The technological centre is developing plastics with electrical conductivity, plastics with new charges, colouring plastics and with biodegradable characteristics. Besides, AIJU is working in the modification of existing formulations to allow their re-using during a higher number of cycles, thus contributing to a reduction in costs and the recycle of raw materials.

Ibi, Alicante -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/06/2010 -- AIJU has developed new materials Polyamide (PA)-based for its processing by means of Selective Laser Sintering techniques. The tests undertaken with the specimen tests have revealed an increased stiffness and strength in tension and a decreased impact resistance of these materials.

One of the main objectives in AIJU is to enable the toy industry and leisure sector to accede to the last developments and technological innovations within the market, contributing in a way that the developments could be achieved according to the requirements of entreprises. That is why it follows the technological evolution of the sector and the necessities of the related companies.

A previous study undertaken by AIJU to the companies using Rapid Prototyping and Rapid Manufacturing technologies has shown that 80% of the companies miss a greater sturdiness in the quality of the final product. As regards materials, 70% would like to manufacture prototypes with ABS by means of SLS, which keep similar characteristics. 95% or the companies believe that PA is a good material to work with and consider it useful to carry out some studies to generate new compounds based on this material. A 52% believe that searching new materials could be interesting, like PP, PET, PS and other elastomeric materials easy to manufacture. Finally, all the questioned companies think that obtaining prototypes directly from the SLS equipment with different colours could be innovative and easy to apply.

The juncture of these materials in Spain is the import of both the technology and the materials, as these are not developments of our own. This fact, combined with the need to boost new materials shown by enterprises, has guided AIJU to research about this subject.

These tasks have been done within the framework of IBE-RM projects, partially supported by MICINN and the UE with FEDER founds (PSE-020000-2004-1) and MatSinter, supported by IMPIVA (IMIDIC/2009/80 y IMIDIC/2010/45).

AIJU
The Toy Research Institute (AIJU) is a non-profitmaking organisation, located in Ibi, the Spanish geographic centre for the manufacture of toys. It was funded in 1985 with the collaboration of the Toy Manufacturers Spanish Association (AEFJ) and the Regional Government (IMPIVA).

Its aim is to transfer and allow toy manufacturers the access to the knowledge of new technologies in order to improve their competitivity, while offering technological and financial assessment and supporting the professional development of people involved in the sector. For this purpose, it has a staff of 75 professionals which develop their work in the different areas AIJU is made up of. Besides, this organization is provided with the required infrastructure to manage the different activities it undertakes.

The department intended to carry out these tasks is the Product Development – Laboratory Department, specially the Processing and Materials area. This department is closely linked to the Rapid Prototyping Area, which has been working on the research of SLS Equipment for 10 years now, studying its feasibility of use in the manufacturing of functional prototypes and mould prototypes with the objective of reaching final material sets.

AIJU is an active member of the Rapid Manufacturing European Platform and the Spanish mirror led by ASERM, the Spanish Rapid Manufacturing Association. It is also member of EuMAT and Manufuture. AIJU is the coordinator of the working group "Rapid Prototyping Proposal SP3 (materials) Lab" and member of the "Materials" group promoted by REDIT between the RDT Centres of IMPIVA's Network.

In the standard field, the entity is working on the potential feasibility of the proposed rules as well as new safety criteria for toys, with participation in several proficiency testing schemes both on a National and European Level. Thus, it is participating in the development of new standards for toys in the European Committee of Normalization (CEN).

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Natural banana fibre on a polyurethane matrix acts a reinforcement of the properties of the material, at the time as a renewable resource is used.

Ibi, Alicante -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/30/2010 -- The blend of organic materials with polymers is an alternative to increase the capacity of degradation of plastics while reducing their environmental impact. Moreover, depending on the processing technology, they can substantially change the mechanical characteristics of the final product, like resistance, for example.

The University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, within the IBE-RM Project framework, has been the organization responsible for this development, which consists in the reinforcement of polymeric pieces by means of vacuum casting with fibre obtained from banana trees cultivate in the Canary Islands.

Vacuum casting is a method employed in the rapid manufacturing (RM) industry for the achievement of both prototypes and final goods, in a short period of time comparing with other kinds of technologies. This procedure is based on the employment of silicon moulds achieved from a produced model, as for example, by means of Rapid Prototyping technologies, for the production of small series of pieces. The resins employed in this work are located in vacuum conditions, in a proportion determined by the manufacturer, where a chemical reaction occurs between the two components forming the resin.

Banana fibre acts as a reinforcement of those materials. The advantage of employing natural fibres consists in the decrease of their weight, as well as the increase of the mechanical properties (stiffness and tensile strength) of the pieces achieved.

Asuncion Martinez, manager of the SP3 refered to the development of new materials for those technologies, declares "Composites require the introduction of cohesive and reinforcement components. These additives change the mechanical properties of the materials substantially and, according to the processing technology, the characteristics of the final product.

These properties have been established as one of the industrial requirements and, consequently, it is a relevant field to be developed, in addition to research and the production of new types of materials and the variation of material already available referring to size and grain distribution, purity and quality levels, alloys, etc., regarding to the requirements previously determined".

The results accomplished so far show that there is a potential use of this fibre as a reinforcement of polymeric pieces obtained by vacuum casting, although as far as IBE-RM project is developed, research in this field will continue.

Rapid Manufacturing (RM)
RM technologies allow the achievement of prototypes or final pieces with a high level of personalization and complex geometry, starting from the continuous deposition of layers of polymeric or metallic material.

The IBE-RM project is challenged to develop a RM technology MADE IN SPAIN. For that purpose, the consortium is formed by 27 partners between enterprises, Universities and Technological Centres.

Research is carried out in three action fronts: the development of RM technologies, the development of materials and the implementation of TICs in productive processes.

The project's leader is the Ascamm Foundation, a TECNIO member, the network created by ACC1O that includes expert agents in Technological Transfer in Catalonia. AIJU is the leader of SP3, referring to the development of materials.

The project is expected to last until 2012 with a budget of 3,3 million Euros for the first two years. This project is partially funded by the Science and Innovation Ministry as well as the European Union within the Operative Program for R+D+I and on the SME's benefit (Technological Found) by FEDER (Expedient PSE-020000-2009-1).

Should you like further information, please visit: http://www.iberm.es.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Polyolefin painting and decoration is a very difficult process mainly due to the surface’s energy differences between the raw material and paintings and solvents. AIJU has optimized the polyolefins surface by means of Low Pressures plasma treatment, thus notably improving the adhesion of decorative elements.

Ibi, Alicante -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/07/2010 -- Nowadays, plastic materials are the most used raw material in the toy sector, because of its good adaptation to any designs, physic-chemical characteristics, easy processing and low cost. Elastomeric polyolefins, and especially elastomeric polyethylene (PE), give excellent mechanical stiffness properties and very low hardness. Due to these particular properties, these materials are appropriate for the toy and childcare articles manufacturing.

One of the most relevant difficulties for its application in some sectors is the decorating and painting issues of pieces made up of PE. In the polyolefins painting, for example, its surface energy is noticeably lower to wet the surface and remain unchangeable on it during the product's useful life. The surface treatment tries to adequate the substrates in a way that allow them to be used for painting, metallization, printing or the substrate adhesion. In the specific case of painting, this process is done by increasing the energy of the material for it to be higher than the energy of the painting (or the blending with solvents, whose surface energy must be similar).

Suny Martinez, the project coordinator states: "the modification of the polymers surface by means of low pressure plasma treatment presents several advantages against others mechanical or chemical surface treatments, as it does not give heat, it is quick and environmental non-aggressive and it allows the modification of the complex geometry of the pieces, as they are introduced in the reaction chamber where the treatment is made in an homogeneous and controlled way. That is why the plasma treatment acceptation has increased in industrial applications".

The low pressure treatment efficiency depends on the different experimental parameters, like the time of treatment, the plasma generation power and the partial pressure of the plasma generator gas, among others. The study carried out by AIJU has proved how the elastomeric PE painting properties have deeply improved by means of low pressure plasma surface treatment, in few seconds of treatment.

Some of the results obtained were presented in the 16th International Symposium on Plasma Chemistry in Taormina (Italy).

About AIJU
The Toy Research Institute (AIJU) is a non-profit organization located in Ibi, the Spanish geographic centre for toys manufacturing. Its aim is to transfer and allow toy manufacturers the access to the knowledge of new technologies in order to improve their competitivity, while offering technological and financial assessment and supporting the professional development of people involved in the sector.

The 75 professionals on the staff carry out with their labour in the different areas AIJU is made up of, and this organization is provided with the required infrastructure to manage the different activities it undertakes.

AIJU is made up of 580 partners belonging, highly, to Valencian industry. From the total number of partners, 40% are toy manufacturers, 42% belong to the auxiliary industry and the rest belong to other sectors.

The department intended to carry out these tasks is the Product Development – Laboratory. Within this department, one of the most interesting innovation fields is rapid prototyping. AIJU has been working on the research of SLS Equipment for 10 years now, studying its feasibility of use in the manufacturing of functional prototypes and mould prototypes with the objective of reaching final material sets.

AIJU is an active member of the Rapid Manufacturing European Platform and the Spanish mirror led by ASERM, the Spanish Rapid Manufacturing Association. It is also member of EuMAT and Manufuture. AIJU is member of the "Materials" group promoted by REDIT between the RDT Centers of IMPIVA's Network.

In the standard field, the entity is working on the potential feasibility of the proposed rules as well as new safety criteria for toys, with participation in several proficiency testing schemes both on a National and European Level. Thus, it is participating in the development of new standards concerning organic additives in materials for toys in the European Committee of Normalization (CEN).

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

AIJU has widely improved the scaling of Polyjet technology for its application, by means of Rapid Tooling techniques, to the manufacturing of the negative part of electrodes for the electroforming process.

Ibi, Alicante -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/12/2010 -- The UV photopolymerization technology, also known as Polyjet or 3D impression, allows the manufacturing of pieces with a high dimensional accuracy, subtle details and smooth surfaces. The last developments have made possible the production, through these technologies, using two different materials and even to generate digital materials as a composition of the two base materials.

For these processes, AIJU uses Objet Connex 350, able to build final products up to 350x330x200 mm and final products with good final characteristics and similar behaviour to silicone or rubber. Their applications include, among others, the manufacturing of prototypes for benchmarking actions or the production of masters for vacuum casting moulds, moulds of wax injection to use in the lost wax technology or even high precision and detailed female electrodes, which are the most economical methodology for short production series.

Cesar Carrion, responsible for the Product Development Area at AIJU's Product Development -Laboratory Department, says: "Thanks to the multiple variety of properties that digital materials that can be generated by the Polyjet Matrix technology present, a stiff objet with flexible buttons in the same piece seamless and without fissures or cracks can be created, for instance. This technology has also entered the customization market through specific machines for the headphone manufacturing. Its acrylic resins are homologated for uses in the health industry; one of the clearest application fields is the manufacturing of surgical splints used in non-invasive dental prosthetic surgery".

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is a less accurate technology that requires the laser beam recalibration or re-adjustment system employing scale factors on the pieces to be manufactured as, otherwise, it provides a deviation regarding the original design. The scale used in SLS is very large and can show large differences in its values.

AIJU has used the scaling values of the SLS technology in order to provide a smaller scale applicable to Polyjet technology. Therefore, in the study, AIJU has achieved an accuracy 10 times the initial value calculated with no scales. Thus, Polyjet technology has become even more accurate and, optimized, can achieve exceptional accuracy values.

Cesar Carrion establishes that "other studies have been undertaken regarding the scaling of the Objet Technology. Nevertheless, the proposed model in this study is very complex and the correct scale factor is, in our opinion, as important or even more as the CAD model to be compared as well as all the possibilities in dimension marking. That is why, although the technology manufacturer tells us that it is not necessary to carry out this process, exceptional results can be actually achieved applying a scale system and an estimation of the appropriate scale factor".

The practical application of this system has been employed for the manufacturing of the negative part, in the electroforming process, for the manufacturing of supported electrodes, in the electroforming process, by the Centre of Integrated Manufacturing in the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

This Project has been partially supported by the Science and Education Ministry into the Applied Research National Program (CIT-420000-2008-25).

About AIJU
The Toy Research Institute (AIJU) is a non-profit organization located in Ibi, the Spanish geographic centre for toys manufacturing. Its aim is to transfer and allow toy manufacturers the access to the knowledge of new technologies in order to improve their competitivity, while offering technological and financial assessment and supporting the professional development of people involved in the sector.

The 75 professionals on the staff carry out with their labour in the different areas AIJU is made up of, and this organization is provided with the required infrastructure to manage the different activities it undertakes.

AIJU is made up of 580 partners belonging, highly, to Valencian industry. From the total number of partners, 40% are toy manufacturers, 42% belong to the auxiliary industry and the rest belong to other sectors.

The department intended to carry out these tasks is the Product Development – Laboratory. Within this department, one of the most interesting innovation fields is rapid prototyping, working in the achievement of prototype moulds by means of several techniques: vacuum cast with silicon moulds, casting foundry, photopolimerization by ultraviolet light and selective laser sintering (SLS). AIJU has been working on the research of SLS Equipment for 10 years now, studying its feasibility of use in the manufacturing of functional prototypes and mould prototypes with the objective of reaching final material sets.

AIJU is an active member of the Rapid Manufacturing European Platform and the Spanish mirror led by ASERM, the Spanish Rapid Manufacturing Association. It is also member of EuMAT and Manufuture. AIJU is the coordinator of the working group "Rapid Prototyping Proposal SP3 (materials) Lab" and member of the "Materials" group promoted by REDIT between the RDT Centers of IMPIVA's Network.

In the standard field, the entity is working on the potential feasibility of the proposed rules as well as new safety criteria for toys, with participation in several proficiency testing schemes both on a National and European Level. Thus, it is participating in the development of new standards concerning organic additives in materials for toys in the European Committee of Normalization (CEN).

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The Spanish consortium IBE-RM is researching materials with smart performance for the developments of new applications in Rapid Manufacturing Technologies.

Ibi, Alicante -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/23/2010 -- Pieces that change their shape in response to humidity or magnetic fields. Materials that blend organic substances in order to increase their strength and biodegradable potential. The development of smart compounds applied to Rapid Manufacturing technologies will contribute to the creation of products with innovative functionalities with no geometrical limitations in several sectors, especially the medical sector.

We refer to one of the parts of the IBE-RM project which are being studied by the Spanish R+D consortium, whose main objective is the consolidation of the use of Rapid Manufacturing Technologies through the development of new technologies, materials and applications.

One of the conceived applications for the medical industry consists in a crowbill made from a hidroactive polymer, which closes up in contact with humidity. This forceps could be used as an end of the catheter in non-invasive operations. The same application will be able to be manufactured with magnetoactive elastomers – plastics able to modify their mechanical properties or their geometry in response to a magnetic field change. This material can also be used in the development of biomedical sensors, as its magnetic properties can change due to changes in certain variables of the environment.

"Our contribution to the project consists in studying materials with smart functionalities already available in the market and adapting them according to the requirements of the Rapid Manufacturing Technologies the consortium works with", states Suny Martinez, from the Product Development – Laboratory Department of the Toy Research Institute (AIJU), leader of this sub-project. "Thus, we extend the offer of procesable materials through Rapid Manufacturing technologies. New innovative products will be developed and intended to a large number of sectors", she says.

The blend of organic materials with polymers is an alternative to increase the plastic degradation ability while decreasing the impact on the environment. Moreover, it can supply improvements in mechanical caracteristics of the final product, as well as greater endurance.

With the purpose of increasing material range for processing through Rapid Manufacturing technologies, the IBE-RM consortium researchs plastic compounds made from almond shell for SLS technology. This manufacturing method is characterized by the use of laser for the sinterizing of powder, building a layer-by-layer final piece from a digital design. Another formulation currently being tested uses banana fiber on a polyurethane matrix. This natural fiber acts to reinforce those materials and its use in the production of short runs of pieces by vacuum casting is a feasible alternative to the employment of other kind of materials for the achievement of greater mechanical properties.

Other examples of the formulations being developed within this project include biodegradable materials for its application in agriculture for instance, biocompatible materials for the medical industry or conventional materials that can be processed by means of Rapid Manufacturing technologies in toy and leisure applications.

RAPID MANUFACTURING

Rapid Manufacturing technologies allow the achievement of prototypes or final pieces highly customized and geometrily complex from the continuous deposition of layers of metallic or polymeric material.

The IBE-RM project has the challenge to develop a rapid manufacturing technology MADE IN SPAIN. For that purpose, the consortium counts on the participation of 27 partners, counting enterprises, universities and RDT centres.

Research has three action lines: Rapid Manufacturing technologies, material development and Information Technologies implementation and communication in productive processing.

The project leader is Ascamm Foundation, a TECNIO member, and the network bringing together the Catalonian experts in Technology Transfer has been created by ACC1O.

The expected duration of the project is up to 2012, with a budget of 3,3 million Euros for the first two years, and it is partially funded by the Spanish Science and Innovation Ministry as well as the European Union within the R+D+i Operative Programme for the benefit of the enterprises (technological fund) through FEDER funds.

For further information, please visit: http://www.iberm.es.

ABOUT AIJU
The Toy Research Institute (AIJU) is a non-profit organization located in Ibi, the Spanish geographic centre for toys manufacturing. Its aim is to transfer and allow toy manufacturers the access to the knowledge of new technologies in order to improve their competitivity, while offering technological and financial assessment and supporting the professional development of people involved in the sector.

The 75 professionals on the staff carry out with their labour in the different areas AIJU is made up of, and this organization is provided with the required infrastructure to manage the different activities it undertakes.

AIJU is made up of 580 partners belonging, highly, to Valencian industry. From the total number of partners, 40% are toy manufacturers, 42% belong to the auxiliary industry and the rest belong to other sectors.

The department intended to carry out these tasks is the Product Development – Laboratory. Within this department, one of the most interesting innovation fields is rapid prototyping, working in the achievement of prototype moulds by means of several techniques: vacuum cast with silicon moulds, casting foundry, photopolimerization by ultraviolet light and selective laser sintering (SLS). AIJU has been working on the research of SLS Equipment for 10 years now, studying its feasibility of use in the manufacturing of functional prototypes and mould prototypes with the objective of reaching final material sets.

AIJU is an active member of the Rapid Manufacturing European Platform and the Spanish mirror led by ASERM, the Spanish Rapid Manufacturing Association. It is also member of EuMAT and Manufuture. AIJU is the coordinator of the working group "Rapid Prototyping Proposal SP3 (materials) Lab" and member of the "Materials" group promoted by REDIT between the RDT Centers of IMPIVA's Network.

In the standard field, the entity is working on the potential feasibility of the proposed rules as well as new safety criteria for toys, with participation in several proficiency testing schemes both on a National and European Level. Thus, it is participating in the development of new standards concerning organic additives in materials for toys in the European Committee of Normalization (CEN). ###

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

A study undertaken by AIJU has demonstrated the sintering possibilities of a Polyamide- based formulation blended with black colouring.

Ibi, Alicante -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/21/2010 -- Rapid manufacturing technologies are characterized by construction through addition or layer by layer to directly manufacture functional parts or pieces from CAD files. Geometry freedom, high resolution, dimensional accuracy with no distortions, use of multiple materials, tooling elimination, building according to the buyer's liking (customization or individualization) and, consequently, cost reduction, are some of the advantages these processes offer.

Materials usually employed in additive manufacturing technologies, also called Rapid Manufacturing (RM), are completely unknown in spite of the information that each manufacturer provides, which is not complete and is subject to patents. So, there are many research groups devoted to this field, with the objective of modifying and improving the available RM materials and formulations, and also to the development of new materials, completely new for these technologies, including metallic, ceramic and plastic.

AIJU has demonstrated the sintering possibilities of a Polyamide (PA12) based formulation added with a black-colouring additive. Sintering parameters have been optimized, as they influence the final properties. Mechanical properties of the blend show an increase in the stiffness and the tensile strength and a decrease in the impact resistance. Nevertheless, improvements in the formulation are required to increase the PA and colouring coupling.

Asuncion Martinez, the main AIJU's coordinator for these projects, states that "the sintering of polyamide with colouring additives could improve the product development in the sense that final products could be achieved using a commonly used material, thus avoiding a process in the sequence of the production and consequently reducing the final cost of the product".

The authors would like to thank IMPIVA and MICINN for the financial support given in part for this project (Projects IMIDIC/2009/80 y PSE-020000-2009-1).

About AIJU
The Toy Research Institute (AIJU) was founded in June 1985 as a collaboration of the remains of the Spanish Toy Company Association (AEFJ) and the Regional Government (IMPIVA), and is a non-profit making entity whose aim is technological support to enterprises related to the Toy Industry.

AIJU's main aim is to enable the Toy manufacturers to have access to state-of-the-art technologies. As most of them are SMEs, they cannot individually afford emerging technologies. AIJU has a staff of 75 professional people divided into different areas, all together with the required infrastructure to manage the diverse activities involved.

AIJU has been working on the research of SLS Equipment for 10 years now, studying its use feasibility in the manufacturing of functional prototypes and mould prototypes with the objective of reaching final material sets.

In the standard field, the entity is working on the potential feasibility of the proposed rules as well as new safety criteria for toys, with participation in several proficiency testing schemes both on a National and European Level. Thus, it is participating in the development of new standards concerning organic additives in materials for toys in the European Committee of Normalization (CEN).

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Electronic devices are made and commercialized on glass substrates. Current research projects are focused, nevertheless, on using plastic devices as a support due to functional performance and economic issues.

Ibi, Alicante -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/18/2010 -- Current electronics are developed in such a way that the constant progress can hardly be followed. As a usual rule, electronic devices are made and commercialized on glass substrates (TVs, PC computers, portable computers, mobiles, etc.). Current research projects are focused, nevertheless, on using plastic devices as a support due to functional performance and economic issues.

Thus, plastic electronics represent a new range of electronics whose main aim is the production of devices on plastic substrates from organic and hybrid materials. This new technology will help in the development of lighter, more flexible devices, making it easier for them to be inserted in certain articles or even allowing the development of devices that coil up or fold on themselves. On the other hand, it is an economic technology due to both the type of materials used as well as the ease of the production techniques.

The experimental development of these devices is the aim of the consortium members of the PLASeTOY project, which is made up of AIJU, CIDETEC (Electrochemical Technologies Centre) and CETEMMSA. This programme, supported by the Spanish Science and Innovation Ministry and co-financed by FEDER (Regional Development European Fund) funds within the framework of the National Plan of Experimental Development DEX-560540-2008-3, is being coordinated by AIJU, the technological institute for toys.

The plastic electronic devices to be developed in this project can be split into the following categories:

- Electro-optical Devices. Three different types will be developed, to say, electrochromic, PDLC (Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystals) and Electroluminescent (EL). All of them use an electrical field to provoke a different optical effect.

The introduction of these devices will give added value to the final product and comply with the electrical standards applicable to toys.

- Flexible Tactile Devices. These will be developed with the aim of substituting all kinds of keys and bellboys by contact areas on the same piece, allowing the homogenization of the toy, making its design easy and avoiding the production of traditional moulds. Moreover, it offers higher safety guarantees as small pieces that could come off will be avoided.

- Flexible Plastic Electronic Tracks. The development of these kinds of circuits will save having to use wires and welding, facilitate the article design, decrease the electrical and electronic waste and help with the compliance of the Directive RoHS, which is difficult to obey with current techniques.

Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystals (PDLC)

The technology called "Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystals" or PDLC, is based on the dispersion of micro drops of liquid crystal in a polymeric matrix. The difference between the refraction rates of liquid crystal and the polymer causes a high light dispersion (Scattering) that makes the material take on a translucent aspect. When a film of this kind of material is deposited between two transparent electrodes and a field of alternating current is applied, the aspect changes from translucent (OFF) to transparent (ON) as the orientation of liquid crystal molecules is parallel to the electrical field.

One of the main advantages of this technology is the low commutation time (in the order of a millisecond), however the fact that it has no memory effect must be mentioned and consequently it not only requires a current to provoke the commutation to the transparent state but to maintain this state as well. On the other hand, the employment of a polymer as a matrix, gives it certain mechanical properties, allowing the preparation of films of bigger surfaces. Moreover, this polymeric nature makes possible the employment of plastic substrates, allowing the production of flexible and lightweight devices.

In reference to the applications of PDLC technology, its electro-optical characteristics make it an excellent option for the development of intelligent windows, mainly for application in the residential and automotive sectors. Another of the widest applications is as a divider or private window electrically controlled in offices, hospitals, shop windows, etc.

Taking advantage of CIDETEC's experience in the development of electro-optical devices, new research tasks have been started in order to obtain materials and devices based on the PDLC technology, not only on glass substrate but on plastic substrate as well due to the advantages and possibilities the latter offers. Until now composites have been made using a mixture of pneumatic liquid crystal and a polymeric matrix of a different nature, and by varying parameters such as the composition and the phase separation process, the production of small devices as big as 5x5 cm2 has been possible.

Within the PLASeTOY project the development of devices working in a reverse mode has been started, that is to say, transparent in the OFF state and translucent in the ON state, modifying the composite's composition. Usually, the construction of this kind of device that operates in a "reserve mode", is possible by using liquid crystal with a negative dielectric constant, which is orientated in a perpendicular direction to the applied electrical field. It is a much less frequent and less researched system, as the liquid crystal systems with these characteristics are few. On the other hand, the preparation of such devices is more complex, as it requires an additional phase previous to the planar orientation of the material in reference to the substrate, which uses pre-treated surfaces or applies a powerful magnetic field (> 7 T), among other techniques. It is a kind of device which is in development, which still requires the optimization of several aspects and therefore more research is being undertaken.

Electrochromic Devices

Electrochromism is the term for the property that some organic and inorganic natured materials have for changing colour under the action of an electrical field in a reversible way due to a redox reaction. This property allows these materials to be used as filter systems in the visible light area and that of IR (Infrared) decreasing the amount of light and solar radiation that passes through. This allows the use of these kinds of materials in such applications as intelligent windows or eye filters where it is important to filter both, luminosity and solar radiation. Other applications of electrochromic materials include displays and rear-view mirrors that are darkened when light falls upon them with a certain intensity avoiding the dazzling of drivers. This application is the only one being commercialized at this moment.

Generally, an electrochromic device is made up of 7 layers. On the one hand, the deposition of an electrochromic material on a conductive plastic substrate is required. This electrochromic material can be of an organic (i.e. conductive polymer) or inorganic (i.e. metallic oxide) nature.

For the suitable functioning or an electrochromic device a material capable of being an ions source and receptor is necessary, to compensate for the electrochromic layer charge. Moreover, depending on the colour change obtained by the electrochromic material an appropriate counter electrode based on inorganic oxides or conductive polymers will be used, in such a way that the change is preferable from a transparent state to a coloured state. Finally, both layers are separated by an electrolyte which allows the ions to pass through them.

CIDETEC has made an important innovation in the electrochromism field simplifying the required number of layers for the functioning of an electrochromic device. For this, a formulation has been developed in which the electrochromic material is included, an electrolyte and a pair of re-dox of the electrochromic material, passing from 7 to 5 layers, notably simplifying the manufacturing of such devices and thus reducing the final cost.

The present Project tackles the use of the electrochromic technology combined with the preparation of lithographies on plastic substrates for their further integration in toys, in such a way that specific designs can be made for decorative purposes.

Finally, the preparation of hybrid devices combining electrochromism technology and liquid crystal is being looked at. Thus, it is possible to have a prototype with four different optical effects: colourless transparent, coloured transparent, colourless translucent and coloured translucent.

Flexible tactile switching and flexible circuits

Over the last few years new concepts, in terms of electronic technology, have emerged such as "plastic electronics", "printed electronics" or "organic electronics". These techniques aim to contribute new manufacturing methods which will bring a revolution in the electronic and micro-electronic industry. Basically they consist of using and adapting traditional technologies employed in graphic arts like silk-screen printing, lithography, inkjet printing and roll-to-roll, among others, for the manufacturing of electronic devices usually developed by means of other techniques. The printing of electronic components creates a need for new chemical developments for this technology, for example, conductive inks, resistive inks, insulating inks or semi-conductor inks. Commercial inks designed to be used in "printed electronics" as well as special substrates for printing purposes are already on the market. This is a promising technology, in constant evolution which till now has had satisfactory results on the market.

The main applications of flexible electronics are: pressure sensors, flexible circuits, OLED devices, flexible memories, electroluminescent lamps, flexible batteries, electrophoretic devices, RFID tags, elastic sensors, and flexible photovoltaic panels, among others. Flexible electronics could provide the toy sector with new products with higher flexibility and even the possibility to substitute the current wire track used in conventional electronics.

CETEMMSA has been able to print pressure sensors by means of inkjet technology with the functionality of an on/off switch and the printing of the required circuits for the correct working of the sensor, with the inclusion of several non-hybrid LEDs (conventional) to demonstrate that printed systems work correctly and that "printed electronics" technology has a place within the toy sector.

Electroluminescent technology has been undergoing development for decades but it all started with military research around 30 years ago. Even such a field with some history, has witnessed a high increase in technological advances over the last few years.

The dramatic increase of this technology is due to its versatility enabling it to be used for many applications.

Electroluminescence is a phenomenon in which a material emits light when an electrical field is applied. The electroluminescent devices are of a sandwich structure type and in the interior the luminescent material is deposited.

Electroluminescence has a wide range of applications, from electronic products such as mobile phones, PDA's, watches, toy complements, decoration, advertising, and both conventional and road signs, among others.

CETEMMSA has achieved the assembly of electroluminescent devices on a flexible plastic based substrate. These systems are deposited by means of silk-screen printing, and allow the production of devices of a high variety of sizes and designs. These devices emit different colours according to the phosphorus introduced into the system. They can emit white, blue, green and orange light, among others.

The toy sector is one of the sectors being widely affected by the import of products from Asian countries. Designs are seemingly copied and the existing commercial rules do not give a real solution to the development of articles that do not obey the standards. Consequently, competency based on cost reduction is not feasible at this point.

Additionally, the design of new toy and childcare articles is being notably slowed down due to the economic crisis that is currently affecting many European and international sectors.

The tools available to European enterprises to keep their market share is, invariably, their competitiveness by means of the research and development of new technologies that contribute dynamism and interactivity to the articles developed.

Plastic electronics have the potential to revitalize the economy, to generate new jobs and to contribute to public health, as they allow time and cost savings and give support to increase the functionality of diverse sectors (consumer electronics, building, the automotive sector, several lighting devices, logistics and even fashion). Manufacturers that introduce these devices into their articles, add to their products differing agents to the current market, enhancing innovation, competitiveness and sustainability in the sector.

That is why, the Technological Toy Institute (AIJU) is interested in plastic electronic technologies development, with the aim of introducing important technological innovations, further to the designs created periodically, able to contribute, in the medium term, to a big technological and competitive jump forward in relation to competing countries. During 2010 this research will be continued within this project with the aim of carrying out the established objectives.

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