Plastics

In this article we will consider the existing and emerging applications of IME, looking at the latest prototypes, commercial success, etc. We will briefly examine value chain.

With the end of the year in sight IDTechEx looks back and reviews what has been new in the world of printed electronics in the last 12 months.

From 2019 we will come to a world with flexible electronics and batteries to power these devices have attracted tremendous attention. These devices may require batteries with special mechanical properties or form factors. For more details about thin, flexible and printed batteries, please refer to IDTechEx's report Flexible, Printed and Thin Film Batteries 2019-2029.

IDTechEx finds that the total market for printed, flexible and organic electronics in 2018 is $31.6 Billion. This is based on new research conducted by IDTechEx for the report Flexible, Printed and Organic Electronics 2019-2029.

It took a decade and half to enable the first commercial products using flexible barrier or thin film encapsulation technologies. Contrary to some assumptions however, this success does not mean that the question of barrier technology is forever settled. Indeed, there is still much work to do to render flexible barrier technology a ubiquitous, widely-available, and low-cost component in devices of all sizes, sensitivity levels, flexibility degrees, and so on.

It is a technological megatrend providing billion dollar business opportunities. The unique new IDTechEx Research report "Smart Materials as Structural Electronics and Electrics 2019-2029" explains how structural materials can be electronically, electrically, mechanically, magnetically and optically smart nowadays.

This is a technological megatrend. Dumb load-bearing metal structures move to plastic and composite and incorporate energy harvesting and storage material - massless energy. Indeed you could call some of it negative mass energy. Goodbye components-in-a-box.

ITO alternative (TCFs) are no longer a young technology. They have been in the semi commercial mode for more than a decade and half. In that time, they have often come tantalising close to success, and in some instances, even carved out niche markets. Yet, they are still hoping for that great breakthrough. So why has the commercialization process been prolonged for so long?

The need for flexible, transparent, ultrahigh performance, and low-cost barriers has long held back the promise of many flexible devices. Indeed, for long, it appeared as the grand challenge, and a potential showstopper.

The new IDTechEx Research report "Global OLED Display Forecasts and Technologies 2019-2029" provides a comprehensive assessment of OLED display technologies and markets based on primary research conducted globally by IDTechEx analysts.