Tape Casting

Tape casting and coating is a highly productive technology, which allows the production of large-scale flexible tapes from functional materials in roll-to-roll processes, efficiently and at moderate cost. Fraunhofer IKTS has more than 70 years of experience in the field of ceramic and glass ceramic tapes.

The expert knowledge provided by Fraunhofer IKTS covers the development of slurries and processes for the manufacture of tapes, as well as their transfer into pre-series and small-series products. Many innovative products and developments are based on tape technology. They include classic ceramic microsystem technology, battery research, filtration and gas separation. Furthermore, various specific applications are available, such as transparent tapes for optical and analytical applications, bonding tapes for the production of pure ceramic composites as well as metal powder tapes for magnetic and electrocaloric applications.

Processing functional ceramic powders in a tape casting process is a challenging task. Our state-of-the-art tape casting center produces tapes with the most varied features and properties (e.g. LTCC, HTCC, defined porosity, UV-curing, transparent, permanent magnetic) according to the customer's requirements. The casting and coating machines enable the development and sample production of tapes with 50 µm to 1.5 mm thickness. The IKTS equipment is also available for companies for own test runs.

By using innovative printing processes and interconnection and packaging solutions, tapes can be functionalized and transferred into components and parts for diverse applications. We can support at these issues by our extensive experience in the development of specifically adapted thick-film pastes and inks, including their processing in the multilayer process.