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Nano-Barrier Called the World's Best Protection |
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Written by Philip Buonpastore
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Wednesday, 30 April 2008 |
SINGAPORE – A barrier technology from the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) will reportedly protect sensitive devices like organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and solar cells from moisture 1000 times more effectively than other technologies currently available.
Scientists from the IMRE in Singapore have reportedly developed a film that has the highest reported water vapor barrier performance to date, as tested by the Centre for Process Innovation in the UK. The water vapor transmission rate (wvtr) is the rate at which moisture penetrates a barrier.
Nanoparticles used in the barrier film have a dual function, to both seal surface defects and actively react with and retain moisture and oxygen. The institute claims that the material’s properties mean a longer service life for plastic electronics, such as solar cells and flexible displays, that use whose organic materials are easily degraded by water vapor and oxygen.
"The research team is already in talks with solar cells and flexible displays and lighting industry manufacturers who are currently evaluating the barrier films for product qualification," says Dr. Mark Auch, of the IMRE team.
According to the IMRE’s study, the global plastic electronics industry will grow to greater than $23 billion in the next 5 years. |
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