Roll-to-roll (R2R) processes, in which films, textiles, flat membranes, metal foils and ultra-thin glass, for example, are functionalized, play an important role in numerous industrial processes.
In the R2RNet network founded on 10 June 2020, 21 European partners from industry, research institutions and universities are pooling their expertise in the continuous functionalization of surfaces in roll-to-roll processes. The network was initiated by the Fraunhofer Institutes for Applied Polymer Research IAP and for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB.
R2R technologies enable continuous surface functionalization even of large substrates and thus offer high productivity at comparatively low costs. For example, production using roll-to-roll functionalization of flexible substrates can be more than ten times cheaper than with the treatment of individual films or sheets. However, the relatively high costs of R2R systems, limited access to know-how and high production volumes represent a relatively high entry threshold for an initial market entry with new products.
