Most well known for coating glass for a range of large and well-known industries, ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) can also be used to coat plastic substrates such as acrylic, polycarbonate or polyester (PET) film thanks to modern developments. An excellent balance of properties makes them in many ways superior to other coated thermoplastic polymers, has enabled us to provide industry-leading PET film to a wider variety of industries for an increased number of technological uses.
Polyester film is composed of polyethene terephthalate (PET) and is a high performance, transparent thermoplastic. ITO Polyester film has ideal mechanical properties for processing, such as vacuum coating and laminating. The level of conductivity and transparency of ITO films are favorable for many uses, over other coating options.
Benefits of ITO coated PET film
When comparing the benefits of PET film over other thermoplastics, you can see the variety of superior attributes PET film possess:
- High tensile strength
- Great dimensional stability
- Low moisture absorption
- Resilience at a wide temperature range, with a high melting point
- High UV resistance
- Excellent electrical properties
- High optical transparency
- Greater oxygen permeability
- Good gas barrier
- Highly conductive
Applications of ITO Coated PET FIlm
PET films’ mechanical properties listed above make them the ideal substrate choice for processing (i.e. metallizing, vacuum coating, laminating, etc.).
Combine this with their processing tolerance and the ability to engineer them to meet the demands of a large number of applications, this makes our PET films the perfect substrate for a diversity of applications including, for example:
- Antimicrobial & Insulation Films
- Surface Protection, Hard-coats Films & Protective Films
- Labelling & Label Face-Stocks
- Packaging & Printable Films
- Security/Tamper Evident Films and
- Photovoltaic Back-Sheets
Here are examples of how the specific benefits of ITO coated PET film make it the perfect option for certain situations:
As ITO PET film coatings can withstand harsh environments and temperatures, ITO thin film strain gauges can be used in extreme environments such as gas turbines and the engines of jets and rockets for example.
ITO plastic films are widely used within the aerospace industry to defrost an aircraft’s windshield. This is achieved by applying voltage which generates heat, that can be conducted by the ITO (indium tin oxide coating).
Resistive touchscreens are the most common type of touchscreen in use found on almost all modern smartphones, and these screens are commonly made up of two layers with a small gap between them. The outer layer of the screen is usually a clear polycarbonate layer while the inside layer is rigid and often made of glass or PET film.
ITO coated PET films are often chosen to meet specifications in a variety of industries for applications due to their processing tolerance, with their suitability for engineering. Such applications include photovoltaic back-sheets, tamper-evident, protective, antimicrobial and packaging films, amongst others.
Another advantage of ITO coated polyester films is that they are conductive, yet still transparent. These properties allow for use in electroluminescent lamps, electrophoretic displays and EMI/RFI Shielding, and more.
ITO Coated PET Film Supplier
For some applications, directly deposited ITO coatings or ITO plastic films may both be suitable. Using plastic films can offer benefits and disadvantages, in terms of cost and durability. Diamond Coatings specialise in both options and can offer guidance if needed.
ITO Plastic polyester film is available:
- In sheets (600 mm x 457 mm standard sheet size),
- In rolls (maximum width: 600 mm; lengths up to 100 m) and
- As laser cut shapes.
- Standard sheet resistances include 18, 50 and 100 ohms/sq
- Standard 175-micron thickness
At Diamond Coatings our ITO polyester film is available with protective films on both surfaces, to aid handling and fabrication.
Anti-reflective ITO PET film comes supplied with an optically clear adhesive and can be provided in sheet form, in continuous meter format on a roll or directly laminated on your chosen substrate. Our AR1617 Film is a highly suitable and cost-effective solution for large displays or digital signage applications.
If you would like any guidance on the most suitable coating for your intended application, contact the team at Diamond Coatings to discuss your specifications or find out more about what we provide.
