IMPROVED BONDING OF INDIUM-TIN-OXIDE (ITO) TO PLASTIC SUBSTRATES

THE OBJECTIVE IN THIS PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP A METHOD WHICH WILL PERMIT THE PRODUCTION OF ADHERENT, ABRASION-RESISTANT COATINGS OF INDIUM-TIN-OXIDE ON PLASTIC SUBSTRATES. IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE DESIRED GOAL BE ATTAINED BY USE OF A GRADIENT SUBLAYER WHICH GRADUALLY SPANS THE GAP IN CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES BETWEEN INDIUM-TIN-OXIDE AND THE ORGANIC SUBSTRATE. THIS GRADIENT COMPOSITIONAL SUBLAYER WILL BE DEPOSITED USING RADIO FREQUENCY PLASMA POLYMERIZATION AND PLASMA SPUTTERING TECHNIQUES. THE PROPOSED WORK IS PREDICATED ON THE EQUIPMENT AVAILABILITY AND RECENT EXPERIENCES WITH PLASMA POLYMERIZATION STUDIES INOUR LABORATORIES AS WELL AS RECENT LITERATURE RESULTS DEMONSTRATING THE SURFACE METALLIZATION OF PLASTIC SUBSTRATES USING RADIO FREQUENCY PLASMA TECHNIQUES. THE GRADIENT SUBLAYERS EMPLOYED WILL BE ONES WHICH CHANGE GRADUALLY FROM 100% ORGANIC CHARACTER TO A METAL OXIDE (E.G., ALUMINUM OXIDE OR NON-METAL OXIDE (E.G., SILIUM DIOXIDE OUTER SURFACE TO WHICH THE INDIUM-TIN-OXIDE WILL BE BONDED. PRELIMINARY STUDIES IN OUR LABORATORY USING CONVENTIONAL SUBLAYER COATING TECHNIQUES ARE SUFFICIENTLY PROMISING TO DEMONSTRATE THE OVERALL FEASIBILITY OF THE PROPOSED RESEARCH. THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STRONGLY ADHESIVE, ABRASION RESISTANCE COATING OF INDIUM-TIN-OXIDE ON PLASTIC WILL OPEN THE DOOR TOA VARIETY OF PROMISING COMMERCIAL POSSIBILITIES. MOST IMPORTANT OF THESE WOULD BE THE PRODUCTION OF ALL-PLASTIC LIQUID-CRYSTAL DISPLAYS AS WELL AS NEW INEXPENSIVE PLASTICS-BASED KEYBOARDS.