Polymer Thick Film—A Powerful Supporting Technology in Diverse Applications Available to Purchase

Materials based on polymer films which are deposited by a screen printing process onto an inert substrate are finding innumerable applications in the fabrication of circuits in modern electronic assemblies. At one time the concept of ‘polymer thick film’ (PTF) technology might have been seen as an alternative to printed circuits on organic substrates or to thick film circuits on ceramic. The point is made here that, resulting from the very diverse range of materials now available, it is better to regard PTF as a supporting technology to be used in conjunction with other techniques from printed circuit or hybrid film technology. There are many examples where individual PTF materials have been selected and used in assisting or enabling roles with obvious technical advantages and significant commercial benefit.