Session 17: Substrates

Polyester Film Substrates for Flexible and Formable Electronics
Thursday, February 15, 2018
11:00 AM - 11:20 AM

Recent Flexible Electronics advances have required material suppliers to deliver improved functionality to the device developers in broad applications such as electrophoretic displays, TFT backplanes, barrier films, photovoltaics, medical diagnostics, sensors, and HMI (Human Machine Interface). The next generation of flexible electronics may require a different set of material specifications to enable flexible hybrid systems, foldable displays, and wearable devices. Demands on film substrate suppliers now typically include: smooth surfaces with low surface defects, optically clear low haze, near zero thermal shrinkage, low iridescence, UV stability, VTM-0 Flame Retardance, and the ability to tailor the surface chemistry to meet the end user’s requirements. This presentation will review how bi-axially oriented, semi-crystalline polyester films are produced, along with recent PET film advancements including PET film solutions designed for: 1) Ultra-barrier films for Displays 2) Photovoltaic front and back sheet 3) In-Mold Electronics