conductive paint (Trade Name: DOTITE FN-101),
followed by drying at 50.degree. C. for 30 minutes and had a
surface electric resistance of 2 .OMEGA./square. The evaluation of
the obtained antenna module revealed that the resonant frequency
was 13.6 MHz and the Q value was 63. No change of the resonant
frequency was observed before and after the attachment of the iron
plate.
Example 18
[0200] An antenna module was prepared in the same manner as that in
Example 16 except that the conductive layer was formed on the
sintered ferrite substrate by printing a conductive silver paste on
a green sheet of the substrate, followed by sintering the laminate
at 900.degree. C. and had a thickness of 10 .mu.m. The evaluation
of the obtained antenna module revealed that the surface electric
resistance of the conductive layer was 0.1 .OMEGA./square, the
resonant frequency was 13.55 MHz and the Q value was 63. No change
of the resonant frequency was observed before and after the
attachment of the iron plate.
Comparative Example 14
[0201] An antenna module was prepared in the same manner as that in
Example 16 except that a conductive layer was not formed on the
sintered ferrite substrate. The obtained antenna module without an
iron plate laminated thereon had a resonant frequency of 13.5 MHz
and a Q value of 66. When the resonant frequency was measured with
an iron plate of 1 mm thick laminated in the same manner as that in
Example 13, the resonant frequency was 15.8 MHz and shifted to a
high frequency side by 2.3 MHz, though the Q value was 66 and not
changed. Because of the frequency shift, no resonance occurred at
13.56 MHz. The communication strength was considerably low.
Comparative Example 15
[0202] An antenna module having the same constitution as that of
Comparative Example 14 except that the thickness of the sintered
ferrite substrate was 300 .mu.m was prepared and evaluated. The
obtained antenna module had a resonant frequency of 13.9 MHz, when
an iron plate was laminated thereon. Thus, the resonant frequency
change was smaller as compared with the antenna module of
Comparative Example 14. However, the communication strength was
reduced.
Comparative Example 16
[0203] An antenna module having the same constitution as that of
Example 7 except that the thickness of the conductive layer formed
on the sintered ferrite substrate was 5 .mu.m and that the surface
electric resistance was 5 .OMEGA./square was prepared in the same
manner as that in Example 16. The obtained antenna was measured for
its resonance characteristics. It was found that the resonant
frequency was changed to 15.0 MHz and that the communication
strength at 13.56 MHz was reduced.
* * * * *