International Conference on Polymers in Electronics

Rapra Technology is organising its first International Conference on Polymers in Electronics, at Munich from 30-31 January 2007. The conference will feature presentations from key players in the global polymer market and will bring together the electrical and electronics supply chains to learn about and debate new materials, manufacturing processes and application requirements, as well as current and forthcoming EU legislation. The technical program has now been announced and will include papers from Albermarle Corporation, Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Henkel GmbH, Clariant, Fractal Systems, National Physical Laboratory and Dutch think tank TNO Science & Industry, amongst others. The future for the electronic materials industry looks mixed. With significant growth forecast globally, it seems that the manufacture of polymer products for electronics is set to rise. However, environmental, health and safety issues and new legislation are undoubtedly having an impact on this predicted growth and will continue to affect both material and process choices. Europe has seen a major change in 2006 with the introduction of the RoHS (Restriction of Certain Hazardous Substances) Directive which restricts the use of substances such as lead and certain brominated flame retardants. In 2007 this will be accompanied by the WEEE Directive (Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment) which will affect nearly all producers and manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment. Both directives require extended producer responsibility. In the case of WEEE, the burden has been firmly placed on manufacturers to consider the entire life cycle of electrical and electronic products when choosing materials, including durability, upgrading, repairability, and disassembly together with the use of easily recycled materials. Unfortunately, more than half of all global manufacturers of electronic and electrical equipment are unsure as to how best comply with these impending EU initiatives. The aggregated financial costs will be enormous: the UK Government estimates it will cost UK companies alone up to £455 million to comply with the WEEE Directive and individual companies could incur costs equal to between 1% and 4% of sales. Clearly, substantial investment in the research and development of new alternative materials is critical if the industry is to continue to grow. In addition, the development of new manufacturing processes will be a key enabler for continued progress in the evolution of electronic products. Polymers play a vital role in all aspects of electronics and recent innovations are enabling applications and performances to be achieved that were unimaginable in the recent past. For example, the use of nanocomposites, has greatly influenced developments in conductive additives. Similarly, nanoscale layers of conductive polymers can be applied to various surfaces to enhance radar absorption, electromagnetic shielding or electrostatic dissipation. New techniques such as direct writing and ink jet printing of polymers are set to revolutionise the ways in which electronics are made. (Press Release)