Panasonic develops elastic resin film and applied materials for elastic electronic products
Applicable to wearable devices, sensors, displays, robots, and more

Panasonic Corporation announced the development of soft and flexible elastic polymer resin film utilizing its proprietary elastic resin technology. Panasonic also plans to provide transparent electrode material and conductive paste along with this insulating film.

The newly developed material is an insulating film material that stretches and returns to its original shape. This is a characteristic rarely found in conventional elastic materials. This material can be applied to desired folding methods and various freeform surfaces, significantly reducing existing design constraints.

For example, it enables the configuration of flexible and elastic electronic products that can be applied to various forms such as clothing and the human body. The newly developed material can be utilized in a wide range of applications ranging from wearable devices to sensors, displays, and robots.

The newly developed film and materials will be exhibited through the "17th Printed Wiring Boards Expo" to be held at Tokyo Big Sight from January 13-15, 2016.

Outstanding elasticity, soft and stretchable, restores to original shape and enables repeated use

As various wearable devices are being developed, there is growing demand for designs that mitigate the bouncing sensation when wearing products and provide greater aesthetic satisfaction, as well as for smaller and thinner form factors. Polyurethane and rubber materials must overcome issues related to adhesion, heat resistance, and embrittlement, and there is high demand for suitable materials with excellent heat resistance, durability, and processability.

Panasonic focused on the proven performance of conventionally used thermosetting resins and applied its proprietary resin design patent technology that can impart outstanding elasticity to materials, developing insulating materials made from thermosetting resins. Its distinguishing features are remarkable flexibility and stretchability. This soft and elastic insulating film enables electronic products to be worn or installed at desired locations.

Devices attached to clothing or worn on the body must be made from materials that withstand repeated use, and their mechanical properties must not change even under repetitive stress deformation (stretching and recovery). Generally, materials exposed to repetitive stretching and recovery tend to experience weakened mechanical strength and recovery performance. Panasonic applied its proprietary resin design technology that optimally utilizes the three-dimensional crosslinked structure characteristics of thermosetting resins, going beyond simple softening.

The newly developed insulating material relieves internal stress generated by stretching, restoring it to its original shape and enabling repeated use. This material helps maintain electronic products in a wearable state for much longer periods.

Additional development of elastic transparent electrode material and conductive paste using insulating material

Devices attached to clothing or worn on the body must not only be made from elastic insulating materials but must also use soft and elastic conductive materials. Panasonic used elastic resin as a substrate to develop transparent electrode material and conductive paste that maintain conductivity even after repeated stretching and recovery.

The transparent electrode material consists of a thin conductive carbon nanotube layer formed from elastic resin as the base material. The conductive paste is created by combining elastic resin used as a binder with silver filler. This material is beneficial for implementing elastic display devices and sensors.