As a new generation of mobile communication technology, 5G networks will meet the communication needs from end users and economic development after 2020.
With the support of this technology, the interconnection of everything including mobile phones, tablets, automobiles, home appliances and factory production facilities will be realized, forming the Internet of Things (IoT).
At the same time, 5G will become the foundation for building a mobile, connected society and a key technology for realizing digitalization in various areas of life and economy.
In the 5G era, the demand for equipment such as base stations and active antennas will increase significantly. To this end, Covestro is committed to developing a series of innovative sustainable materials solutions to help build intelligent infrastructure.
Among them, including outdoor low temperature impact technology based on Makrolon®, Byblom®, Membranyl®, Yaba® series materials, antenna shell weight reduction technology, RF signal transmission research, thermal management solutions, electronic integration solutions, consumption After recycling materials.
Covestro is collaborating with Deutsche Telekom and the Umeå Institute of Design in Sweden on sensor technology and digital communication environments.
In the Asia-Pacific region, Covestro collaborates with Southeast University of China to study the optimization of RF signal penetration schemes. Covestro will showcase some of these prototype designs at the 2019 International Plastics and Rubber Show (K Show).
The 5G project is part of Covestro's comprehensive digital strategy. Through this project, the company will work with partners to contribute to the realization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 9 (Innovation and Infrastructure) and Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities).
New telecommunications infrastructure
Polycarbonate and its mixtures have been widely used in electronic and electrical fields because of their excellent properties, and they can also be the ideal material for 5G technology.
Fabian Grote, a core member of Covestro's collaboration with the Umea School of Design and Deutsche Telekom, explained:
"Polycarbonate is rigid, lightweight, radio frequency passable, and suitable for injection molding." Some of these specifications also show good weather resistance or thermal conductivity, or are suitable for two-component injection molding and laser direct Forming (LDS).
With the further deployment of 5G networks, the layout of antenna base stations will become increasingly dense.
In this regard, Covestro is cooperating with students from Meowo School of Design and Deutsche Telekom to seamlessly integrate these technical facilities into future urban application scenarios.
One of the tasks of the project is to carry out color matching and surface structure processing, and to shape the base station with "face value", in order to increase public acceptance of network expansion. Dusseldorf, Germany is a pilot city for the project.
Flexible antenna design
In this project, Covestro will enter this market by using its branded product line in a hypothetical scenario. The actual product launched is an outer sheath applied to a third-party manufactured antenna.
The product can be embedded or projected according to the environment and population density to match the specific environment. In this way, the functions of technical facilities will be maximized, which not only meets the needs of technology, but also ensures that products can be better integrated into or strengthen the construction of 5G cities.
"At K 2019, we will show a series of technology and design prototypes for small base stations in the frequency range between 3.5GHz and 28GHz," Grote said.
When 5G technology develops to higher frequencies, such as the millimeter wave band, signal penetration will become a design challenge.
Nan Nan, director of global electronics marketing at Covestro's Polycarbonate Business Unit, said: "We can help customers improve design freedom while ensuring 5G data transmission performance. We can operate in a wide range of up to 110GHz under various environmental conditions State-of-the-art testing, which can be done at our Asia Pacific Innovation Center in Shanghai. "
Develops new thin film solution for 5G smartphones
The high transmission rate of 5G technology will also have a significant impact on the design of smartphones. As antennas using 5G technology require more space, the metal materials currently used in mobile phone back covers will be replaced by ceramics, glass or plastic.
With Covestro's Mokfu® SR multilayer co-extruded film solution, combined with a new manufacturing process, the back cover of the mobile phone is produced with a glass-like texture, but is not fragile.
Hongsi Zhao, Director of Covestro Special Films Greater China explained: "Our film solutions can not only meet the radio high-frequency transmission requirements of millimeter wavelengths, but also achieve complex 3D modeling designs."
This 3D transparent film suitable for 5G mobile phones is specially designed to provide mobile phone brands with greater design freedom. Mobile phone manufacturers can use decorative technologies such as UV nanoimprinting and non-conductive vacuum coating (NCVM) to achieve Stylish mobile phone back cover effect.
At present, more than 50% of China's mobile phone market is beginning to adopt this multilayer PC / PMMA co-extruded film solution, which indicates a bright future for the 5G era.