The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd

Methods and compositions for applying metallic or alloy layers to a substrate, or modifying the surface of an alloy, to impart specific functional properties such as corrosion resistance, wear resistance, electrical insulation, or improved adhesion, without altering the bulk properties significantly.

Composite materials where a metallic matrix is reinforced with a second phase (e.g., ceramic particles, carbon nanotubes, diamond grains) to significantly enhance properties like hardness, wear resistance, stiffness, or strength, often used in cutting tools, wear parts, or structural applications.

Mixtures of liquid crystal compounds and other additives, such as monomers or carbon black, designed to achieve specific optical, electrical, or physical properties for use in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) or other electro-optical devices.

Innovations in backlight units, optical films, and light management structures to enhance display performance, uniformity, viewing experience, or specific functionalities like touch.

Methods and processes for fabricating ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), including preform creation, infiltration techniques, and densification to form complex shapes with enhanced properties.

Techniques for combining multiple materials or layers, often with specialized surface treatments, coatings, or assembly methods, to create functional or aesthetically enhanced plastic articles, including consumer goods and encapsulated electronics.

Development and processing of metal powders with specific magnetic properties, including soft magnetic alloys, permanent magnet materials, and insulated powders for electronic components, often involving precise control of particle size, morphology, and composition.

Techniques for driving electrophoretic displays, including managing remnant voltage, optimizing particle movement, and specific addressing pulse schemes to improve optical quality and update speed.

Aluminum-based alloys developed for applications requiring low density combined with high strength, ductility, and formability, often involving specific alloying elements (e.g., Li, Mg, Si, Mn) and controlled aging or thermomechanical treatments.

Polymer compositions incorporating inorganic or organic filler materials to impart specific functional properties such as thermal conductivity, flame retardancy, electrical conductivity, or enhanced mechanical strength and dimensional stability.

Development and optimization of organic chemical compounds and their structures, including guest-host systems and metal complexes, used within the emission layer to achieve specific light emission characteristics such as color, efficiency, and operational lifetime.

Additives or compositions specifically formulated for surface application or modification to impart protective, decorative, or specialized functional properties to polymer products.

Application of protective layers to improve the durability and longevity of components by enhancing resistance to wear, oxidation, or chemical degradation in demanding operational environments.

Techniques for building three-dimensional metal objects layer-by-layer using metal powders, including powder bed fusion, binder jetting, and directed energy deposition. This theme encompasses process mechanics, equipment design, and operational control for AM systems.

Ceramic materials and components engineered for specific functional applications, such as electronics, energy storage, wear resistance, or high-temperature heating elements.

Development and application of polymer compositions designed for reprocessability, recyclability, or incorporating sustainable additives, often featuring reversible bonds or bio-based components.

Steel alloys designed to exhibit superior mechanical strength, toughness, and/or resistance to degradation at elevated temperatures, often achieved through precise control of alloying elements, microstructure (e.g., ferrite, martensite, bainite, retained austenite), and thermomechanical processing.

Methods and systems for real-time monitoring and control of coating processes or chamber cleaning, utilizing sensor data (e.g., thermal, pressure, optical) and predictive models to ensure quality and optimize efficiency.

Production of materials where properties vary continuously or discontinuously through the volume, often achieved by combining different powders or applying specialized coatings like thermal sprays to enhance surface hardness, wear resistance, or thermal properties.

Methods and equipment for continuously shaping plastic materials by forcing them through a die, often involving screw extruders, heating elements, and downstream calibration.

Techniques and systems utilizing laser beams for precise material modification, including cutting, cladding, ablation, and surface treatment, often for joining, shaping, or removing material.

Optical and pixel-defining materials for display panels, including black matrix compositions, color filter pigments, optical alignment films, and pixel-define layers.

Protective layers applied to ceramic or composite substrates to enhance resistance against extreme temperatures, corrosion, or erosion in harsh operating environments.