“Currently, the cover window material of foldable display is polyimide (PI). However, we’re also considering thin glass as the core material," said Kim Dong-Hwan, Executive Director of Samsung Display’s Products Research Team, at the ‘2019 Semiconductor Display Technology Roadmap Seminar’ held at Seocho-gu El Tower in Seoul on the 26th.
Executive Director Kim said, "Currently there are many restrictions for PI material cover for folding or bending. Because the two materials have their own advantages and disadvantages, we’re considering mixing or laminating the two as well."
PI is thinner than glass and does not break. Thus, it has been adopted as the cover window of the mass-produced foldable display. However, in terms of strength and transparency, PI is not as reliable as glass. Glass is stronger than PI in terms of scratches or a folded surface.
However, due to concerns regarding the breakability of glass, it has been evaluated that it would be deadly as a foldable display window material. Samsung Display is researching technologies to improve the performance of cover windows by surface coating, mixing and lamination between PI and glass.
For a long time, Samsung Display has been producing displays that incorporate touch screens inside OLED panels. Executive Director Kim said, "We are researching and developing a way of embedding a polarizing film (POL), which is usually outside the panel, inside the panel." When the touch screen and the polarizing film are built in the panel, the overall thickness can be reduced by 85-90%.
Executive Director Kim continued to explain key technologies needed for display applications in automotive electronic parts, virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR), and flexible displays as he was presenting the theme of ‘Future Display and Key Technologies.’
Executive Director Kim said, "Future displays will implement super immersion with innovative designs in creative applications."
