At ICE Europe in Munich from 21-23 March 2017, the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV, together with the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP and the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, will be showcasing solutions for films and the efficient control of coating processes.
Under the motto Functional films - efficient coating processes new functions and accelerated measuring processes will be presented. With a new cost-effective, optical measuring method, coating processes can be controlled one hundred per cent in future and monitored over the entire surface. This new development from the Fraunhofer IAP and IVV will be presented for the first time at the ICE Europe 2017 presented. The cross-linking and layer thickness of organic coatings can be measured inline by automatically connecting the measuring system to the coating units. Delamination, poor processing behaviour of web-shaped materials or increased migration of adhesive components that are not bound by cross-linking can thus be prevented.
Accelerated measurement process for high-barrier films
High-barrier composites for encapsulating flexible solar cells and electronics that can be produced in a roll-to-roll process should have the lowest oxygen and water vapour permeabilities. One challenge in quality control and further development is the long measurement times, which can take several months. The Fraunhofer IVV has now developed an ultra-barrier measuring device and a corresponding Numerical simulation developed. This enables the Water vapour permeability can be determined 3 to 4 times faster than with conventional methods and the permeation process can be simulated.
Further optimising high-barrier technology with atomic layer deposition
The Fraunhofer IVV has a new system for coating using atomic layer deposition to further reduce the permeability of films. The lowest possible permeability to water vapour and oxygen is the key to further optimisation success in the research and development of high-barrier technologies. Paving the way for this is the Atomic layer deposition technology (atomic layer deposition ALD). Coating in a roll-to-roll process enables high process speed and cost-effectiveness. Coatings with the currently highest barrier effect have so far been achieved in vacuum processes. With the new ALD system available at the Fraunhofer IVV, the barrier properties can be significantly improved once again in order to meet the requirements for OLED encapsulation in the medium term. The Fraunhofer IVV uses the technology for publicly funded research projects and supports industrial companies with customised solutions and research services in process and material development.
„Intelligent“ materials also from the roll
While the properties of most synthetic materials are permanently fixed, many biological systems are able to adapt to changing environmental conditions. In analogy to such behaviour, materials have been developed whose properties can be „switched“ by external stimuli. Such »intelligent« materials can be switched by many physical or chemical stimuli such as changes in temperature, light and pH value or by biomolecules such as proteins. This is achieved through special Polymers, which are developed at the Fraunhofer IAP.
These developments are complemented by surface technologies that also make these intelligent materials available on a large scale as web materials. In addition to classic processes such as Corona or Plasma treatment are in particular Printing process (full-surface or textured) are used to functionalise the surfaces.
Fraunhofer on at ICE Europe: Hall A5, Stand 1031
