hen it comes to the effective protection of front-line workers against pathogens, the current COVID-19 pandemic has revealed a gap in the clear-view personal protective equipment (PPE) market. Conventional face shields and other transparent safety gear often fail to ensure adequate long-term anti-fog performance, especially in facilities where high humidity and temperature fluctuations can occur. Subsequently, when seeing clearly matters the most, protective eyewear and shields may not be worn as required or must be taken off for frequent wiping, thus potentially risking the safety of users. A polycarbonate film with a special one-side anti-fog coating helps personnel in healthcare and other exposed environments maintain a clear view over longer time periods even in areas subjected to high humidity and sudden temperature changes.

Dedicated research in polymer and coating technology to overcome these constraints has resulted in a film that extends the time-to-fog under these conditions. This allows the users of visors and goggles manufactured from this film to concentrate on their jobs in the safest way without being impaired by fogging.

In testing under harsh conditions, the technology has confirmed its anti-fog performance without exhibiting hazing or flashover at saturation. Several pilot applications for healthcare facilities and meat packing plants have shown to provide longer optical clarity when compared to conventional clear-view products. The effect is particularly apparent in work environments with transition zones between high and lower humidity as well as between air-conditioned and warmer areas.

This makes the anti-fog film suitable for personal safety equipment such as visors and goggles for healthcare, medical research and laboratories. Further target applications include medical instrument lenses and displays, industrial and automotive cluster lenses as well as motorcycle visors and ski goggles.