Trouble in Your Tank: Organic Addition Agents in Electrolytic Copper Plating
Marcy’s Musings: Can You Hear the Voices?
Facing the Future: Successfully Navigating the Uncertain Path Ahead
Flexible, Stretchable, and Wearable: If You Can Dream it, You Can Create it!
June 3, 2015 | Patty Goldman, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
It seems that flex circuit technology is definitely coming into its own. The market for flex circuitry has always been growing, but now it is rapidly accelerating, with new technologies and new applications in the news nearly every day. Flex is not just in your laptop and camera anymore, it is in your car, in space, and on your body. In other words, flex is everywhere.
We originally intended this issue to be centered on flexible circuits, but it quickly became apparent that we needed to broaden the scope and include all (well, at least some) of the new and exciting things going on these days in the world of flexible everything. As such, we have garnered a trove of authors, with much information to impart on the above mentioned.
Our cover story from OM Group discusses the processing of flex materials using a stress-free plating technology for both flex and rigid-flex materials.
Then, Dr. Joan Vrtis of Multek gives a great market overview of that relatively new industry most often called ‘wearables.’ She points out that wearables are not new, but when combined with electronics, this industry is only limited by the imagination, as the technology to make it happen is rapidly evolving.
Looking at another flex industry segment (flex segmented!), Maarten Cauwe and co-authors from imec pull our interest in a different direction as they explore two technologies for flexible and stretchable circuits in space applications.
So back to the beginning: Two articles discuss new materials to help make some of this happen. Panasonic’s Yoshioka et al., present a high-performance substrate for stretchable electronics, while Dupont’s Sidney Cox discusses a new flex material for high-temperature
applications.
Also on the topic of the processing of flex materials, Patrick Riechel of ESI reviews three technologies for microvia drilling and cutting. Rounding out the processing topic is columnist Todd Kolmodin with a brief overview on testing flex circuits.
This month is a perfect time to introduce our two newest columnists, who will become regular contributors to our Flex007 Weekly Newsletter that publishes every Thursday. As her first subject, Tara Dunn of Omni PCB chose “Flex-to-Fit”—another flex industry subset that is only limited by the imagination.
And last but not least, Dave Becker of All Flex presents his summary of wearable technology. There’s a lot going on in flexible, stretchable, wearable technology and there is much to learn!
Share on:
Suggested Items
Hanon Systems Wins Third PACE Award for Visible-Light LED Photocatalyst Technology
04/18/2025 | PRNewswireHanon Systems, a leading global automotive thermal management supplier and subsidiary of Hankook & Company Group, has been named a winner of the 2025 PACE Awards. This marks the company's third win, making it the first Korean supplier to achieve this recognition.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Aster–Enhancing Design for Effective Testing Strategies
04/18/2025 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOWill Webb, technical director at Aster, stresses the importance of testability in design, emphasizing early engagement to identify testing issues. This discussion covers the integration of testing with Industry 4.0, the need for good test coverage, and adherence to industry standards. Innovations like boundary scan testing and new tools for cluster testing are introduced, highlighting advancements in optimizing testing workflows and collaboration with other tools.
Can the Electronics Industry Balance Tariffs With Investment?
04/18/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamTo better understand the U.S. administration’s recent actions on global trade policies, Barry Matties and Nolan Johnson met with Richard Cappetto, IPC’s senior director of North American government relations, who highlighted both the challenges and opportunities available to U.S. companies in the recent trade activity. This could include increased domestic manufacturing and supply chain diversification.
University of Arizona Pioneering Technical Education Beyond Semiconductors
04/18/2025 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineWhile many universities struggle to keep their curriculum up to date with the evolving needs of the electronics industry, the University of Arizona stands head and shoulders above the others. Its Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing incorporates five of the colleges at UA and emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to prepare students for diverse careers in technology and manufacturing.
IPC Strengthens Electronics Industry Awareness with Appointment of Carrie Sessine as Global Communications Vice President
04/16/2025 | IPCIPC, the global electronics association, announces the strategic appointment of Carrie Sessine as vice president of global communications. This newly created executive position underscores the association’s commitment to championing the electronics industry's critical contributions to global innovation and economic growth.