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Victrex APTIV films made with VICTREX® PEEK™ Polymer Provide Superior Performance for Radio Frequency Tags In Harsh Environments

RFID tags or radio-frequency identification tags are helping streamline distribution, logistics and asset tracking and rapidly replacing traditional barcode technology as the solution of choice for company's in nearly every industry sector globally. With the increasing success and popularity of RFID technology more demands are being placed on its performance.

Additional capabilities are required for RFID tag design and functionality including the ability to package and encapsulate tags and incorporate sensor based technology. RFID tags are being used increasingly in extreme environments requiring exposure to harsh chemicals, high moisture and high heat.

A Material That Fits the Demands of the Application

Victrex APTIV™ films offer a unique combination of properties and manufacturing flexibility providing an unrivaled material solution for engineers and designers for use in high performance applications. It is the most versatile and high performing thermoplastic film available and has a proven track record of success in demanding applications in a broad range of industries and markets including electronics, aerospace, automotive, industrial, chemical processing and more.

APTIV film has a unique combination of properties providing high temperature performance, mechanical strength, chemical resistance, electrical insulation, wear and abrasion resistance, and low moisture absorption in a versatile film format. Its flexible format allows APTIV film to be used as a substrate material or as a protective barrier in RFID tags. It is well suited for use in applications exposed to extreme environments such as automotive, dry cleaning, medical, manufacturing, and industrial environments where exposure to harsh chemicals, high moisture, and high heat is standard.

APTIV film is produced from VICTREX® PEEK™ polymer and provides all of the properties of VICTREX PEEK polymer, in a thin, flexible format. It is a technology enabler for processors, designers and end users providing a high performance solution to facilitate meeting demands for reduced systems cost and improved product performance, including durability, reliability, miniaturization, and increased functionality. The increased design freedom offered by using APTIV film, and the ease of processing, allows customers and end users to enhance their products performance and differentiation.

The benefits of VICTREX PEEK polymer for RFID tags aren't limited to APTIV film. Merrick Systems Inc. chose VICTREX PEEK polymer for the housing of RFID tags used in upstream oil and gas operations, due to its superior combination of properties including the ability to withstand the extreme temperatures, physical and chemical conditions of downhole environments.

Read the full Merrick Systems Inc. RFID tags made with VICTREX PEEK polymer Case Study.

Benefits of APTIV film for RFID tags

• Outstanding chemical resistance
• High temperature resistance
• Wear resistance
• Dimensional stability
• Excellent barrier properties
• High purity

Versatility of Form

APTIV film is available in several grades according to the specific needs of the end use application. Within each grade a broad range of thicknesses are available from 6 to 750 microns. The standard width of APTIV film is 610 mm, although some films can be provided in widths up to 1500 mm. The stock rolls of film can be further slit down to widths of as low as 45 mm. Matte/Gloss and Gloss/Gloss surface finishes of APTIV film are standard. Other surface finishes are available upon request.

Request a Sample of Victrex APTIV film today.

APTIV film for RFID tags - Successes

RFID tags made with APTIV film Perform Beyond Expectation

Challenged with the need to find a material that is resistant to painting cycle temperatures of 180°C, 200°C and 220°C (356°F, 392°F and 428°F), O.T.A., a Brazilian company specializing in solutions for identification and traceability, selected high performance APTIV film made with VICTREX PEEK polymer for the encapsulation of its RFID tags used on a truck manufacturing line.

APTIV film offers a superior combination of properties including the ability to withstand the extreme temperatures encountered during the vehicle's painting cycle without any loss of radio frequency signal reception capacity from the device.

Encapsulating the RFID tags with APTIV film protects the small components from the aggressive environment of the truck's production line and painting cycle. "This is a new application for us," explained O.T.A. director Marcos Xavier. "The RFID labels encapsulated with APTIV film performed beyond our expectations, withstanding more than 10 painting cycles. In addition, using the APTIV film allowed us to significantly reduce our costs."

The RFID tag is a thin sensor that is 0.5mm thick. It is affixed on each truck chassis and remains there during the entire production process. "The critical point in the process is the painting line, during which the truck is exposed to a very aggressive environment," explained Marcos. The tags are exposed to high temperatures for one hour each during the painting cycle. We needed a material capable of withstanding at least 5 of these cycles without any imperfections that might interfere with the readability of the labels."

In addition, continued Marcos, "The material had to resist the various chemicals used in the operation. For example, it could not contaminate the painting tanks by releasing particles or gases that could contaminate the process. It had to have low permeability and be able to thermally isolate the internal components."

According to John Getz, Commercial Leader for APTIV Films at Victrex, "APTIV film is extremely versatile and used in a variety of high performance automotive applications including wear resistant bearings, sensor membranes, gaskets, adhesives tapes and now RFID devices. Its outstanding balance of chemical resistance, ability to withstand extreme temperatures and wear resistance, makes APTIV films a leading choice for automotive product designers."

Top coat printable label materials and finished labels for High Frequency RFID Applications made with APTIV film

AEE Technology, Asia's leading provider of engineering, performance and functional films and tapes, is using APTIV films as the substrate of its top coat printable labels for the electronics, PCB and automotive industry. The new top coat label developed with APTIV film substrates has successfully expanded AEE's product portfolio and at the same time offers outstanding performance including better chemical resistance against harsh cleansing agents, low moisture absorption and higher heat resistance up to 220℃ (428°F), making it a best candidate of top stock for high frequency RFID applications and applications in critical and harsh environments.

The surface morphology and surface treatment capability of APTIV film substrates offers excellent bonding strength for AEE's top coat labels, eliminating the possibility of delamination. Therefore, end users are able to enjoy premium printing quality with the highest resolution and clearest details. The chemical resistance property ensures steady performance in high moisturize or steam environments where polyimide (PI) films are vulnerable. Excellent heat / high temperature resistance gives long term operating temperature capability up to 220℃ (428°F)and short-term operating temperature up to 250℃ (482°F). Therefore, AEE top coat labels' adhesive performance is guaranteed since the labels will face no distortion under extreme temperature.

"With Victrex APTIV films, we have successfully broadened our top coat label product portfolio beyond PI films, and filled the gap of applications where PI-based top coat products are deficient." said CK To, President of AEE Technology. "This breakthrough differentiates our products and positions us to meet ever increasing customer demands for printing quality in extreme application environments. "

"Based on VICTREX PEEK polymer, APTIV film is an eco-friendly material and is compliant with European RoHS standards, making it an excellent candidate of top coat printable labels for electronic and automotive applications. It offers excellent high heat temperature resistance to prevent label damage during lead-free solder processing especially for demanding applications such as printed circuit boards. In addition, the smoothness of the film surface and the high tolerance improve the print quality of the label," said Edmond Chu, Regional Film Leader of Victrex Asia Pacific.

The APTIV Film Advantage

• Tight Thickness Tolerances - extruding equipment has world class process control
• Wide Film Widths - up to 1.5 meters
• Broad Thickness Range - from 6 to 750 microns.
• Plasma Surface Treatment - raises the film's surface energy to enhance adhesion, metallization, and printability
• Dedicated Manufacturing - part of Victrex's fully integrated supply chain
• Design Flexibility - easy to process
• Support - global technical, sales and marketing support

Contact an APTIV films technical expert at Ask the Expert for more information

APTIV film's Unique Combination of Performance Properties

• High Heat Resistance
• Excellent Wear Resistance
• Low Moisture Absorption
• Purity
• Broad Chemical Resistance
• Environmentally Friendly
• High Strength and Toughness
• Electrical Stability
• Radiation Resistance
• Halogen Free*, Low Smoke and Toxicity
• FDA Compliant
• Excellent Barrier Properties

*According to the definition in IEC 61294-2-21, pure VICTREX PEEK is classified as halogen-free.

Material of Choice for Performance

As the most versatile and high performing thermoplastic film available, APTIV film has a proven track record of success in a broad range of demanding markets and applications including:

• Radio Frequency ID Tags
• Aerospace film applications
• Composite film layers
• Dry transformer insulation
• Electrical and magnet wire insulation
• Flexible film heaters
• High performance gaskets
• High temperature labels
• Industrial slot liners
• Electric motor washers
• Pressure sensitive adhesive tapes
• Printed circuit substrates
• Speaker diaphragms and voice coils
• Specialty laminates
• Thermoformed structures
• Capacitors
• Specialty Packaging
• Pressure Sensors

Unmatched Quality

APTIV film is produced by Victrex in one of the most technologically advanced film extrusion facilities in the world. Dedicated to the production of APTIV film, and part of Victrex's fully integrated supply chain for VICTREX PEEK polymer, Victrex's manufacturing capabilities guarantee unmatched material quality, supply, consistency and performance.

APTIV film Secondary Processes for Flexible Solutions

APTIV film can be subjected to a range of secondary processes to produce complex structures including:

• Adhesion
• Surface treatments
• Coatings
• Slitting
• Die cutting & stamping
• Thermal lamination
• Heat welding & heat sealing
• Thermoforming
• Laser marking, laser ablation and laser machining
• Printing
• Metallization

To obtain more information from a Victrex Sales Engineer:

Americas

800 VICTREX

484.342.6001

americas@victrex.com

Europe

+ (49) 6192 964949

victrexplc@victrex.com

Asia Pacific

+86 (0)21 6113 6900

scsales@victrex.com

Japan

+81 (0)35777 8737

japansales@victrex.com

Access VICTREX PEEK Literature or Request a Sample today.

Would you like to learn more now, or acquire data specifications for APTIV films? Contact an APTIV films technical expert for more information.

For more information on APTIV films visit www.aptivfilms.com or www.aptivfilms.mobi.

The Victrex Team

Continues to stay focused and passionate about their deep expertise in polyetheretherketones, and they continue to expand their product offering through the development of unique polymers, proprietary blends, and high performance compounds.

VICTREX® is a registered trademark of Victrex Manufacturing Limited.

PEEK™, and APTIV™ are trademarks of Victrex plc.