Heraeus Electronics GmbH & Co. KG

Nov 10, 2026

Silver Takes the Crown: Why Copper Can't Crack the Conductive Ink Code

The answer isn’t just about conductivity—it’s about chemistry, reliability, and practicality. Silver resists oxidation, disperses easily, and forms highly conductive networks, while copper demands costly protective measures. In this article, Ryan Banfield unpacks why silver remains the MVP of conductive inks and what it would take for copper to catch up.

When it comes to flake-based conductive inks for hybrid electronics applications, silver reigns supreme. In fact, if conductive inks had a high school yearbook published in the 60-70’s when the first membrane switch was produced, silver would probably win “Most Likely to Succeed.” Meanwhile, copper flakes, despite being cheaper and having great conductivity on paper, would win an award for “Class Clown”. The question is: why does silver always get the starting spot, and why does copper rarely make it onto the field?

Read the answer on our blog:

Thick Film Blog: Silver vs. Copper Flakes in Conductive Inks