Width Control in the Photo patterning of PDP Barrier Ribs

Barrier ribs in plasma display panels (PDPs) function to maintain the discharge space between the glass plates as well as to prevent optical cross-talking. The barrier ribs currently employed are typically $300{\mu}m$ pitch, $110{\sim}120{\mu}m$ in height, with upper and lower widths of $50{\mu}m$ and $80{\mu}m$, respectively. It has been reported that barrier ribs can be fabricated by screen-printing, sand blasting, etching and photolithographic processes. In this study, photosensitive barrier rib pastes were formulated and systematically evaluated in terms of photolithographic process variables such as printing, drying, UV exposure, development and sintering. It was found that the use of UV absorbent, polymerization inhibitor and surfactant were very effective in controlling the width uniformity of barrier ribs in the photolithographic method of barrier rib patterning.