PRESS RELEASE. K 2016: 20th International Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber WACKER Presents New Applications for Silicone Films.

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1 Wacker Chemie AG Hanns-Seidel-Platz München, Germany PRESS RELEASE Number 31 K 2016: 20th International Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber WACKER Presents New Applications for Silicone Films Munich, June 28, 2016 At the K2016 Trade Fair for Rubber and Plastics, WACKER, the Munich-based chemical company, will be showcasing new applications for ELASTOSIL Film. These ultra thin, high precision silicone films are currently paving the way for the development of new sensors and actuators in robotics as well as in medical and lifestyle sectors. Applications range from pumps, switches, electrical relays and membranes to sensors in high-tech textiles. K 2016 takes place in Düsseldorf, Germany, from October 19 to 26. ELASTOSIL Film premiered at the K trade show three years ago. The launch generated remarkable and ongoing interest. Since the K debut, WACKER evaluated more than 450 inquiries from potential customers. In the meantime, several promising projects have materialized. At this year s K show, WACKER will present a selection of fascinating applications. The focus will be on wearable sensors, an application which leverages the electroactive properties of silicone rubber. The ultrathin film is embedded between two conductive electrodes made of silicones filled with carbon black. Together, the layers form a flexible capacitor that can store electric charge. If the silicone

2 June 28, 2016 Press Release No. 31 Page 2 of 5 capacitor is stretched mechanically for example due to movement its capacitance also changes. Subtle nuances of such capacitance changes can be measured and thus used for sensory purposes in textiles, for example to capture and display body movements. ELASTOSIL Film is made without the use of solvents and manufactured under cleanroom conditions to eliminate any impurities. The patented production process yields continuous films which are extremely thin and homogenous. Film thicknesses down to 20 µm are available. These and several other properties typical of silicone rubber enable technical applications which, up to now, were difficult to realize on an industrial scale. Due to its dielectric properties, ELASTOSIL Film like all silicone rubbers is an electroactive polymer. Silicone films are thereby able to respond to electrical stimulation under certain circumstances. If the upper and lower surfaces of the film are coated with a stretchable, electrically conductive material, the layers can be used like a capacitor. When a DC voltage is applied, the electrodes are attracted to each other electrostatically and compress the soft film material. The layer of elastomer material becomes thinner and spreads out in the plane. The capacitor becomes flatter and wider overall. When the capacitor is discharged, the elasticity of the film causes it to return to its original shape. This property makes silicone films especially interesting for the following key electroactive technologies:

3 June 28, 2016 Press Release No. 31 Page 3 of 5 Sensors: Sensors made of ELASTOSIL Film enable the development of motion-capture clothing and sensor gloves, socalled wearables. They are increasingly in demand in sectors such as consumer electronics, healthcare, sports, rehab, leisure and wellness. Actuators: ELASTOSIL Film creates new possibilities for manufacturers of actuators. In this case, electrical power is converted into mechanical movement, following the same electroactive principle. The entire process is silent and can be repeated as often as desired. This can be used to develop a wide array of novel products and technologies, such as pumps, switches, electrical relays, valves, artificial muscles, grippers or even loudspeakers. Generators: A pile of several hundred stacks of flexible capacitors consisting of dielectric silicone films can be used to transform movement into electrical power. Thus, silicone films enable novel power generators. Silicone films can also add value to membrane technologies. They hold back water, but grant free passage to water vapor and certain gases. This gas permeability is highly selective: carbon dioxide, oxygen and water vapor pass through the silicone layer much faster than nitrogen. ELASTOSIL Film could therefore serve as a membrane for removing a specific gas, such as carbon dioxide. Visit WACKER at K 2016 in Hall 6, Booth A10.

4 June 28, 2016 Press Release No. 31 Page 4 of 5 At the K 2016 Trade Fair for Rubber and Plastics, WACKER will present new applications for ELASTOSIL Film. Due to their dielectric properties, precision silicone films can be used in novel sensors, actuators and generators. The ultrathin films are produced in Burghausen under cleanroom conditions. (Photo: Wacker Chemie AG) The graphic shows how wearables made of ELASTOSIL Film work. Limb movement stretches and releases the wearable sensor and causes subtle changes in capacitance. These can be measured even as fine nuances and used for sensory purposes in textiles, for example to display body movements. Wearable sensors open up new possibilities for virtual motion capture for therapy and training purposes. (Photo: Wacker Chemie AG)

5 June 28, 2016 Press Release No. 31 Page 5 of 5 Note: You can download these photos at: releases For further information, please contact: Wacker Chemie AG Media Relations and Information Florian Degenhart Tel florian.degenhart@wacker.com follow us on: The company in brief: WACKER is a globally active chemical company with some 17,000 employees and annual sales of around 5.30 billion (2015). WACKER has a global network of 25 production sites, 22 technical competence centers and 50 sales offices. WACKER SILICONES Silicone fluids, emulsions, rubber and resins; silanes; pyrogenic silicas; thermoplastic silicone elastomers WACKER POLYMERS Polyvinyl acetate and vinyl acetate copolymers in the form of dispersible polymer powders, dispersions, solid resins and solutions WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS Biotech products such as cyclodextrins, cysteine and biologics, as well as fine chemicals and PVAc solid resins WACKER POLYSILICON Polysilicon for the semiconductor and photovoltaics industries Siltronic Hyperpure silicon wafers and monocrystals for semiconductor components