Kodak Adds to Transparent Conductive Films Portfolio

Combined efforts by Eastman Kodak Company and Xymox Technologies, Inc. have yielded a new highly conductive film product – KODAK HCF-385 Film – for use in projected capacitive touch sensors found in home appliances, tooling and machine equipment, product packaging, signage, automotive displays and other interactive electronic devices.

The new film adds to Kodak’s growing portfolio of Highly Conductive Films (HCF), and is a result of a shared technology partnership between Kodak and Xymox in response to market requests for a transparent conductive film with a higher light transmittance than what was currently available in the HCF Film product line.

KODAK HCF-385 Film meets that demand, said Edward Hurley, general manager for Kodak’s Graphics, Entertainment and Commercial Films, who said the new film is “evidence Kodak is innovating in the flexible film technology space with shared technology partners to deliver multiple solutions for the printed electronics markets.”

A transparent, polyester film, HCF-385 Film and its counterparts are available in single and dual sided coated formats using PEDOT/PSS, a conductive polymer created as a result of shared technology between Kodak and another of its shared technology partners, Heraeus Precious Metals, Inc. The family of KODAK HCF Films now includes products with surface resistivity of 150, 225 and 385 ohms square. In terms of their physical performance, these films are very stable and also easy to work with due to the flexibility of the coating, Hurley said.

“The technology that utilizes Kodak’s HCF Films represents a milestone for Xymox in the scaling up and commercial roll-out of our projected capacitive sensors to meet the quality and price targets of our printed electronics customers,” said Bob Heidenrich, Xymox vice president of sales and marketing. “Kodak’s unparalleled expertise and core competencies in materials science, deposition technologies and large-scale manufacturing allow us to integrate HCF Film in the design and manufacture of custom projected capacitive sensors for an array of industrial applications.” Heidenrich said.