A method of manufacturing conductive patterns includes the steps of a) printing and curing UV curable inkjet to define a cured inkjet ink pattern on a metal sheet bonded to a non-conductive substrate; b) etching the metal sheet not covered by the cured ink pattern to expose the non-conductive substrate; and c) applying an alkaline solution to dissolve the cured inkjet ink pattern within 5 minutes.

Biodegradable printed circuit boards, or PCBs, may be produced from substrate sheets that include at least one biodegradable polymer. In addition, the electrical traces used on the PCBs, may also include a biodegradable polymer incorporated with an electrically conductive material. The PCBs may be composted to degrade the PCBs, and the

Methods of making metal patterns on flexible substrates are provided. A releasable solid layer is selectively formed on a patterned surface of the flexible substrate by applying a liquid solution thereon. The releasable solid layer is transferred from the patterned surface to a transfer layer where the metal patterns are formed.