Product category:
Materials and components
News Release from: MacDermid Autotype | Subject: Sigmagraf Antiglare and BLD
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 28 November 2006
Films protect displays and improve the
view
The latest generation of high performance graphics and optical films offer a unique combination of physical, chemical and mechanical properties.
The latest generation of high performance graphics and optical films, developed and manufactured by UK based MacDermid Autotype, offer a unique combination of physical, chemical and mechanical properties The new films are designed for use in LCDs and touch screens, and in graphics panels and displays, making them ideal for mobile phones, PDAs, in-car navigation and entertainment systems, ATMs and public information terminals, where they can help to enhance image brightness, definition and viewing angles
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 3 Apr 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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Sigmagraf Antiglare is the world's first film for display applications that combines both anti-glare and anti-graffiti properties in a single material.
Its polyester base is protected by a hardcoat upper surface, with an inkjet printable underside layer.
Sigmagraf is dimensionally stable, yet can easily be handled and printed.
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The hardcoat layer is formulated to offer image definition and colour rendition far higher and brighter than many competing materials.
It features a nano-roughened surface that reflects less that 55% of light at a 60-degree angle (by comparison, many competing materials reflect over 90% of light at 60 degrees, creating glare that "blinds" the image).
The film is scratch, scuff and abrasion proof.
Graffiti can easily be cleaned with isopropanol solvents or aqueous detergents, without leaving stain residues or marks.
MacDermid Autotype has also developed an innovative new range of diffuser films, for LCDs and LED displays.
The Backlight Diffuser Films (BLD) feature a unique, optically clear hard coating that significantly enhances the performance of LCDs, improving brightness, diffusion and homogeneity of emitted light, while reducing light absorption losses through the diffuser to less than 1%.
To date, diffusion films have used fixative coatings with diffusing particles and filler materials to provide acceptable mechanical properties; however, this construction affects the optical characteristics of the film, scattering or absorbing light to reduce levels of light transmission and uniformity.
By comparison, the new BLD films use a mechanically stable, high clarity PET base, with a micro-roughened anti-Newton back coating, to eliminate Moire effects, and a uniquely formulated front layer coating that is resistant to chemical and physical damage, yet produces excellent optical characteristics.
In particular, the new film allows over 92% of the light to be directly transmitted, without affecting the colour balance or uniformity of the light emitted.
The robust mechanical properties of the new film make it easy to handle, with high production yields, and a uniform hardcoat layer across every sheet of film eliminates pin holes and scratches.
A choice of thicknesses, haze and transmission levels is available. Request a free brochure from MacDermid Autotype ...
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