Structural materials underpinning functional materials: teaching old dogs new tricks

'Structural' polymers are finding new applications underpinning new technology developments based on functional polymers. This paper discusses the use of polyester films as base substrates for flexible electronic applications based on conjugated polymers and low-temperature hydrogenated amorphous silica processing, and discusses the challenges involved in successfully developing substrates 'fit for purpose'. (c) 2008 Society of Chemical Industry.