Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTSThe technique of tape casting and coating is a highly productive method that allows large, flexible tapes made of functional materials to be manufactured very efficiently and cost-effectively in roll-to-roll processes. The special expertise of Fraunhofer IKTS lies in slurry and process development for tape manufacturing and its transfer to pre-series and small-series products. Tape technology forms the basis for many innovative products and developments. These range from classic ceramic microsystem technology and battery research to filtration and gas separation. In addition, there are a wide variety of special applications such as transparent tapes for optical and analytical applications, joining tapes for the production of pure ceramic composites, and metal powder tapes for magnetic and electrocaloric applications.
Processing functional ceramic powders using tape casting is a challenging task. In the state-of-the-art tape casting center at Fraunhofer IKTS, tapes with a wide variety of properties (LTCC, HTCC, defined porosity, UV-curing, transparent, permanent magnetic) are manufactured according to customer requirements. The casting and coating facilities enable the development and sample production of tapes with thicknesses ranging from 50 µm to 1.5 mm. In addition, the IKTS facilities are also available to companies for conducting their own tests.
With innovative printing processes and interconnection and packaging solutions, tapes can be functionalized and converted into components and parts for a wide range of applications. The institute has extensive experience in the development of specifically adapted thick-film pastes and inks and their processing in multilayer processes.