Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd (DNP) has successfully expanded applications for its innovative transparent barrier film, Innovative Barrier Film (IB-FILM), and will apply the new film in such industrial applications as display components.

IB-FILM is a transparent deposition film maintaining advanced barrier properties against water vapor and oxygen based on proprietary DNP deposition technology and special coating technology.

In this latest development, the mechanical aptitude and optical properties have been enhanced by modifying the structure of the multiple layer film. In addition, the barrier properties of the IB-FILM have also been heightened beyond those levels required to packaging. The expanded-use IB-FILM will be developed as a base material for incorporation into various products with industrial applications, while further effort will also be put into sales.

[IB-FILM Sales Track Record and Expanded Applications]

DNP commenced mass production of IB-FILM in 1998, and has proposed it as packaging for food and household goods, along with medical applications such as transfusion bags.

The film is also used to endow environmentally friendly packaging materials that are made of a single material, otherwise known as mono-materials, with barrier properties in order to boost recyclability.

In addition, as a new application, the film has been adopted for 2019 high resolution LCD TV models as the barrier film for the Quantum Dot (QD) materials that help further expand the color range of liquid crystal displays. QD materials are seeing increased usages with liquid crystal displays, but are sensitive to moisture and oxygen. In recent years, demand has risen for barrier films that block water vapor and oxygen, mainly in displays, but because the film is thin, handling is difficult, and challenges include controlling for mechanical aptitude and optical properties.

In answer to these challenges, DNP has made the IB-FILM easier to handle by modifying the structure of the multiple layer barrier film to make the substrate more substantial, or thicker in nature. In addition, the surface of the film has been improved for industrial applications, by creating a non-gloss, matte finish controlled for optical properties.

DNP will also market such barrier films for a variety of industrial applications, included sensors and the electrode protective sheets used in flexible printed circuit boards built into IoT equipment, in addition to display products.

[Looking Ahead]

DNP will develop this film for various optical film applications and as a substrate for printed electronics, aiming for sales of 10 billion yen annually from barrier film-related products for industrial applications in fiscal year 2022.

* Product prices, specifications and service contents mentioned in this news release are current as of the date of publication. They may be changed at any time without notice.