Application of poly(ethylene naphthalate) films to electrical and audio-visual uses in Japan

The introduction and development of biaxially-oriented poly(ethylene naphthalate) film (PEN film) in Japan has been compared with the biaxially-oriented poly(ethylene terephthalate) film (the PET film), which is usually mass-produced for electrical and audio-visual uses. Its physical, mechanical, electrical, thermal, chemical, optical and surface properties and radiation resistance were reviewed and its superiority over the PET film, such as a higher Young´s modulus, a higher Tc, higher long-term heat-resistance, a smaller thermal shrinkage coefficient, smaller oligomer extraction, better hydrolysis resistance, better radiation resistance and a lower surface friction coefficient were illustrated. Taking advantage of these excellent properties, its practical applications to electrical and electronic, audio-visual and miscellaneous uses in Japan were exemplified and a new direction for its future development and application has been suggested.