IDTechEx Research: Electrically Conductive Adhesives Enabling Low Temperature Electronics

Materials are needed to replace the estimated 50,000 metric tons of tin-lead solder currently used each year, because of toxicity concerns, but there are no "drop-in" replacements for eutectic tin-lead solder. Electrically conductive adhesives (ECAs) are becoming increasingly common to replace solders in a variety of functions, applications and industries. Electrically Conductive Adhesives 2016-2026, the brand new report from IDTechEx Research, covers the three main categories of conductive adhesives available as safe and environmentally-sound solder alternatives.

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The key applications include:

• Photovoltaic modules - Traditional ECAs have suffered from poor stability when applied to copper and tin metals, but improved ECAs for PV applications have been available since 2010. Lower temperature interconnections can allow thinner wafers, and reduce warpage and breakage of solar cells. ECAs are expected to be used for interconnection in 20% of solar cells by 2025.
• LCD and OLED displays - ACFs have found a particular niche market in packaging flat panel displays.
• Touch panels - The damage to the substrates can be reduced by lowering the bonding temperature during assembly. ECAs can allow lower temperature bonding.
• LEDs - It is quick and cheap to mount LEDs using conductive adhesives and the thermal penalty is tolerable if the adhesive layer is kept thin.
• RFID chips - Conductive adhesives are used for mounting temperature-sensitive chips on smart cards, because of low curing temperatures.

There are increasing opportunities for these materials as these industries move towards curved screens, flexible displays, in-mold electronics, displays designed for automotive, and e-textiles, all of which have stringent requirements for conductive adhesives.

Electrically Conductive Adhesives 2016-2026 offers worldwide coverage of electrically conductive adhesives, most of which are manufactured in Asia-Pacific though start-ups and innovation exists in Europe and North America. The report is based on extensive research, includes twelve primary interviews with the market leading manufacturers. It includes forecasts by revenue, split by technology and function, until 2026.

For more see http://www.IDTechEx.com/adhesives.

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SOURCE IDTechEx Research