Let there be light!
New technology offers a range of interesting applications
Leverkusen – It was certainly one of the eye-catchers on the Bayer stand at K2001: a large plastic "button" that shines by itself without any independent light source. The fascinating thing about this plastic component is that not only does it emit light in a variety of colors, it is also extremely flat and can be molded for integration into the surface of other components.
The "intelligent" outer skin of the plastic component consists of a printed Makrofol® film, through which light is emitted. For this, a transparent electrode (e.g. made of Baytron®) is needed, separated from the counter-electrode beneath it by an electrically non-conductive layer (dielectric). The dielectric is made up of several layers. If a voltage is applied to the external electrodes, the dielectric behaves like a plate capacitor.
Thus the system itself provides the light source. It functions in practice the opposite way round to a solar cell. There, the sunlight hitting the solar cell is converted into electrical energy, while in this case an externally applied voltage is responsible for generating the light. This phenomenon is called electroluminescence. With this particular development, conventional batteries can be used, with an inverter easily transforming their usual low voltage into the required alternating current of 110 V. The elements produced according to this principle supply "cold" light with very uniform illumination. They also have a long service life. Depending on the lighting and the electrical voltage, the light generated may be blue, green, orange or white.
This technological marvel owes its existence to a close partnership between Bayer AG and Lumitec AG – a company based in Gais in Switzerland – who have pooled their considerable expertise in this field. Lumitec is specialized in electroluminescence technology, while Bayer manufactures the Makrofol plastic films used for production. Such polycarbonate (PC) films are ideal for this application because they have outstanding light transmission, dimensional stability and forming properties. They also have high electrical insulation resistance and are easy to print and bond. The Leverkusen- based company also contributed its know-how on the in-mold decoration technique (IMD), which offers broad scope for varying the surface characteristics of the molded parts.
In the meantime, it has been shown that multilayer film elements are also suitable for film insert molding in other segments, opening up a wide variety of possible areas of application. In the electrical industry, the new technology can be used to label switches or indicate emergency exits. Many potential uses also exist in the field of indirect lighting. In the automotive segment, for example, sophisticated interior lighting can be particularly effective. The use of the elements in textiles or shoes can also have a particularly eye-catching effect, for example in sportswear. In addition, attractive control panels on so-called "white goods" can constitute a useful design feature for such kitchen appliances.
Owing to these outstanding properties, Makrofol and Bayfol® films are already being successfully used in many other high- tech applications, e.g. in dials and displays in instrument panels, for the production of key caps on mobile phones, for electronic component packaging, and for ID and chip cards. Because Makrofol can be easily sterilized, it is frequently used in the medical segment as a packaging material for implants.
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Topic World Battery Technology
The topic world Battery Technology combines relevant knowledge in a unique way. Here you will find everything about suppliers and their products, webinars, white papers, catalogs and brochures.
