Synthetic materials take centre stage in Munich
12 October 2007
Synthetic materials have always been popular in electronics because of their insulating properties – today, applications for new materials are spreading thanks to their outstanding conductive properties.
Productronica will to continue with the theme of 'organic electronics' (introduced at the 2005 event) as one of the key technologies for the 21st century and will provide a comprehensive overview of the manufacturing processes for electronics, which are based on polymers and monomers (smaller molecules).
Organic electronics will not replace silicon-based electronics. Instead, the technology will expand the range of applications with its specific properties and attractive, low production costs. Polymer-based electronics often means devices that are thinner, lighter, more flexible and highly resistant to impact. They can also be used in a trans-parent form. As a result, unusual applications have become possible – these include such novel products as disposable diagnosis devices, solar cells that can be rolled up, interactive playing cards or packaging with advertising displays.
Polymer electronics was revolutionised with the further development of conventional printing technologies. For example, OLEDs are produced using inkjet printers where luminescent polymers are added to a solvent and this is applied to a carrier film via tiny jets, all without elaborate and expensive clean room technology. RFIDs are pro-duced in a similar way, in large numbers at low cost.
Electronics based on synthetic materials provides many advantages. Integrated cir-cuits are embedded directly into the substrate using the Chip-in-Polymer (CiP) proc-ess of the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration (IZM). This process makes the circuit board superfluous as well as bonding wire and soldered connec-tions containing lead.
Polymer-based electronics is also a key factor in continued device miniaturisation such as nano-wire transistors. Chips, storage unit, logic and sensor technology can be combined on one single component 10 nanometers wide in compressed form
Organic electronics cover a wide product spectrum including semi-conductors based on synthetic materials, organic displays, organic data storage units, sensors and photovoltaics.
Productronica 2007 will provide manufacturing technologies in all 10 show halls, many of which are relevant to the production of organic electronics. The focal point will be the Micro-Production Hall B5, in which the Organic Electronic Association (OE-A) also has its booth. Exhibitors in this high-tech sector include companies such as LPKF Laser & Electronics AG, Garbsen, the global market leader for laboratory equipment for circuit board prototyping and laser cutting systems for print templates, MSC-POLYMER AG, Staufenberg, with semi-finished parts and (synthetic material) manufacturing materials for circuit board production, the Chair for Polymer Materials of Erlangen-Nuremberg University and the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Mi-crointegration (IZM), Berlin.
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