3M™ Transparent Conductor Film
- 3M ID B5005340001
Most wireless data originates or terminates indoors. From restaurants to lobbies, stadiums to offices, antennas that blend in with their surroundings can help enable high-speed 5G networking.
Typical properties
Details
Highlights
- High transparency (>80% open area)
- Proprietary copper grid conductive layer
- Implemented in low-profile antennas achieving VSWR, PIM and gain requirements that are typical for non-transparent antennas
- Flexible PET substrate
- High efficiency (<0.05 ohms per square sheet resistance)
- High power capability (up to 50W)
- Grid performance similar to solid copper
- High adhesion, which allows for a small bend radius
- Darkening treatment for all copper surfaces
3M™ Transparent Conductor Film is a thin, transparent conductive film equipped with a copper grid as the conductive layer. With high light transmittance, low sheet resistance and excellent flexibility, this film has been demonstrated in inconspicuous sub-6GHz antenna products for indoor and outdoor use. This conductive transparent film from 3M helps enable high-power designs with low surface electrical resistance. Its flexible PET substrate allows for application over surfaces or lamination to a rigid support (e.g., a window). It is available as a post-patterned sheet format using customer-supplied antenna pattern design.
Clear and comparable performance
In lab and real-world tests versus a solid-plated-copper reference antenna, antennas using 3M™ Transparent Conductor Film demonstrated strong performance across a range of frequency bands. Contact 3M for detailed testing data.
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Return loss
Return loss testing found that antennas built with 3M™ Transparent Conductor Film had very similar return loss performance to solid-copper-plated antennas.
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Wi-Fi 6 field trial
Antenna performance using 3M™ Transparent Conductor Film was compared with copper across the 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz frequency bands. Across 23 test sites at a range of distances and line-of-sight conditions, the antenna demonstrated comparable signal strength.
Resources
Related products
| Application | DAS, Small Cell, Inventory Management, Fleet Management, Infrared Sensors, Neutral Host, CPE/Repeater Antennas, Public Safety | |
| Application Type | In-building Wireless, Outdoor Wireless, IoT |
Frequently asked questions
Historically, there have been several major challenges to creating transparent antennas. First, many technologies cannot support adequate power levels. Since standard PIM testing is performed at 2 x 43 dBm, antennas unable to tolerate this level of power are difficult to characterize for PIM. Second, some conductive film technologies inherently produce a high level of PIM. Third, transparent antenna technologies like ITO cannot provide the high conductivity required for high-gain antennas without becoming yellowed and subject to cracking. 3M analyzed four major technologies for making transparent antennas and concluded that a "metal mesh" approach was the solution that best enabled high power levels and high conductivity within acceptable levels of PIM and without yellowing and cracking.
3M™ Transparent Conductor Film is a thin, transparent conductive film equipped with a copper grid as the conductive layer. 3M™ Transparent Conductor Film Assembly includes 3M™ Transparent Conductor Film laminated to a solid substrate. Depending on the application, either may be appropriate as an antenna component.
Multiple sample formats of 3M™ Transparent Conductor Film are available depending on the particular application. 3M can also supply samples of 3M™ Transparent Conductor Film in a 3M-designed antenna to enable visual, mechanical or thermal testing. Please visit 3M.com/transparentantenna and tell us a bit about your project so our team can understand your application and prepare a sampling plan. Allow a minimum of 2-4 weeks for review and processing.
