Integral Technologies Inc. believes its highly conductive ElectriPlast will become the premier material for next-generation wireless antennas, according to a presentation by Thomas Aisenbrey at NPE 2006, held June 19-23 in Chicago.
``Each pellet contains all of the ingredients needed for a finished product'' and is moldable to any shape, according to Aisenbrey, chief technology officer and general manager of Integral Technologies in Bellingham, Wash.
The U.S. Patent Office has issued 11 ElectriPlast patents, has allowed five others and is reviewing 93 applications.
Versions of homogeneously blended ElectriPlast contain micron-conducting doping elements, any of more than 15,000 base resins, time-release features and dispersion additives.
Integral was incorporated in 1996 and focuses on the ElectriPlast technology.
PlasTenna ``acts as a highly conductive radio-frequency sponge - absorbing, transmitting and allowing electrical energy waves to excite electrons into meaningful currents with maximum efficiency,'' he said.
During the show, Aisenbrey demonstrated the technology by directing a remote control car with the antenna embedded in a roll bar instead of a whip, and walkie-talkies minus the traditional unwieldy antennas.
Other prototypes included a light-emitting-diode sign with ElectriPlast circuitry, a radio enclosure for an in-dash automotive application, connector bodies, acoustic-dampened headsets, and many electronic devices. Integral showed the LED sign initially during Lightfair 2006 in Las Vegas, May 30-June 1.
ElectriPlast is useful in manufacturing cable and wire. ``For most products, the average weight is 40 percent less than aluminum and 80 percent less than copper,'' Aisenbrey said. ElectriPlast ``can mimic electrically any metal on the planet.''
ElectriPlast's thermal conductivity exceeds that of other plastics.
Integral views technology licensing as its initial revenue source and intends to rely on third parties for manufacturing.
In March, the firm reached a patent license agreement with Heatron Inc. of Leavenworth, Kan., for applications in the heating and LED markets.
Integral is now pursuing agreements with various manufacturers.
Popular Science magazine included ElectriPlast in its ``Best of What's New'' list for 2004.
The company views 2006 as its go-to-market year.
Principal owners are William Robinson, Integral's chairman and chief executive officer, and William Ince, chief financial officer.