Date: Jan 15, 2003 Source: MDA (
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Fractal Systems, Inc has developed transparent polymer coatings with copper-like conductivity. Although there are a variety of commercial and military applications for this technology, entering the liquid crystal display market is the ultimate goal of the company. Currently, Fractal is pursuing applications in solid-state lighting, optical device coatings, and electro-magnetic shielding. BMDO, now MDA, funded Fractal to develop multi-functional conductive polymers for broad-frequency radiation hardening applications.
Fractal's polymer films can be used in conjunction with or to replace ITO, the current display industry standard. The copper-like conductivity of Fractal's polymer is three to four orders of magnitude higher than existing conduc-tive coatings. The polymer is applied using traditional chemical processes at atmospheric conditions, which costs less than conventional methods. ITO is applied using an evaporation process, which results in pinholes in the ITO thin films. Correcting this problem requires laying down thick layers of ITO, resulting in lower transparency to visible light, limiting the devices' tolerance to mechanical stress and flexibility. Fractal can obtain a very homogenous polymer film without pinholes at sub micron-level thickness, increasing robustness and flexibility. Creating a liquid crystal display is a difficult process that involves layering polymers, dividing it into pixels with high resolution, and developing circuitries that connect each pixel with a transistor. A possible beginning for Fractal is the small display market, such as cell phones and telephones, because there are not as many pixels and resolution is not as important.
Fractal is working with investors on another application of its polymer technology: solid-state lighting. Fractal's thin-film polymer is more efficient in lighting applications because it is nearly 100 percent transparent. Conventional thin films are still too thick to allow complete transparency. Solid-state lighting is also a low-power application because the light can run on just a few volts of electricity.
The coating capability of Fractal's polymer has generated interest in the defense industry as well. The company is currently talking to a defense contractor about using the polymer to hard-coat optical devices. Fractal's polymer is capable of being transparent in the visible through the infrared (IR). Many of the military's optical devices operate on the mid-wave IR range; therefore the coatings that protect the lenses must transmit IR. Currently, the military uses an ultra-violet (UV) filter and hardening coat--both absorb IR making the signals weak. Fractal can eliminate the need for conventional hardening and UV coatings with its polymer, which can achieve more than 90 percent transmittance of the IR signal.
Another military application that is being discussed is using the polymer to shield the optics on military weapons, such as missiles, from electromagnetic signals. A window in the weapon transmits the IR signal to the electronics, but a destructive electromagnetic signal can enter as well. The conductivity of Fractal's polymer will shield the electronics from electromagnetic pulses while allowing the IR signals to pass through.
Fractal is poised for growth and ready to hire more employees in the next year. The company is interested in obtaining partners in device manufacturing to expand on applications of its polymer.
