Victrex Enters Holst Centre Partner Network After Successful Feasibility Study

At the Flexible Electronics and Displays Conference in Phoenix, AZ, Holst Centre and Victrex presented recent progress in the development and characterization of VICTREX APTIV PEEK polymer film for flexible electronics applications. Not only are the results promising from a technology perspective, they also were at the basis of Victrex’s decision to step into a full partnership with Holst Centre.

Made with VICTREX PEEKT polymer, Victrex APTIV films provide high melting and glass transition temperatures and are widely used in acoustics, electronics, aerospace, automotive, industrial and energy applications. One of the key properties of this material is the ability to withstand high processing temperatures in comparison with other thermoplastic materials. Recently, APTIV PEEK films were also considered as a substrate for application in flexible and printed electronic applications, such as displays, OLED and OPV.

Victrex Polymer Solutions, a division of Victrex plc, is a leading manufacturer of high performance polyaryletherketones (PAEK), including VICTREX PEEK polymer, and Holst Centre, an open-innovation initiative by imec and TNO, engaged in a feasibility study to optimize the VICTREX PEEK APTIV film characteristics for flexible-electronics processing. Results, as presented at the conference, show great potential and convinced Victrex to step into a multi-year partnership in the Holst Centre shared research program on Patterning for Flexible Systems.

The study revealed that Victrex’s additional processing treatment of the APTIV film led to a decrease of thermal expansion, shrinkage and general improvement of the thermo mechanical properties. Organic thin-film transistor backplanes, used in flexible displays, were patterned onto the optimized APTIV PEEK films and these MIM stacks on APTIV PEEK films showed similar performance to that typically obtained with devices on PEN films, but with the potential for processing at higher temperatures (which is important in enhancing the processing of flexible electronics) In addition, the potential for APTIV PEEK films in OLED applications was demonstrated by practical example that showed similar performance compared to devices on other leading flexible substrates.

“The Holst Centre brings considerable knowledge, skill and world-class facilities to our development programs on APTIV PEEK films for flexible electronics,” John Getz, Victrex APTIV films commercial leader, said. “We are delighted to benefit from their expertise and that of the existing development partner network in this exciting field of application.”

“Having Victrex on board is a great asset for our research programs and for the existing partners in our network,” said Erwin Meinders, program manger patterning for flexible systems at Holst Centre. “Having access to world-class materials and substrates allows us to provide the industry with the best technology options for their future applications.”