High deposition temperatures meant ITO coatings were once used almost exclusively for glass applications. Thanks to continual research, innovative experts and ever-developing technology and coating techniques, we can now offer a wide ITO coated plastic product range.
ITO Coatings – In the Beginning…
Highly conductive and optically clear (transparent), ITO coatings are applied to various substrates to amplify their conductivity while maintaining their optical clarity, which is vitally important to applications including, among many others, touch screens and RFI’EMI shielded display equipment.
Unfortunately, achieving low sheet resistances while maintaining good optical clarity initially necessitated extremely high (min. 190° C/374° F) deposition temperatures. ITO coatings were subsequently applied virtually exclusively onto glass – which is, of course, comparatively heavy, unyielding, susceptible to impact-related damages and expensive.
Seeking New Methods
Consumer electronics are continually – and rapidly evolving. Industrial designers/manufactures must subsequently constantly look for and develop new ways of improving their devices’ performances while at the same time making them thinner, lighter and more cost-effective.
The fastest growing, most popular approach to meeting consumers’ ever more sophisticated demands in the optical displays market is to use polymer display substrates coated with indium tin oxide (now typically referred to simply as ITO).
ITO Coated Plastic
A combination of many years’ experience, innovation, research and cutting-edge technology enabled Diamond Coatings to develop a new vacuum deposition method involving low temperatures. This in turn has made it possible for us to offer a comprehensive range of high-quality ITO coated plastic supplies.
Able to low-temperature vacuum deposit our highly conductive, optically clear ITO coatings – Custom Diamox and Diamox+ Index-Matched – onto polyester, polycarbonate & acrylic (as well as, of course, glass) substrates, we have developed an extremely flexible handling system that enables us to apply coatings not only to flat but also to shaped, injection molded and free issue parts. We are also able to supply fully machined elements and produce a comprehensive range of anti-glare and hard coating options.
As a result, our ITO coatings can now be used for applications where their use was previously not possible due to substrate limitations.
ITO Plastic Applications
Offering outstanding shielding effectiveness (RFI & EMI), excellent peak light transmission rates and high temperature and impact resistance, ITO plastic is the perfect answer to the demands of 21st Century aerospace, space and automotive; consumer electronics, entertainment and medical; military/defense, imaging/microscopy and research/development applications including:
- Resistive/Capacitive Touch Panels & Touch Screens
- Heated Optically Clear (Transparent) Display Filters
- Photovoltaic Cells
- EMI/RFI Shielding
- Electrostatic Dissipation and More
For more detailed information on available ITO plastic products and/or to speak to a member of our technical team to discuss your specific application/requirements, please contact us via e-mail: sales@diamondcoatings.com, use our online contact form or give us a call on (480) 999-3456 today.
