Plastics

Jetting binder on layers of plastic powder was originally developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1993. This binder-on-powder process was the first to be known as 3D Printing technology.

IDTechEx 3D printing research has focussed on materials requirements for several years now, and this allows us to bring together some of the most knowledgeable people to talk about the state of the industry, new developments and future innovations across the whole spectrum of 3D Printing Materials.

Large investments have been made to enable flexible, thin sensors rather than rigid sensors.

The 3D printing industry is still going from strength to strength. According to the IDTechEx report 3D Printing 2015-2025: Technologies, Markets, Players this industry is set to grow from $1bn in 2012 to $20bn in 2025.

Perovoskite photovoltaics promises over 20% efficiency, low cost materials and even flexible, transparent and stretchable versions dearly needed for new applications. Record power to weight ratio is needed for the electric vehicle end game, the land vehicles, boats and aircraft described in the IDTechEx report, Energy Independent Vehicles 2016-2026.

In 2020 flexible barrier manufacturing for flexible electronic devices such as displays will be a market worth more than US$184 million according to IDTechEx Research. That equates to 3.8 million square meters of flexible barrier films for electronics.

It seems obvious; energy harvesting is intermittent, so combine different types to make it continuous and therefore much more useful.

Core applications of PV and touch panels continue to grow demand, but new opportunities emerge in the form of wearable technology, circuit boards and structural electronics.

Energy harvesting is the creation of off-grid electricity where it is needed using ambient energy, from sunshine to vibration or temperature difference.

IDTechEx Research recently revised its forecast for OLED displays. Dr Guillaume Chansin, lead author of the IDTechEx report OLED Display Forecasts 2015-2025: The Rise of Plastic and Flexible Displays explains why.