Volume 27, Number 1, 81-89, DOI: 10.1023/A:1022636112130

Wet-Chemical Processing of Transparent and Antiglare Conducting ITO Coating on Plastic Substrates

M.A. Aegerter and N. Al-Dahoudi

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Abstract

The paper reviews a low temperature sol-gel processing of transparent and antiglare conducting Sn doped indium oxide (ITO) coatings. The approach uses already crystalline nanoparticles which can be fully redispersed in an ethanolic sol containing a polymerisable organic binder. Thick single layers up to 600 nm can be deposited by spin and dip coating techniques followed either by a low temperature (<130°c) heat="" treatment="" or="" by="" a="" uv="" light="" irradiation.="" stable="" resistivity="" down="" to="" 9.5="" ×="">–2 OHgrcm (sheet resistance of 1.7 kOHgrsqu for a 560 nm thick layer) have been obtained, together with high visible transparency (T ap 87%), good adhesion (DIN 58196-K2, and 53151) and abrasion resistance (DIN 58-196 G10 and H25) and 1 H hardness. Irradiation through a mask allows to easily pattern the coatings. Antiglare-conducting coatings with adjustable gloss (60 to 80 GU) and maintaining a good optical resolution (>8 lines/nm) were obtained by a conventional spraying technique. These techniques have been successfully applied to several plastic substrates such as polycarbonate (PC), polymethylmetacrylate (PMMA), polyimide, polyethylene (PE) as well as glasses.

sol-gel - transparent conducting coatings - antiglare coatings - ITO - low temperature processing - nanoparticles - plastic substrates

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