RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – DuPont today announced that it has been granted patents in several additional countries related to its Kapton brand of black polyimide film and Pyralux brand of black flexible circuit material.

Building on patents originally issued in the US titled “Matte Finish Polyimide Films and Methods Relating Thereto,” patents have now been granted in Europe, China, Japan and Taiwan. A related US patent titled “Pigmented Polyimide Films and Methods Relating Thereto,” has now been granted in China, Japan and Taiwan. Additionally, three patents titled “A Multilayer Film” relating to ultra-matte black polyimide films were recently granted in the US.

The materials are used for applications such as mobile devices, computers, automotive and military electronics.

“Our Kapton black polyimide film and Pyralux black flexible circuit material enable high-reliability and top performance for leading-edge and thin electronics,” said Avi Avula, global business director, DuPont. “As World Intellectual Property Day today celebrates, patents are a critical tool in protecting innovation and we are very proud that we continue to significantly add to our worldwide patent estate in this area.

The granted patent estate covers three key currently available products:

• Kapton B and Kapton MBC black polyimide films - homogeneous opaque films that can be used as substrates or coverlays.

• Pyralux HXC and Pyralux HXI flexible circuit materials - pre-coated coverlays with an epoxy adhesive coated on one side, ready to be bonded.

• Pyralux LF-B - the acrylic coverlay variety of matte black polyimide film.

The matte black color of these products provides a uniform appearance to flexible printed circuit materials without diminishing key physical properties such as dielectric strength, tensile strength and dimensional stability. The low-gloss black film reportedly also provides functional benefits in applications where color-control or light absorption are important.