Insulating and conductive coatings

Due to their hybrid (organic-inorganic) structure, ORMOCER^® coatings are in principle electrically insulating. They have a very high dielectric strength, particularly in relation to their layer thickness.

This property makes the layers interesting for electronic applications, but also for sensors. Examples of the need for a thin (less than a micrometer thick) insulating layer can also be found in the medical sector. 

Nevertheless, ORMOCER^® formulations can be modified with certain additives to make them conductive. Depending on the type of modification, the coatings can be adjusted from slightly conductive to highly conductive.

Low conductivity:

Low conductivity is primarily required for antistatic coatings. The surface resistance can be adjusted via chemical modifications so that it is in the range of 10⁸ Ω/cm. The layers are colorless and transparent.
 

High conductivity:

High conductivity is achieved by homogeneously incorporating conductive additives such as copper flakes, graphene or conductive carbon black into ORMOCER^® layers. This makes it possible to produce layers with a surface resistance of between 10⁰ Ω/cm and 10³ Ω/cm. Depending on which additive was selected to increase conductivity, the coatings are colored copper, silver or black.