Plastronics. Electronics Functionnalisation of Plastic Parts

At the crossroads of plastics processing and electronics, plastronics actually covers a much broader field. More than just a technology for integrating electrical and electronic functions into the surface or interior of 3D plastic parts, it's more a discipline requiring the cooperation of several complementary trades: plastics processing, mechanics, chemistry, electronics, software, etc.

Plastronics is attracting growing interest from manufacturers seeking to make plastic parts more functional, miniaturize them, improve their ergonomics and cut costs, and is finding applications in all sectors of activity: automotive, medical, telecommunications, Internet of Things, aeronautics, and more. From high-volume consumer applications such as smartphone antennas, to high-value-added products for the defense and space industries, the diversity of plastronics processes enables us to meet a wide range of industrial requirements. Without seeking to replace standard electronics technologies, they offer complementary solutions to overcome their limitations.

Faced with the diversity of plastron technologies and their individual specificities, engineers can quickly run out of reference points. What do plastron technologies offer, and what characteristics distinguish them from one another? What criteria should be used to choose one technology over another? What are the main design rules associated with the different technologies? The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the field of plastronics, with particular emphasis on the diversity of the technologies involved. A more detailed description is given for a selection of them (bi-material injection molding, Laser Direct Structuring and In-Mould Electronics). Cross-cutting issues relating to the design and reliability of plastronic products are dealt with in the final section of the article.