Formation and Gas Barrier Characteristics of Polysilazane-Derived Silica Coatings Formed by Excimer Light Irradiation on PET Films with Vacuum Evaporated Silica Coatings

摘要

The effects of excimer light irradiation on polysilazane coatings formed on PET films with vacuum-evaporated SiO2 coatings and the effects of these coatings on gas barrier characteristics have been investigated. The temperature during light irradiation has a large effect on the coating’s molecular structure and gas barrier characteristics. When irradiation was performed at 100℃, the polysilazane coating transformed into a silica coating, and a compact silica coating at a much lower temperature than with heat treatment alone was produced. Surface irregularities in the vapor-deposited silica coating were smoothed out by the formation of a polysilazane coating, which was transformed into a compact silica coating when irradiated with light, resulting in a significant improvement in the gas barrier characteristics. The water vapor permeability of the thin coating irradiated with excimer light at 100℃ showed only 0.04 g/m2?day (40℃, 90% RH). According to the results of investigation of temperature variation of water-vapor permeability, it is inferred that the developed film has an excellent gas barrier value, namely, 4.90 × 10–4 g/m2?day at 25℃. This gas barrier coated PET film is transparent and flexible, and can be used in the fabrication of flexible electronics. Also, the proposed fabrication method effectively provides a simple low-cost and low-temperature fabrication technique without the need for high vacuum facility.