Performance Materials Audited

Merck is the undisputed market and technology leader in liquid crystals, which are primarily used in televisions and mobile communication applications. We are also one of the leading suppliers of functional and decorative effect pigments. Our high-tech materials and solutions are used by customers from the consumer electronics, lighting, printing technology, plastics applications, and cosmetics industries. Within Performance Materials, Merck is also focusing on the growth dynamics of emerging markets.

Liquid Crystals

In addition to developing new liquid crystal mixtures and individual LC substances to further develop products for television and mobile applications, the Liquid Crystals business unit is also focusing on materials that will enable information to be presented in true 3D, using technologies such as holographic displays. The division is furthermore working on the development of technologies for liquid crystal displays that will provide a realistic 3D viewing experience without the glasses required by current 3D televisions. In 2013, Merck developed an initial prototype of this new generation of televisions. All research and development activities pertaining to the liquid crystals of tomorrow have been consolidated under the LC2021 initiative.

Merck is also developing liquid crystals for entirely new applications. Liquid crystals can be used in items such as smart windows to regulate the transmission of light and heat through building facades. Merck is working together with architects and glass manufacturers on the windows of the future. Besides remote control features, liquid crystals provide flexibility in selecting the color as well as integrating windows into existing facades, and they also help save energy. Whether installing windows in new buildings or replacing old windows, liquid crystals offer a sustainable, innovative solution for the future.

OLEDs

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are used in innovative lighting applications and display technologies. They provide brilliant colors and sharp images from any viewing angle; they have a long lifespan and are highly energy efficient. In addition, OLEDs enable round or flexible displays, making them perfect for use in the latest technical applications. One such example is the smartwatch, a wristwatch that provides additional computer functionality along with Internet access.

The Merck product line for these types of applications is called livilux®. Merck has developed a strong portfolio of worldwide patents, based on more than ten years of experience.

Development partnerships with customers are a way of testing new technologies and making them market-ready. For instance, with printer manufacturer Seiko Epson, the Performance Materials division has co-developed a technology that can be used to print OLED displays. While Merck contributed its expertise in vacuum research and ink development to the collaboration, Seiko Epson contributed its expertise in print heads featuring micro piezo inkjet technology. This jointly developed technology offers the advantage of lower costs and higher material efficiency since, in contrast to vapor-deposited OLED displays, printed OLED displays are produced at room temperature in a non-toxic atmosphere. In addition, this technique only deposits material in the areas where diodes are actually located.

High-quality pigments and functional materials

This broad term stands for high-quality decorative effect pigments and functional materials used in applications such as laser marking, conductive coatings, and heat-reflective glazing for greenhouses.

The Meoxal® brand is the latest development in effect pigments. These pigments captivate with their brilliant color saturation and exceptional performance, thanks to their innovative layer technology and the use of aluminum flakes as substrate. They are highly suitable for a multitude of high-performance applications, especially for automotive and plastic coatings. The first pigments in the new brand family – Meoxal® Wahiba Orange and Taklamakan Gold – were launched in the second quarter of 2013. The first examples of their practical application were showcased at the 2013 International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt am Main.

The portfolio also includes cosmetic actives. For instance, 2013 saw the launch of RonaCare® Poppy SE, the innovative skin-firming product made from natural poppy seed extract. Besides skin-firming properties, skin protection and color adaptation are also topics of focus. Sun-tanned skin remains an ideal of beauty in western societies. To meet this need, Merck has developed RonaCare® Bronzyl™, which stimulates the production of melanin, the skin’s natural tanning process. The opposite effect can be achieved with RonaCare® Pristine Bright™. This product supports a light skin tone, which is highly esteemed particularly in Asian cultures.