Printed electronics on foils

First: The electronics of the future are omnipresent. It is found in all things. Even where you least expect them: in clothing or on packaging, in car headlights or in plastics. Second: The electronics of the future are digital, communicative and intelligent. It constantly sends and receives information, processes it and makes decisions - independently and in the interests of the user. Third: The electronics of the future will be small. Tiny. This has the advantage that ubiquitous technology of the future is not even noticeable. It's just there, doing its job. Just like the oxygen in the air.

The future of electronics is printed. On flexible materials.

Printed electronics refers to all electronic devices made by printing on various materials. Generally, this involves the use of carbon compounds printed onto flexible materials such as plastic films. There are a variety of fabrics that can serve as the base for these devices that fall under the category of plastic films for printed electronics.
Because these materials are man-made and chemically produced, they can exhibit a variety of specific properties. This makes them particularly well suited for printed electronics and similar applications that require precision to function as intended.

So when choosing foils for printed electronics, it is important to understand the material options so that you can select the most suitable material for your specific applications.
Below is an overview of 5 of the most common plastic films used in this industry along with their properties and specific applications.

1. PBT film
2. PC film
3. PET film
4. PEN film
5. PI film

PBT film for printed electronics

The first category for printed electronics films is PBT, also known as polybutylene terephthalate. This is a crystalline polymer that is characterized by a number of advantageous properties. First and foremost is its good dimensional stability, which allows it to maintain a specific shape even when subjected to pressure or other conditions that might alter the shape or size of other materials.
It also offers high heat and chemical resistance, allowing it to withstand a wide range of conditions. And it has a higher tensile strength than many other films, meaning it's good at withstanding tension. And finally, it is easy to form, which means that converters can shape the PBT film into specific shapes without great effort, which ultimately makes it possible to process the material more economically and easily.

PC film for printed electronics

Polycarbonate sheet is another thermoplastic material. However, this material is amorphous, meaning it is flexible and can be bent and molded into different shapes or containers. This material is characterized above all by its strength and toughness. It is significantly more impact resistant than glass, or even more impact resistant than PMMA. In fact, it is virtually unbreakable in many different applications. This makes it ideal for printed electronics and other items that need to withstand excessive wear or extreme conditions.

PET film for printed electronics

Then there are polyester film. This type of film is a thermoplastic polymer. Polyester films are available on the market in a wide variety of variants. This makes them incredibly versatile, allowing them to be used in a variety of printed electronics and other applications. In our article "Polyester film brands: Mylar, Hostaphan, Melinex, Garware, Lumirror" we give an overview of the different brands of polyester films,

PEN film for printed electronics

PEN film bridges the performance gap between polyester films and high performance polyimide films. PEN films have many superior properties such as strength, heat resistance, resistance to hydrolysis, dimensional stability and low oligomer extraction. For these reasons, PEN film has the potential to outperform other technical films such as B. polyimide to replace, and at a lower cost. PEN film also has good handling properties and can be processed almost like polyester film.

PI film for printed electronics

The polyimide film has a higher temperature resistance that is well suited for printed electronics that may need to operate in conditions of excessive heat. This PI film also features optimal chemical resistance, ideal for applications where items need to be sterilized or exposed to other chemical substances. In addition, these materials are known to have significantly better mechanical properties than other materials. New polyimide films are also available in transparent. An overview of transparent polyimide filmn can be found in our article “All about transparent colorless polyimide films".

Applications of plastic films in printed electronics

Printed electronics includes a variety of devices and components. And the materials listed can be used for a variety of different specific items.

Below we show the 6 most important applications for plastic films in printed electronics:

1. integrated circuits
2. storage media
3. LED
4. Solar cell
5. Medical Technology
6. Sensors

Printed electronics integrated circuits

One of the most common uses for printed electronics is in integrated circuits. These can include components such as complementary inverters that change the direction of an electrical current within a device.

Printed electronics storage media

Films for printed electronics can also be included in storage devices, e.g. B. for storing documents or files. These are commonly used in computers as well as in smaller devices like smartphones and cameras.

Printed Electronics LED

Light-emitting diodes are semiconductors that light up when current flows through them. They are commonly referred to as LED lighting sources. Printed materials can be used for the circuits of these systems.

Printed Electronics Solar Cell

Solar cells are electronic devices that convert light into photovoltaic energy. They are commonly used in PV solar cells, as well as in solar lights and other devices that run on this type of energy. Printed electronics can also be used for their components.

Printed electronics medical technology

Finally, films for printed electronics are often used in portable electronic devices in medical technology. Because many of these materials are flexible, they are particularly well suited for devices that need to be adapted to different wearers. Nonetheless, they offer the ability to conduct electrical currents to specific circuits within a device.

Printed electronics sensors

There is a need to retrofit sensors in many areas of industry and private households. Printed electronics on foils make it possible to produce solutions in the smallest of spaces.