Photoresist

Finding suppliers and manufacturers for your photoresist needs
By Rachel Kuptz Photoresist is a light-sensitive material, or polymer, used in industrial processes such as photolithography and photoengraving. Photoresist materials, such as photoresistant polymers, are photographically exposed and can resist a sandblast steam to transfer a pattern to an object that is being sandblasted.

There are two main types of photoresist, negative resist and positive resist. With a negative photoresist, the part of the film that is exposed to light becomes insoluble, while with a positive photoresist material, the part of the photoresist that is exposed to light becomes soluble. Both the negative and positive photoresist are commonly used in transferring patterns.

A few companies make photoresist materials, but the main things to consider before purchasing photoresist materials are:

1. What type of photoresist you will need – negative or positive.
2. The application of the photoresist – liquid, film or spray.
3. Thickness of the photoresist.

Finding the best photoresist producers

Photoresist material can come in a number of forms and applications, from spray photoresist and photoresist liquid to photoresisting polymers and photoresist films. While each application type is generally used for the same purpose, the thickness, durability and product that you are applying photoresist material to makes a difference.
Try:  Companies such as Dow Corning mass produce photoresistant polymers while Ultrasonic Systems, a spray coating equipment producer, produces a photoresist liquid in a nonstandard spray form. Photoresisting polymers are materials that change properties when exposed to light.

Find photoresist manufacturers that produce a good variety of photoresist materials

Photoresist manufacturers make the photoresist coatings, films, and adhesives that are used in industrial processes. Many photoresist manufacturers specialize in only one of the photoresist applications, so you may need to purchase from multiple manufacturers to fulfill your requirements.
Try:  Ikonics Imaging and Rayzist are the two main manufacturers of photoresist films, equipment and supplies. Rayzist produces a variety of photoresist films and photopolymer, or photoresistant polymers. Ikonics Imaging is a photoresist manufacturer that produces everything from brush-on blastable adhesives, photoresist liquid, and spray-on blastable adhesives.

Find suppliers who offer a a variety of photoresist films, equipment and supplies

Photoresist suppliers have all of the products you'll need to use when working with photoresist products, from photoresist removers to spray nozzles, rollers and spinners that allow you to precisely apply films and photoresist liquids.
Try:  Futurerex is a company that makes photoresist removers, and negative and positive photoresists. HTP HiTech Photopolymere AG is a photoresist supplier that produces photoresist materials for a number of application techniques, including roller, dip, spray and spin coating. Arch Micro supplies Fuji Film photoresist film in a variety of layers.

• Although photoresist generally comes in a film or liquid spray, it is a chemical. View the material safety data sheets, available from most photoresist producers and photoresist suppliers, for additional safety information on your photoresist products.