Paper-like polymer for circuits in space
Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have received funding from NASA to evaluate liquid crystal polymer for electronics applications in space.

Researchers at the
have received funding from
to evaluate liquid crystal polymer (LCP) for electronics applications in space.
The ultra-thin, paper-like plastic can incorporate a variety of electronic circuits, yet it moulds to any shape and appears to perform well in the extreme temperatures and intense radiation of space.
George E. Ponchak, a senior research engineer at NASA’s
John Papapolymerou, a professor in the Georgia Tech School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, said that LCP’s unique structure allows it to be heat resistant, flexible and strong while also possessing excellent electrical performance. It is an aromatic crystal polyester comprised of benzene rings, acetyloxy polymers, and carboxyl groups.
The material can serve as a highly efficient substrate for attaching semiconductor chips, as well as the backplane that connects those chips together, said Papapolymerou. Even micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) devices could be embedded on LCP, along with integrated circuits.
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