KOLON INDUSTRIES INC’s Transparent Polyimide Might Push Forward Commercialization of Foldable Smartphones

As there is a news that KOLON INDUSTRIES INC has developed transparent polyimide (PI), which is seen as the major material for next-generation displays, industries are focused on KOLON INDUSTRIES INC because there is now a way to commercialize foldable displays that can fold a screen in half. This will push forward commercialization of foldable Smartphones.

∆Why Is Transparent PI Receiving So Much Attention?

Characteristics of PI that is developed by KOLON INDUSTRIES INC are that it is resistant against heat and flexible and clear. Its properties do not change in extreme low temperature or high temperature and it can be flexible like a sheet of paper if it is made in a form of film. Because it has no color and transparency, it is seen as the material that will replace glass for next-generation displays.

Glass has been used as the material for display substrates and window cover. Substrates are type of support that allow liquid crystals or laminating materials to be deposited. Window covers are parts that protect displays from outside impact. Glass has been used as the necessary material for substrates and window covers since strength that can withstand impact and characteristics of manufacturing of displays that takes place at high temperature is needed.

However display is going through a process where it is evolving from rigid form to flexible form. Developments of technologies that can bend or fold screens are taking places currently.

Glass shows its limitations regarding flexibility since it is very rigid. Although Corning and Schott are developing glasses that can be bent, it is really hard technically to develop glasses that can be folded in half.

This is the reason why transparent PI is considered as an alternative for glass for next-generation displays. Flexible materials that can bend screens are needed to implement foldable displays, and transparent PI has the highest possibility to satisfy these requirements. Non-color and transparent materials can satisfy optical characteristics that are needed for displays.

∆Technical Characteristics of KOLON INDUSTRIES INC’s Transparent PI

KOLON INDUSTRIES INC has actually developed transparent PI with foldable displays on its mind. It has developed a technology that can not only bend display, but also fold it.

“Our transparent PI film has mechanical characteristics that prevents it from being broken even when it is repeatedly bent up to bending radius of 1mm.” said Director Kang Choong-seok of KOLON INDUSTRIES INC, who is overseeing project for transparent PI.

Bending radius indicates level of how much a certain material is bent. 1mm of bending radius means that radius of an area that is bent is 1mm and this almost has both sides of film touch each other. This indicates that this transparent PI can be bent by much.

Fact that it is not broken even when it is folded repeatedly indicates that there are no cracks and fractures on it even when it is folded and straightened many times. It is heard that KOLON INDUSTRIES INC has secured durability that allows its transparent PIs to have no problems even when they are folded and straightened more than 100,000 times.

KOLON INDUSTRIES INC also emphasized that it has implemented same level of longitude as glass by adding special coating on top of its transparent PI film. “If transparent PI goes through hard coating, it can support same strength as glass.” said Director Kang.

In summary, KOLON INDUSTRIES INC has prepared materials that can replace glass substrates and glass cover windows that are used for current displays.

∆Will Transparent PI Open Up Generation of Foldable Smartphones?

Foldable display is a product that is expected to receive most spotlight out of next-generation displays since totally a new device that can become a tablet and a Smartphone can be made depending on whether it is folded or straightened.

There are a lot of predictions that believe that foldable displays will change form factor (structure of hardware) of Smart devices. Market research companies are also predicting that foldable displays will lead markets for flexible displays.

According to an industry, Samsung and LG are currently developing foldable displays. Especially Samsung Display and Samsung Electronics are ahead of other businesses because they have put a lot of work in developing foldable displays and foldable Smartphones.

It is not clear whether or not KOLON INDUSTRIES INC’s transparent PI will be used by Samsung, LG or other display manufacturers. However positive outcome can be expected since a base for commercialization of foldable displays has been prepared by development of transparent PI. “We have satisfied technical levels that are required by display industries.” said KOLON INDUSTRIES INC.

However there are still long ways to go to actually commercialize foldable displays and Smartphones. Because KOLON INDUSTRIES INC’s transparent PI is yet to be mass-produced, it needs to be verified for its ability to be mass-produced. Price is also another thing that needs to be looked at. Because glass manufacturers such as Corning and Schott are developing flexible products not to lose markets for next-generation displays, competition between PI and glass for leadership is expected. Above everything, timing and intention by display and device manufacturers on commercialization of foldable products is the most important thing.

“It is significant that transparent PI can replace glass for next-generation displays.” said Professor Bae Byeong-soo of KAIST’s New Material Engineering Department.” If ability of mass-production and competitive edge in price are secured, it will become a meaningful material for South Korean industries.”

Staff Reporter Yun, Keonil | [email protected]