Lens, optical parts, industrial parts, medical barrier sheet and packaging, film and bottle
APEL™
Cyclic olefin copolymer
A multifunctional transparent resin (cyclo olefin copolymer) developed independently by Mitsui Chemicals
Transparent High refractive index, low birefringence Stable dimensions Resistant to chemicals Resistant to heat; stiff Superior moldability Moisture-proof
Applications detail
Applications
Characteristics
- Basic information
- Details of Characteristics
- Details of applications
Summary
APEL™ is a cyclo olefin copolymer (COC) that integrates the performance of polyolefin resins and that of amorphous resins. With the highest refractive index among the amorphous polyolefins, APEL™ cyclo olefin copolymer is low in optical anisotropy and essentially low in birefringence. This makes it ideal for optical plastic lenses. With excellent moisture-proof properties, resistance to chemicals and non-attachment characteristics, APEL™ cyclo olefin copolymer is also used for medical packaging material. Its many functions and superior characteristics create new potential for transparent materials.
Optical characteristics
With its high refractive index and low birefringence, APEL™ cyclo olefin copolymer is ideal for high-transparency optical plastic lenses.
Camera lens unit for mobile phones
Pickup lens unit for optical disk
Extrusion molding sheets
Injection molding plates
Moisture-proofness
With the lowest moisture permeability coefficient among transparent resins, APEL™ cyclo olefin copolymer is perfect for moisture-proof containers and films.
Resistance to chemicals
APEL™ cyclo olefin copolymer is so chemically stable that it exhibits a high level of resistance to acids, alkalis and polar solvents.
Electrical characteristics
APEL™ cyclo olefin copolymer has superior electrical characteristics that are inherent to polyolefins. It also excels in high frequency characteristics.
Stable dimensions
Amorphous qualities give APEL™ cyclo olefin copolymer high levels of dimensional accuracy and freedom from dimensional variation due to water absorption.
Outstanding resistance to heat
As part of its mechanical properties, APEL™ cyclo olefin copolymer is low in temperature dependency. It is possible to freely control its heat resistance by changing the copolymerization ratio between ethylene and cyclo olefin.
Moldability
APEL™ cyclo olefin copolymer’s fluidity can be freely controlled by adjusting its molecular weight. This enables enhanced fluidity.
Optical characteristics
Exhibiting an extraordinarily low level of birefringence, it also has a higher refractive index than polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).
Comparison in light transmittance
Comparison of Stress Optical coefficient
Comparison of resins for optical applications in terms of characteristics
The low level of birefringence, high refractive index and transparency are derived from a molecular structure that has both stiff main chains and bulky side chains. With their high density, the stiff main chains exhibit a high refractive index, while the bulky side chains lead to transparency due to their amorphous quality. The molecule itself has poor anisotropy that results in a low level of birefringence.
Comparison of refractive index and Abbe number
APEL™ has a higher refractive index than PMMA, but their Abbe number is almost equivalent.
Dependence of the refractive index on wavelength and temperature
Moisture-proof characteristics
With the lowest moisture permeability coefficient among the transparent resins, it is perfect for moisture-proof bottles and PTP sheets.
Comparison with polypropylene (PP) in terms of moisture-proofness
APEL™ displays outstanding moisture-proof properties.
Comparison of resins in terms of moisture-proofness
Resistance to chemicals
It is highly resistant to acids, alkalis and polar solvents. This property is essential for cells for analysis and PTP sheets.
Comparison of transparent resins in terms of resistance to chemicals
○ : Resistant and compatible △ : Attention required × : Not resistant and compatible
Heat resistant stiffness
Given its mechanical characteristics, its temperature dependence is so low that it retains a high level of stiffness even at high temperatures.
Storage elastic modulus (in Pa)
Gas barrier properties
It is superior to polyethylene and polypropylene in terms of gas barrier properties.
Lineup of grades
Physical properties table
Optical applications
APEL™ is ideal for optical plastic lenses that need to have a low level of birefringence, a high refractive index, transparency and high dimensional accuracy.
- Image pickup lenses for mobile phones
- Image pickup lenses for digital cameras
- Pickup lenses for optical disks
- F-theta (fθ) lenses for laser beam printers
- Lenses for projectors
Medical applications
APEL™ is used in PTP sheets that need to be highly resistant to moisture. Enabling gamma-ray sterilization and autoclave sterilization, it has also been adopted for cell containers for analysis, as they must be resistant to chemicals and have non-attachment characteristics.
- PTP sheets for pills
- Pre-filled syringes
- Bottles for medicine
- Bottles for cosmetics
- Cells for analysis
Packaging applications
APEL™ is perfect for packaging films and other applications that need to be tearable and shrinkable.
- Shrink tubes and shrink films
- Easy-cut films for food packages
Other applications
APEL™ is used for precision-formed products, which benefit from its low water absorption properties and chemical resistance.
- Electrical and electronic components
- Containers for transport of electronic components
- Pump components
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