Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Plastic Circuits Designed To Enable Tough, Green Computers

Posted by timothy on from the I-believe-the-plastics-are-the-future dept.

DanS writes "Computerworld has an article about two Australian engineers who have invented 'Circuits in Plastic' technology. CIP designs aim to be more environmentally friendly than traditional circuits as they can be made from recycled plastic, don't contain any hazardous substances, and since packaging is part of the base circuit board, there is no need for additional packaging material. As an added bonus, different 3D shaped circuits can be made using CIP, which are also waterproof. No more ruining cell phones by getting them wet! The hope is that the technology will reduce the amount of toxic electronic waste in landfills, as even with lead-free technology, etching of existing printed circuit boards (and disposal of the chemicals) is a significant issue during manufacturing."

2 of 67 comments (clear)

  1. When can I start placing orders? by Majik+Sheff · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'd love to start using this tech in my prototypes. The big question of course is how this stuff compares to an equivalently functional traditional PCB in price.

    Another question that comes to mind has to do with the well established design principles used in RF level circuits. Parasitic capacitance calculations and all of the nastiness that goes along with it will become even more like black magic now that it has crossed into the third dimension.

    --
    Women are like electronics: you don't know how damaged they are until you try to turn them on.
  2. Re:switching is going to be a real bitch by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://www.griffith.edu.au/engineering-information-technology/centre-wireless-monitoring-applications/research/circuits-in-plastic/cost-comparisons

     

    Production costs â" Environmental Sensor $ per board 1000 units 10000 units
    Standard PCB $10.12 $9.27
    Lead-Free PCB $10.74 $9.90
    Circuits in Plastic $9.82* $7.39*
    Production costs â" Strain gauge circuit. $ per board 1000 units 10000 units
    Standard PCB $18.00 $$13.00
    Lead-Free PCB $19.10 $13.88
    Circuits in Plastic $13.74* $9.18*

    Seems to be cheaper, but seeing as this is the site belonging to the makers I'll give it a good amount of doubt for now.

    Further, I'm not entirely sure how long these circuits can last? And also how they handle in high temperatures.

    I was confused exactly how this would conduct but apparently it's more or less the same as normal PCBs.

    All in all, interesting new tech that's a big step in the right direction.