Non-Conductive Adhesive Tapes Set For New Frontiers
Posted by Grace Xiao on September 13th, 2016
Silicon adhesive tape manufacturers in China have operated for many years with knowledge gained by Tianjian Tianyuan who pioneered the manufacture of polyimide films in 1970.
Acrylic adhesive tape manufacturers in China have quickly embraced newer adhesive technologies allowing the electronic industry in China to become a dominant player globally. Acrylic adhesive tape suppliers from China is now the top suppliers in the world as their quality is on par with other European and American manufacturers. The Chinese have perfected manufacturing technics of economies of scale that allows them to compete globally. Tianjian Tianyuan is a pioneer in China in polyimide films and polyimide adhesive tapes. They have a state-of-the-art research and development program as Tianjian's polyimide expertise gained over four decades is now paving the way for other manufacturers to incorporate newer silicon based adhesives in switch technology.
Acrylic adhesive tapes are generally used for low temperature application where just non-friction or non-stick is required. Silicon based adhesive tapes are frequently used for masking circuit boards during wave solder operations or dip solder process. Polyimide films coated with silicon adhesive is capable of withstanding the high heat generated. Polyimide film has the unique property of tolerating wide temperature ranges.
Using silicone adhesives with polyimide for switch applications
It is observed during cold winters when the air is dry, static electricity discharges between two materials are even the act of rubbing your finger against nylon or other synthetic materials produces an electric charge. In technical parlance, static electricity is the imbalance of electrical charges between the two rubbing surfaces. Electric current is created as the two surfaces come into contact and when they separate the current breaks. The imbalance is one of the surfaces resists the current acting as an insulator. There is another property in play here; certain materials become electrically charged when the friction between the two materials allows flow of atoms creating the charge. Running a comb through the hair can build up electricity - these charges are termed static or turboelectric (tribo is Greek in origin and means 'to rub'). The strength of the electric charge is in direct proportion to the surface roughness, temperature and other elemental properties.
Triboelectric using polyimide and silicon adhesive
Triboelectric materials are ranked with their ability to generate electric charges. Acrylic and Teflon generate the highest amount of charge while polyimide is just below vinyl. The property of triboelectric effect is used as a switch. Silicon adhesive is applied between polyimide film that is wrapped around a circuit board and a metal (generally copper) tine with Teflon wrapping.Teflon and polyimide function as triboelectric couples. The silicon adhesive permit a rubbing feel when the entire assembly is tapped from either ends. The electric charge generated is collected by the copper on the circuit board as well as the copper tine and discharging this electric charge through a resistance, very high voltages are generated. CMOS (Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor) digital circuits use this triboelectric switch property to set and reset controls.
