Page 60 - Plastics News January 2023

station or relay station may resolve ing technology RML (R) (*2). 3. Effect demonstration experiment
the deterioration, but such a solution 2. Product outline Using the simulation technology of
involves a high additional investment, DOCOMO Innovations, Inc., SEKI-
and a more reasonable cost solution This film consists of a metamaterial SUI verified the effects of the product
was demanded. layer that has a high-frequency ra-
dio wave reflection structure, highly at the planning stage and confirmed
While millimeter wave reflection transparent adhesive, special coating the effects indoors in the Solution
plates, which have a metamaterial that protects the film surface, and a Co-creation Lab of MIRAIT Corpo-
copper pattern processed on the special adhesive layer. When placed ration headquartered in Tokyo. The
printed circuit board, have been de- on a surface such as a wall or ceil- demonstration experiment con-
veloped as a possible measure for ing, the film reflects radio waves, firmed that a sheet of reflection film
solving such a challenge, SEKISUI di- enabling them to reach shielded ar- placed 30 meters away from the base
rected attention to transparent and eas. This technology can improve a station properly controls the reflec-
flexible radio wave reflection film that communications environment at a tion of radio waves, thus improving
would have a metamaterial structure lower cost and in a shorter period of the communications infrastructure
and would not spoil the landscape. time, compared with the installation across a wide area.
Believing that it would be able to of a base station or relay station. The 4. Future plans
provide a solution by incorporating film, which is transparent and flexible
its film and optical adhesive material and does not require a power con- Using the advantages of transparency,
technologies into such a transparent, nection, can be installed anywhere, flexibility, light weight and operation
flexible plate, SEKISUI has been com- on a surface of whatever shape, without power connection, SEKI-
mitted to research and development without spoiling the appearance of a SUI plans to distribute the product
efforts. place where it is installed. for use in office buildings, factories,
shopping malls, medical and care fa-
The company has realized a trans- Advantage cilities, various sports facilities, farms,
parent and flexible type of high-fre- ranches, smart cities, underground
quency radio wave reflection film, (1) Flexible film that reflects ra- shopping streets, rolling stock and
which can be used for not only mil- dio waves of Sub-6 GHz to millim- roadway infrastructure while explor-
limeter wave ranges but also a wide eter wave ranges. ing other applications, including tem-
band ranging from 2 GHz to 60 GHz (2) Transparent material that porary or emergency sites providing
while featuring a total luminous does not spoil the landscape, wheth- first-aid services, construction sites,
transmittance of 95% by integrating er it is installed indoors or outdoors. and camping areas. SEKISUI plans to
SEKISUI's technologies with Meta's (3) Easy installation without the start distributing sample products in
world-leading nano-patterned trans- need of power connection. Improves fiscal 2022, aiming to achieve a sales
parent metamaterial technology NA- communications infrastructure any- target of 6 billion yen by fiscal 2026.
NOWEB (R) (*1) and its manufactur- where.

60 PLASTICS NEWS January 2023