5G is the latest generation of mobile communications, developed to address the civil demand and economic environment of 2020 and beyond. 5G is the foundation for a fully mobile and networked society. It is a key technology for the digitalization of all areas of life and economy. This new technology enables the tight networking of mobile phones, tablets, cars, consumer electronics, industrial plants, and many other devices, forming the Internet of Things (IoT).
|
|
|
A variety of engineered plastics are coming into their own for use in emerging 5G networks. |
With the introduction of 5G, the demand for base stations, active antenna units (AAUs), and other equipment will increase significantly. Materials suppliers are rushing to develop this emerging market niche with new grades of engineering plastics to meet the requirements of high-speed connectivity such as antenna technology, high-speed connector solutions, and optical distribution networks (ODN) .
For example, DuPont’s Crastin polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) product family offers balanced Dk/Df (permittivity/dissipation tangent) characteristics (less than 3 and less than 0.007, respectively), producing excellent antenna performance and providing outstanding It is said to provide signals. Ensures high-speed, low-latency 5G communication and operational quality. Featuring a low Dk of less than 3, the CE20 series of PBT materials can increase bandwidth and improve transmission, according to DuPont. It also bonds to metal in a stable manner and boasts 40% better flow and 10% lower density than competing halogenated flame retardant PBT grades.
DuPont also offers materials for high-speed connectors through the Zytel HTN series of high-temperature polyamides that are compatible with the most common SMT (surface mount technology) assembly processes. Reportedly, the 20-50% glass-reinforced grades offer excellent flowability, temperature resistance up to 280°C, and CTI as high as 600V, making them ideal for miniaturized designs.
Meanwhile, in ODN solutions, the company’s Hytrel thermoplastic polyester elastomer is applied in fiber optic cables, and Zytel RS HTN polyamide is said to offer superior mechanical properties and reliability as an interconnect material to enable high-speed connectivity services. Masu.
DuPont notes that increasing demands for more power and faster data transmission will further increase the need for thermal management. Thermal management solutions increase the reliability and functional stability of 5G devices, minimizing malfunctions and system failures. It also significantly improves the 5G user experience by reducing hotspot heat. DuPont’s wide range of thermal conductive products, including Zytel RS HTN, Zytel and Crastin, offer a variety of mechanical properties to meet the needs of a variety of customers.
Covestro develops innovative and sustainable material solutions and contributes to smart infrastructures such as sensor technology and digital communication environments. The company works closely with Deutsche Telekom and the Umeå Design Institute. Covestro will present several prototypes at K 2019. This project is part of the company’s comprehensive digitalization strategy. The company works with partners to achieve goals 9 (Innovation and Infrastructure) and 11 (Sustainable Cities) of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Polycarbonate and its blends have been proven in a wide range of electrical and electronic applications, and their excellent properties should also make them ideal materials for 5G technology. It’s injection molding,” explains Fabian Grothe, core member of Covestro’s global 5G team. Some grades exhibit excellent weather resistance and thermal conductivity, and others are suitable for two-component injection molding and laser direct structuring (LDS).
To increase the public acceptance of expanded networks of antennas and base stations, Covestro is collaborating with students from the famous Umeå Design Institute and Deutsche Telekom to seamlessly integrate these technological facilities into the cities of the future. It is working. The project includes the development of an attractive base station, its color matching and surface structuring. Düsseldorf served as a reference city for this project.
In this project, Covestro will use its unique product range to enter this market in a hypothetical scenario. The actual product is the outer sheath of a third-party antenna, designed to fit or protrude into a specific environment, depending on the environment and population density. Here you can exploit the full potential with products that meet your technical requirements and integrate or enhance the character of your city using 5G networks. “At K 2019, we will be exhibiting a series of technology and design prototypes for small cells in the 3.5 GHz and 28 GHz frequency range,” Grote said.
As 5G technology advances to higher frequencies (i.e. mmWave bands), signal transmission can become a design challenge. “Our Asia Pacific Innovation Center has state-of-the-art testing capabilities across a wide frequency range up to 50 GHz under various environmental conditions, allowing our customers to enjoy more design freedom while ensuring 5G data transmission performance. We can help.’ We’re located in Shanghai,” said Nan Hu, global head of electronics for Covestro’s polycarbonate division.
5G technology, with its high transfer speeds, will also have a major impact on smartphone design. Antennas for 5G technology require more space. This is just one reason why the metal solutions traditionally used on the back of devices will be replaced by ceramic, glass or plastic in the future.
The Makrofol SR multilayer film solution with an acrylic top layer, combined with a new manufacturing process, results in a mobile phone back cover that looks like glass but is unbreakable. “Film laminates can be formed in three dimensions, and the film solution also meets the requirements for transmission at high radio frequencies with wavelengths in the millimeter range,” explains Ecole Zhao, Head of Covestro’s Greater China Specialty Films Division.
This transparent, 3D formable, 5G-enabled film material is ideal for mobile phone brands to create fashionable mobile phones using decorative techniques such as UV patterning and non-conductive vacuum metallization (NCVM). Specifically designed to provide design freedom. More than 50 percent of China’s mobile phone market has now switched to such multilayer PC/PMMA film solutions. This is a sign of a bright future in the upcoming 5G era.
