Advanced Materials

Advanced semiconductor packaging technologies are crucial due to the slowing of Moore's law and rising costs of monolithic Si IC development and manufacturing. Initially, components were individually packaged and integrated at the PCB board level, but as devices become smaller and require higher processing capabilities, component integration needs to be pushed beyond board level.

Thermal runaway and the associated battery fires have proven to be a critical concern for customers, battery designers, and electric vehicle manufacturers. Many vehicles have experienced battery fires and hundreds of thousands have been recalled.

Thermal Interface Materials (TIMs) come in different forms, including thermal pads, thermal grease, gap fillers, thermal paste, and thermal gels. Thermal gel and thermal paste, two of the most commonly used forms, have gained significant momentum over the past several years, especially in the EV, data center, and 5G industries.

Smooth, functional surfaces that provide touch sensing, often with backlighting, are becoming increasingly common. Applications range from vehicle interiors and domestic appliances to medical devices and aircraft seating. Rather than relying on a mechanical or membrane switch, these surfaces utilize capacitive touch sensing - the same principle used in smartphone displays.

The need for a circular economy has never been so urgent. Plastic consumption is expected to double globally by 2050, creating environmental and human health risks. Not only is plastic waste overflowing in landfills, but a significant portion is mismanaged and leaks into the environment: the OECD estimates that nearly 80 million tonnes of plastic waste was mismanaged globally in 2019.

Materials informatics is the application of data-driven methods, including machine learning techniques, to the field of materials science. This important part of the digital transformation toolbox for the materials industry has wide-ranging benefits, but the ability to enhance the sustainability of materials and their manufacturing processes could be the most impactful of these.

It is no secret that modern, highly industrialized approaches to food production strains the environment. Today, food production represents approximately 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Legislation restricting the usage of "forever chemicals", or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), is being debated in major markets like the European Union and the US.

Thursday 4 May 2023 - Learn about key technologies and materials enabling sustainable packaging; Understand the activities of key FMCG companies, plastic recycling players, and startups in sustainable packaging; Hear IDTechEx's independent analysis on key drivers and challenges; Receive a market outlook on the growth of sustainable packaging

Thursday 20 April - The Surging Market for Thermal Interface Materials. This webinar will give a general overview of the TIMs used in EV, Data Center, ASAS, EMI shielding, 5G, and Consumer Electronics. The webinar discusses how TIM properties and demand will change with an analysis of the market trend and industrial news and collaborations.