The research team "Polymer Electronics" deals with electronic system components using polymer materials. In particular, the focus is on technology and application-oriented research projects on the complex of "functional polymers and their composites with special electrical, optical and thermal properties".
In addition to the implementation of scientific research topics, products, components or samples can be treated and characterised at the TITK with the help of the large equipment portfolio at the TITK.
Fields of activity
Electrochromy (EC) describes the change of optical properties of materials, "e.g. their colouring", by an external electric field or a current flow. An electrical voltage is only needed to switch the respective colour and transparency states. Afterwards, the colouration is retained for up to several hours thanks to the optical storage properties, which is the most important advantage over LC systems (LC = liquid crystal). EC systems can change the transmission of light in the visible range as well as the heat transmission. This effect can be used in building and vehicle glazing for variable control of energy radiation.
Electrically conductive plastics can be used to develop electrically based heating systems. TITK's electrically modified polymers also exploit the property of the PTC effect (PTC=Positive Temperature Coefficient), which eliminates the need for a temperature regulation control unit, as the material is electrically self-regulating.
Polymer sensors have great potential compared to commercially available sensors. Various physical quantities, such as mechanical strains and vibrations, can be detected and quantified. Furthermore, they can generally be manufactured cost-effectively using conventional production methods. The polymer sensors of the TITK are primarily characterised by their film and fibre form, which can be integrated into a wide variety of applications and are suitable for series production.
A choice can be made between:
can be distinguished.
More offers
A wide range of characterisation methods are offered at TITK in the field of polymer electronics. The following methods are available:
Optical characterisation:
- UV-VIS spectroscopy
- FT-IR microspectroscopy
- Gloss measurement and colour measurement
- IR thermography
Electrical characterisation
Mechanical characterisation
- Electrodynamic vibration exciter
- Laser Doppler Vibrometry
Characterisation of surfaces
- Light microscopy
- Confocal microscopy
- Electron microscopy with elemental analysis
- Wetting behaviour
Environmental simulation
Scanning electron microscopy / X-ray microanalysis
The "Polymer Electronics" group has a large equipment portfolio for manufacturing and preparation. The following devices and methods are available:
Coating
- R2R film coating
- R2R filament coating
- Spraycoating
- Spincoating
- Doctor blade process
- Physical Vapour Deposition