How To Make Switchable Pdlc Film?

A switchable PDLC film is an excellent and ideal choice to maintain comfortable indoor environment and lighting, without the use of expensive and complicated air conditioning and electrical lighting system. It is also useful to maintain privacy in the selected area.

Also known as ‘smart switchable film, the switchable PDLC film is designed to control the light and heat enter the room. It is a useful alternative for heavy laminated glass or Venetian blinds.

 

What do you need to make Switchable PDLC Film?

There are three main components required to make any switchable PDLC film, these are:

• Clear PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) film – Used to protect and enclose the PDLC solution and allows maximum transparency.
• ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) film – This film is around 350 nm thick and provides the conductive capacity to the structure. It allows safe passage of electrical current, apart from providing efficient transparency.
• PDLC (Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal) core – This 100 micron-thick core consists of micro-droplets of liquid crystal that is suspended in a polymer. This material is designed to react to electrical current passes from the ITO coated film covering it.

Mechanism of Switchable PDLC Film?

The switchable film is a five layer film; where the PDLC liquid is in the center of other layers. The PDLC solution is like a sandwich between the transparent and conductive ITO film, which is covered by few micron thick PET sheets. The PDLC in the film consists of microscopic droplets of liquid crystal, which are suspended in a polymer. In its natural state, without the electrical current, the PDLC molecules are arranged in a random direction to refract and reflect light away from it, thus giving a frosted look to it.

However, when an electrical current applied to the PDLC film, the liquid crystal micro-droplets became polarized and arranged in the same direction. That allows the light to penetrate cleanly and makes the glass completely transparent. It does not block out the light entirely but allows around 33% of the light to give comfortable ambient lighting within.

To achieve consistent and effective results, Techinstro employs the highest standards for Switchable PDLC film manufacturing.