Printed electronics - Part 401: Printability - Overview

IEC 62899-401:2025 provides an overview of the IEC 62899-4XX series and explains its modular structure. The IEC 62899-4XX series establishes requirements for the printability of printed electronics. These requirements are stated as measurement of quality, reproducibility, analysis and compliance test methods, as well as measuring methods for environmental conditions. The IEC 62899-4XX series specifies the measurements and the requirements of both the quality and the reproducibility of printed patterns as the result of the interaction of printing plate, ink, substrate, and environmental condition. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) The published IEC 62899-4XX documents are listed in the Bibliography.
b) The definitions of printed electronics, printed pattern, and void are modified.
c) The term printing media is specified as printing plate.
d) The term pattern width is specified as line pattern width.
e) The term thickness is specified as thickness of printed line.
f) The definition of basic pattern is modified.
g) The structure of IEC 62899-4XX series is updated according to the present projected documents numbering.

General Information

Status
Published
Publication Date
04-May-2025
Technical Committee
TC 119 - Printed Electronics
Drafting Committee
WG 4 - TC 119/WG 4
Current Stage
PPUB - Publication issued
Start Date
05-May-2025
Completion Date
23-May-2025

Relations

Effective Date
05-Sep-2023

Overview

IEC 62899-401:2025 provides an authoritative overview of the IEC 62899-4XX series and the modular approach to printability in printed electronics. The document defines scope, key terms and the structure of measurement and compliance parts that establish how to evaluate the interaction of printing plate, ink, substrate and environmental conditions. This edition updates terminology (for example, printing media → printing plate; pattern width → line pattern width; thickness → thickness of printed line) and lists published IEC 62899-4XX documents in the Bibliography.

Key Topics

The standard organizes printability into measurable quality factors and test requirements focused on reproducibility and comparability across manufacturing setups. Major topics include:

  • Terms and definitions: clarified definitions for printed electronics, printed pattern, void, basic pattern, surface roughness and surface profile.
  • Measurement scope: separation of quality factors into horizontal and vertical elements:
    • Horizontal: length and width, edge waviness, void occurrence and line pattern width.
    • Vertical: thickness of printed line, surface roughness and surface profile.
  • Modular series structure: the Part 4XX series covers measurement methods (Part 402-x), reproducibility requirements (Part 403-x), analysis and compliance test methods (Part 404), and environmental measurement methods (Part 405).
  • Practical measurement methods: referenced measurement parts include IEC 62899-402-1 (line pattern widths), IEC 62899-402-2 (edge waviness), IEC 62899-402-3 (voids via 2D optical imaging) and TR 62899-402-4 (morphology classification and measurement guidance).
  • Reproducibility focus: requirements target both machine and printing plate reproducibility and basic application pattern reproducibility (IEC 62899-403-x series).

Applications

IEC 62899-401:2025 and the IEC 62899-4XX series are practical tools for:

  • Manufacturers establishing quality control and acceptance criteria for printed electronics production.
  • Test labs and R&D groups developing measurement protocols for pattern fidelity, line width control, defect identification (voids) and surface morphology.
  • Procurement and compliance teams specifying reproducibility and environmental test conditions for vendor qualification.
  • Industry stakeholders seeking harmonized, internationally comparable metrics to facilitate trade and technology adoption.

The overview helps stakeholders map which part of the modular series applies to specific measurement or compliance tasks without prescribing implementation details beyond definitions and structure.

Related Standards

  • IEC 62899 series (general title: Printed electronics)
  • IEC 62899-402-1, -402-2, -402-3 and TR 62899-402-4 (measurement methods and morphology)
  • IEC 62899-403-1 (reproducibility requirements for printing machines)

For implementers, consult the referenced parts within IEC 62899-4XX for detailed measurement procedures and normative requirements. The overview remains a high-level entry point to the modular measurement, analysis and environmental guidance that supports consistent evaluation of printability in printed electronics.

Standard

IEC 62899-401:2025 - Printed electronics - Part 401: Printability - Overview Released:5. 05. 2025 Isbn:9782832703908

English language
11 pages
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Frequently Asked Questions

IEC 62899-401:2025 is a standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Its full title is "Printed electronics - Part 401: Printability - Overview". This standard covers: IEC 62899-401:2025 provides an overview of the IEC 62899-4XX series and explains its modular structure. The IEC 62899-4XX series establishes requirements for the printability of printed electronics. These requirements are stated as measurement of quality, reproducibility, analysis and compliance test methods, as well as measuring methods for environmental conditions. The IEC 62899-4XX series specifies the measurements and the requirements of both the quality and the reproducibility of printed patterns as the result of the interaction of printing plate, ink, substrate, and environmental condition. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition: a) The published IEC 62899-4XX documents are listed in the Bibliography. b) The definitions of printed electronics, printed pattern, and void are modified. c) The term printing media is specified as printing plate. d) The term pattern width is specified as line pattern width. e) The term thickness is specified as thickness of printed line. f) The definition of basic pattern is modified. g) The structure of IEC 62899-4XX series is updated according to the present projected documents numbering.

IEC 62899-401:2025 provides an overview of the IEC 62899-4XX series and explains its modular structure. The IEC 62899-4XX series establishes requirements for the printability of printed electronics. These requirements are stated as measurement of quality, reproducibility, analysis and compliance test methods, as well as measuring methods for environmental conditions. The IEC 62899-4XX series specifies the measurements and the requirements of both the quality and the reproducibility of printed patterns as the result of the interaction of printing plate, ink, substrate, and environmental condition. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition: a) The published IEC 62899-4XX documents are listed in the Bibliography. b) The definitions of printed electronics, printed pattern, and void are modified. c) The term printing media is specified as printing plate. d) The term pattern width is specified as line pattern width. e) The term thickness is specified as thickness of printed line. f) The definition of basic pattern is modified. g) The structure of IEC 62899-4XX series is updated according to the present projected documents numbering.

IEC 62899-401:2025 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 31.180 - Printed circuits and boards. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.

IEC 62899-401:2025 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to IEC 62899-401:2017. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.

IEC 62899-401:2025 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.

Standards Content (Sample)


IEC 62899-401 ®
Edition 2.0 2025-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Printed electronics –
Part 401: Printability – Overview
ICS 31.180  ISBN 978-2-8327-0390-8

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– 2 – IEC 62899-401:2025 © IEC 2025
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
INTRODUCTION . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Overview of the IEC 62899-4XX series . 8
5 Outline of the standardization of printability in printed electronics . 9
5.1 Outline of measurements of qualities . 9
5.2 Outline of requirement for printability . 10
5.3 Outline of the analysis and compliance test methods . 10
5.4 Outline of the measuring methods for environmental conditions . 10
Bibliography . 11

Table 1 – Structure of IEC 62899-4XX series . 9

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
PRINTED ELECTRONICS –
Part 401: Printability – Overview

FOREWORD
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IEC 62899-401 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 119:Printed electronics. It is an
International Standard.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2017. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
a) The published IEC 62899-4XX documents are listed in the Bibliography.
b) The definitions of printed electronics, printed pattern, and void are modified.
c) The term printing media is specified as printing plate.
d) The term pattern width is specified as line pattern width.
e) The term thickness is specified as thickness of printed line.

– 4 – IEC 62899-401:2025 © IEC 2025
f) The definition of basic pattern is modified.
g) The structure of IEC 62899-4XX series is updated according to the present projected
documents numbering.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
119/535/FDIS 119/542/RVD
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/publications.
A list of all parts in the IEC 62899 series, published under the general title Printed electronics,
can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the
specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn, or
• revised.
INTRODUCTION
This part of IEC 62899 contains an overview of measurements and requirements for printability
in printed electronics. The IEC 62899-4XX series provides highly reliable measurements for the
comparable evaluation and the necessary specifications for the quality and reproducibility of
printed patterns.
Quality and reproducibility of the printing technology in electronics manufacturing help to
facilitate international trade and enhanced user value in the field of printed electronics.

– 6 – IEC 62899-401:2025 © IEC 2025
PRINTED ELECTRONICS –
Part 401: Printability – Overview

1 Scope
This part of IEC 62899 provides an overview of the IEC 62899-4XX series and explains its
modular structure. The IEC 62899-4XX series establishes requirements for the printability of
printed electronics. These requirements are stated as measurement of quality, reproducibility,
...

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