Cover window and display device including cover window

Abstract

The present application relates to a cover window and a display device including the cover window. The cover window includes a base layer. A first hard coating layer is disposed on a first side of the base layer. A second hard coating layer is disposed on the first hard coating layer. The first hard coating layer includes an organic-inorganic material based on an acryl group, and the second hard coating layer includes an organic-inorganic material based on silicon or an organic-inorganic material based on epoxy; or the first hard coating layer includes an organic-inorganic material based on silicon or an organic-inorganic material based on epoxy, and the second hard coating layer includes an organic-inorganic material based on acryl group.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0028436 filed on March 6, 2020 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The inventive concept relates to a cover window and a display device including the cover window. Background Art

[0004] Current display devices include liquid crystal displays (LCDs), organic light emitting displays (OLEDs), and the like.

[0005] The display device may include a display panel displaying an image and a cover window protecting the display panel.

[0006] Glass may be used as a material for the cover window. However, glass is easily broken by external impact, and when applied to a portable device such as a mobile device, the glass is easily damaged.

[0007] Therefore, in recent years, cover windows made of plastic materials instead of glass have been studied. However, many recent display devices include a touch screen function, in which a pointed tool such as a hand or a pen often contacts the front side of the cover window. Therefore, the front surface of the cover window made of plastic may be easily scratched.

[0008] Thus, a hard coating layer may be formed in the cover window. However, during the curing process, the cover window may bend due to shrinkage of the hard coating layer, which results in deformation and / or performance degradation of the cover window. Summary of the invention

[0009] Exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept include a cover window that can be prevented from bending and a display device including the cover window.

[0010] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the cover window includes a base layer. A first hard coating layer is disposed on a first side of the base layer. A second hard coating layer is disposed on the first hard coating layer. The first hard coating layer includes an acryl-based organic-inorganic material, and the second hard coating layer includes a silicon-based organic-inorganic material or an epoxy-based organic-inorganic material; or the first hard coating layer includes a silicon-based organic-inorganic material or an epoxy-based organic-inorganic material, and the second hard coating layer includes an acryl-based organic-inorganic material.

[0011] In exemplary embodiments, the acryl-based organic-inorganic material may be polysilsesquioxane containing an acryl group, the silicon-based organic-inorganic material may be polysilsesquioxane containing a silicone group, and the epoxy-based organic-inorganic material may be polysilsesquioxane containing an epoxy group.

[0012] In exemplary embodiments, the thickness of the first hard coating layer and the thickness of the second hard coating layer may be about 10 μm to about 30 μm, respectively.

[0013] In exemplary embodiments, a ratio of a thickness of the first hard coating layer to a thickness of the second hard coating layer may be 1:1.5 to 1.5:1.

[0014] In exemplary embodiments, the sum of the thickness of the first hard coating layer and the thickness of the second hard coating layer may be about 40 μm to about 60 μm.

[0015] A display device of an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept includes: a cover window; and a display panel disposed on one side of the cover window, wherein the cover window includes: a base layer; a first hard coating layer disposed on one side of the base layer; and a second hard coating layer disposed on the first hard coating layer, wherein the first hard coating layer includes an acryl-based organic-inorganic material, and the second hard coating layer includes a silicon-based organic-inorganic material or an epoxy-based organic-inorganic material, or the first hard coating layer includes a silicon-based organic-inorganic material or an epoxy-based organic-inorganic material, and the second hard coating layer includes an acryl-based organic-inorganic material, and wherein no hard coating layer is disposed between the base layer of the cover window and the display panel

[0016] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the cover window includes a base layer. A first hard coating layer is disposed on a first side of the base layer. A second hard coating layer is disposed on the first hard coating layer. A third hard coating layer is disposed on the second hard coating layer. The first hard coating layer and the third hard coating layer include an acryl-based organic-inorganic material, and the second hard coating layer includes a silicon-based organic-inorganic material or an epoxy-based organic-inorganic material; or the first hard coating layer and the third hard coating layer each include at least one material selected from a silicon-based organic-inorganic material and an epoxy-based organic-inorganic material, and the second hard coating layer includes an acryl-based organic-inorganic material.

[0017] In exemplary embodiments, the acryl-based organic-inorganic material may be polysilsesquioxane containing an acryl group, the silicon-based organic-inorganic material may be polysilsesquioxane containing a silicone group, and the epoxy-based organic-inorganic material may be polysilsesquioxane containing an epoxy group.

[0018] In exemplary embodiments, the thickness of the first hard coating layer and the thickness of the third hard coating layer may be about 10 μm to about 20 μm, respectively.

[0019] In exemplary embodiments, the thickness of the second hard coating layer may be thicker than the thickness of the first hard coating layer and the thickness of the third hard coating layer.

[0020] In exemplary embodiments, a ratio of the sum of the thickness of the first hard coating layer and the thickness of the third hard coating layer to the thickness of the second hard coating layer may be about 1:1.5 to about 1.5:1.

[0021] In exemplary embodiments, the sum of the thickness of the first hard coating layer, the thickness of the second hard coating layer, and the thickness of the third hard coating layer may be about 40 μm to about 60 μm.

[0022] A display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a cover window; and a display panel, which is arranged on one side of the cover window, wherein the cover window includes: a base layer; a first hard coating layer arranged on one side of the base layer; a second hard coating layer arranged on the first hard coating layer; and a third hard coating layer arranged on the second hard coating layer, the first hard coating layer and the third hard coating layer include an acryl-based organic-inorganic material, and the second hard coating layer includes a silicon-based organic-inorganic material or an epoxy-based organic-inorganic material, or the first hard coating layer and the third hard coating layer each include at least one material selected from a silicon-based organic-inorganic material and an epoxy-based organic-inorganic material, and the second hard coating layer includes an acryl-based organic-inorganic material, and no hard coating layer is arranged between the base layer of the cover window and the display panel.

[0023] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the cover window includes a base layer. A first hard coating layer is disposed on a first side of the base layer. A second hard coating layer is disposed on the first hard coating layer. A third hard coating layer is disposed on the second hard coating layer. A fourth hard coating layer is disposed on the third hard coating layer. The first hard coating layer and the third hard coating layer include an acryl-based organic-inorganic material, and the second hard coating layer and the fourth hard coating layer each include a material selected from a silicon-based organic-inorganic material and an epoxy-based organic-inorganic material; or the first hard coating layer and the third hard coating layer each include a material selected from a silicon-based organic-inorganic material and an epoxy-based organic-inorganic material, and the second hard coating layer and the fourth hard coating layer include an acryl-based organic-inorganic material.

[0024] In exemplary embodiments, the acryl-based organic-inorganic material may be polysilsesquioxane containing an acryl group, the silicon-based organic-inorganic material may be polysilsesquioxane containing a silicone group, and the epoxy-based organic-inorganic material may be polysilsesquioxane containing an epoxy group.

[0025] In exemplary embodiments, the thickness of each of the first hard coating layer, the second hard coating layer, the third hard coating layer, and the fourth hard coating layer may be about 10 μm to about 15 μm.

[0026] In exemplary embodiments, a ratio of the sum of the thickness of the first hard coating layer and the thickness of the third hard coating layer to the sum of the thickness of the second hard coating layer and the thickness of the fourth hard coating layer may be about 1:1.5 to about 1.5:1.

[0027] In exemplary embodiments, the sum of the thicknesses of the first hard coating layer, the second hard coating layer, the third hard coating layer, and the fourth hard coating layer may be about 40 μm to 60 μm.

[0028] A display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a cover window; and a display panel disposed on the cover window, wherein the cover window includes: a base layer; a first hard coating layer disposed on one side of the base layer; a second hard coating layer disposed on the first hard coating layer; a third hard coating layer disposed on the second hard coating layer; and a fourth hard coating layer disposed on the third hard coating layer, wherein the first hard coating layer and the third hard coating layer include the same material, the second hard coating layer and the fourth hard coating layer include the same material, and the first hard coating layer and the third hard coating layer include an acryl-based organic-inorganic material and the second hard coating layer and the fourth hard coating layer include a silicon-based organic-inorganic material or an epoxy-based organic-inorganic material, or the first hard coating layer and the third hard coating layer include a silicon-based organic-inorganic material or an epoxy-based organic-inorganic material and the second hard coating layer and the fourth hard coating layer include an acryl-based organic-inorganic material, and no hard coating layer may be disposed between the base layer of the cover window and the display panel.

[0029] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the cover window includes a base layer. At least one first hard coating layer is disposed on a first side of the base layer, and at least one first hard coating layer includes an acryl-based organic-inorganic material. At least one second hard coating layer is disposed on a first side of the base layer, and at least one second hard coating layer each includes at least one material selected from a silicon-based organic-inorganic material and an epoxy-based organic-inorganic material. The ratio of the overall thickness of at least one first hard coating layer to the overall thickness of at least one second hard coating layer is in the range of about 1:1.5 to about 1.5:1.

[0030] According to exemplary embodiments, a cover window capable of preventing bending of the cover window, and a display device including the cover window may be provided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view illustrating a cover window according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

[0032] Figure 2 A perspective view showing simulation results of the bending direction of an acryl-based organic-inorganic material during curing.

[0033] Figure 3A perspective view showing simulation results of the bending direction of a silicon-based organic-inorganic material during curing.

[0034] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of a cover window according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept is shown, in which a hard coating layer is disposed on opposite sides of a base layer.

[0035] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view illustrating a cover window according to another exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

[0036] Figure 6 A cross-sectional view illustrating a cover window according to another exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

[0037] Figures 7 to 9 A cross-sectional view illustrating a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. For better understanding and ease of description, the size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown.

[0039] The drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Throughout the specification, like reference numerals refer to like elements.

[0040] In addition, in the drawings, the size and thickness of each element are arbitrarily indicated for better understanding and ease of description. However, the exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept are not limited thereto. In the drawings, the thickness of layers, films, panels, regions, etc. may be exaggerated for clarity. In the drawings, the thickness of some layers and regions is exaggerated for better understanding and ease of description.

[0041] It should be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being "on" another element, it can be directly on the other element, or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on" another element, there are no intervening elements. The terms "on" or "over" mean being on or below an object part, and do not necessarily mean being on the upper side of the object part based on the direction of gravity.

[0042] In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word “comprise” and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements.

[0043] Furthermore, in this specification, the phrase “on a plane” means observing a target portion from the top, and the phrase “on a cross section” means observing a cross section formed by vertically cutting the target portion from the side.

[0044] Hereinafter, a cover window according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0045] Figure 1 is a cross-section of a cover window 300 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept. Figure 1 , the cover window 300 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept includes a base layer 310, a first hard coating layer 320 disposed on the base layer 310, and a second hard coating layer 330 disposed on the first hard coating layer 320. For example, Figure 1 As shown in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the lower surface of the first hard coating layer 320 can directly contact the first side of the base layer 310, which is the upper surface of the base layer 310. The upper surface of the first hard coating layer 320 can directly contact the lower surface of the second hard coating layer 330. In the cover window 300 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the first hard coating layer 320 and the second hard coating layer 330 include materials that are aligned relative to each other in the direction of curling that occurs during the curing process. The first hard coating layer 320 and the second hard coating layer 330 are stacked on each other, so that even when the first hard coating layer 320 and the second hard coating layer 330 are thickened due to the multi-layer first hard coating layer 320 and the second hard coating layer 330, the bending of the cover window 300 can be minimized.

[0046] Hereinafter, constituent elements of the cover window 300 according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described in detail.

[0047] In an exemplary embodiment, the base layer 310 may include a plastic material. For example, the base layer 310 may have a thickness in the range of about 500 μm to about 1000 μm. However, exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept are not limited thereto.

[0048] In an exemplary embodiment, the base layer 310 may include a polymer compound. For example, the base layer 310 may include a compound selected from at least one of polyimide, polyacrylate, polyvinyl ether phthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polycarbonate, polyarylate, polyetherimide, polyether sulfone, poly(methyl methacrylate), cellulose triacetate, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinylidene fluoride, and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer. However, exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept are not limited thereto.

[0049] In an exemplary embodiment, the first hard coating layer 320 may include an acryl-based organic-inorganic material. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the first hard coating layer 320 may include polysilsesquioxane, and the polysilsesquioxane may include an acryl group. For example, the first hard coating layer 310 may include polysilsesquioxane containing an acryl group.

[0050] The thickness of the first hard coating layer 320 may be in the range of about 10 μm to about 30 μm.

[0051] In an exemplary embodiment, the first hard coating layer 320 may further include an additive. The content of the additive may be about 20wt% or less relative to the entire first hard coating layer 320. For example, the additive may be urethane acrylate. However, the exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept are not limited thereto. Urethane acrylate has excellent properties in terms of wear resistance, rigidity and fracture resistance, and therefore it may improve the characteristics of the first hard coating layer 320.

[0052] In an exemplary embodiment, the second hard coating layer 330 may include a silicon-based organic-inorganic material or an epoxy-based organic-inorganic material. For example, the second hard coating layer 330 may include polysilsesquioxane, and the polysilsesquioxane may include a silicone group or an epoxy group. For example, the second hard coating layer 330 may include a polysilsesquioxane containing a silicone group or an epoxy group.

[0053] In exemplary embodiments, the second hard coating layer 330 may have a thickness in the range of about 10 μm to about 30 μm.

[0054] The curling direction may be controlled according to the functional group connected to Si of polysilsesquioxane. For example, the curling direction may be different according to whether the functional group has a shrinkage characteristic or an expansion characteristic. The curling direction may be a direction relative to the thickness direction of the cover window 300 .

[0055] In the previously described exemplary embodiment, the first hard coating layer 320 includes an acryl-based organic-inorganic material, and the second hard coating layer 330 includes a silicon-based organic-inorganic material or an epoxy-based organic-inorganic material. However, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto, and the opposite configuration is also included in the inventive concept.

[0056] For example, in another exemplary embodiment, the first hard coating layer 320 may include a silicon-based organic-inorganic material or an epoxy-based organic-inorganic material, and the second hard coating layer 330 may include an acryl-based organic-inorganic material. For example, the first hard coating layer 320 may include polysilsesquioxane, and the polysilsesquioxane may include a silicone group or an epoxy group, and the second hard coating layer 330 may include polysilsesquioxane, and the polysilsesquioxane may include an acryl group.

[0057] During the curing process, the acryl-based organic-inorganic material of one layer selected from the first hard coating layer 320 and the second hard coating layer 330 and the epoxy-based organic-inorganic material of the other layer selected from the first hard coating layer 320 and the second hard coating layer 330 may be curled in opposite directions. For example, during the curing process, the first hard coating layer 320 and the second hard coating layer 330 may be curled in opposite directions with respect to the thickness direction of the cover window 300. Therefore, even in the case where the first hard coating layer 320 and the second hard coating layer 330 are formed relatively thick, the first hard coating layer 320 and the second hard coating layer 330 are curled in opposite directions with respect to each other during the curling process, and the forces in the opposite directions are offset, thereby preventing the cover window 300 from bending.

[0058] Figure 2 Simulation results showing the bending direction of acryl-based organic-inorganic materials during curing. Figure 2 In the case of the acryl-based organic-inorganic material, it can be seen that the curling occurs in a positive direction, such as an upward direction in the thickness direction of the cover window 300 .

[0059] Figure 3 Simulation results showing the bending direction of silicon-based organic-inorganic materials during curing. Figure 3 In the case of the silicon-based organic-inorganic material, it can be seen that the curling occurs in the opposite direction, such as in a downward direction in the thickness direction of the cover window 300. The direction in which the epoxy-based organic-inorganic material may curl during the curing process may be similar to the direction in which the silicon-based organic-inorganic material curls during the curing process.

[0060] Therefore, when the hard coating layer is formed into multiple layers, one layer includes a material causing curling in the forward direction, and another layer includes a material causing curling in the reverse direction, thereby eliminating the forward curling force and the reverse direction force. Therefore, even if the hard coating layer is formed thickly, bending during the curing process can be prevented.

[0061] In the present exemplary embodiment, the sum of the thickness of the first hard coating layer 320 and the thickness of the second hard coating layer 330 may be about 40 μm or more. When the sum of the thickness of the first hard coating layer 320 and the second hard coating layer 330 is less than 40 μm, sufficient hardness may not be provided. Therefore, the sum of the first hard coating layer 320 and the second hard coating layer 330 may be about 40 μm or more to provide a hardness of about 8H or more. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the sum of the thickness of the first hard coating layer 320 and the thickness of the second hard coating layer 330 may be in the range of about 40 μm to about 60 μm.

[0062] In such an embodiment where the hard coating layer having a thickness of about 40 μm or more is formed as a single layer, bending may occur during the curing process. However, when the hard coating layer is formed as a multilayer as in the present exemplary embodiment, the directions in which the curling occurs in the respective layers are opposite to each other, so that the curling force of each layer is offset, thereby preventing the cover window 300 from bending during the curing process.

[0063] In an exemplary embodiment, the thickness of the first hard coating layer 320 and the thickness of the second hard coating layer 330 may be the same or similar to each other. For example, in order to stably counteract the curling force in the opposite directions, the thickness difference between the first hard coating layer 320 and the second hard coating layer 330 may be about 50% or less of the thickness of the one having the smaller thickness. For example, the ratio of the thickness of the first hard coating layer 320 to the thickness of the second hard coating layer 330 may be in the range of about 1:1.5 to 1.5:1.

[0064] Table 1 shows the results after measuring hardness and bending by changing the materials and thicknesses of the first hard coating layer and the second hard coating layer.

[0065] [Table 1]

[0066]

[0067] Comparing Experimental Example 1 with Experimental Example 3, even when the sum of the thicknesses of the first hard coating layer and the second hard coating layer is equal to each other at 50 μm, bending occurs less in Experimental Example 1, in which the first hard coating layer and the second hard coating layer respectively include different materials (the different materials include an acryl-based organic-inorganic material and a silicon-based organic-inorganic material), than in Experimental Example 3, in which the first hard coating layer and the second hard coating layer include the same material containing an acryl-based organic-inorganic material. In addition, comparing Experimental Example 1 with Experimental Example 2, bending occurs less in Experimental Example 1 in which the thickness ratio between the first hard coating layer and the second hard coating layer is 1:1.5 than in Experimental Example 2 in which the thickness ratio between the first hard coating layer and the second hard coating layer is 1:2. The thickness difference of 20 μm between the first hard coating layer and the second hard coating layer in Experimental Example 2 is twice the thickness difference between the first hard coating layer and the second hard coating layer in Experimental Example 1.

[0068] In the cover window 300 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the first hard coating layer 320 and the second hard coating layer 330 include different materials, so that the occurrence of bending may be prevented even when the thickness of the hard coating layer increases.

[0069] In addition, if Figure 1 As shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 , in the cover window 300 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the hard coating layer may be disposed only on one side of the base layer 310 and may not be disposed on the other side of the base layer 310. For example, Figure 1 As shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 , the first hard coating layer 320 and the second hard coating layer 330 may be disposed on a first side of the base layer 310 , which is an upper side of the base layer 310 .

[0070] Generally, the hard coating of the cover window 300 may be disposed on opposite sides of the base layer 310, such as on the upper and lower sides of the base layer 310. When the hard coating is disposed on opposite sides, the bending force may be offset by the hard coating on both sides so that the cover window 300 may not bend.

[0071] Figure 4 An exemplary embodiment in which a hard coating layer is disposed on opposite sides of the base layer 310 is shown. Figure 4 In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first hard coating layer 320 and the second hard coating layer 330 are disposed on a first side of the base layer 310 (such as the upper side of the base layer 310). The third hard coating layer 340 and the fourth hard coating layer 350 are disposed on an opposite second side of the base layer 310 (such as the lower side of the base layer 310).

[0072] exist Figure 4 In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the hard coating layer is disposed on both sides of the base layer 310, and thus even if the thickness is increased, the cover window 300 can be prevented from bending. However, in the case where an impact is applied to one side of the cover window 300 in which the hard coating layer is disposed on both sides of the base layer 310, the impact may be concentrated on the hard coating layer on the opposite side, and cracks may occur. In addition, when the cover window 300 is bent, cracks may occur in the hard coating layer on the side where tension occurs.

[0073] However, in the cover window 300 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the hard coating layer is located only on the first side of the base layer 310, and the hard coating layer is not located on the opposite second side of the base layer 310. Therefore, when impact is concentrated or the cover window 300 is bent, the occurrence of cracks can be prevented.

[0074] In the cover window of the related art, when the hard coating layer is located only on one side of the base layer 310, the curling force during the curing process of the hard coating layer is not offset, and the cover window may bend. However, in an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the material curled in different directions is multi-layered, so that the curling force during the curing process is offset, thereby preventing the cover window 300 from bending.

[0075] Hereinafter, another exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept will be described. Figure 5 Another exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept shows Figure 1 The cross-sectional view shown in FIG. Figure 5 , the present exemplary embodiment is based on a cover window 300 having a three-layer structure instead of having Figure 1The double-layer structure shown in the exemplary embodiment is different from Figure 1 An exemplary embodiment of .

[0076] For example, according to Figure 5 The cover window 300 of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention further includes a third hard coating layer 340 in addition to the first hard coating layer 320 and the second hard coating layer 330 sequentially stacked on the first side of the base layer 310. Figure 5 In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the first side of the base layer 310 may be an upper side of the base layer 310 .

[0077] The second hard coating layer 330 is disposed between the first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340. Figure 5 In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , a lower surface of the second hard coating layer 330 may directly contact an upper surface of the first hard coating layer 320 , and an upper surface of the second hard coating layer 330 may directly contact a lower surface of the third hard coating layer 340 .

[0078] The first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340 may include materials curled in the same direction, and the second hard coating layer 330 may include a material curled in an opposite direction with respect to the curling directions of the first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340 .

[0079] For example, in an exemplary embodiment in which the first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340 include an acryl-based organic-inorganic material, the second hard coating layer 330 may include a silicon-based organic-inorganic material or an epoxy-based organic-inorganic material. For example, the first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340 may include polysilsesquioxane containing an acryl group, and the second hard coating layer 330 may include polysilsesquioxane containing a silicone group or an epoxy group.

[0080] In another exemplary embodiment, the first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340 may each include a material selected from a silicon-based organic-inorganic material and an epoxy-based organic-inorganic material, and the second hard coating layer 330 may include an acryl-based organic-inorganic material. For example, the first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340 may each include a polysilsesquioxane containing a silicone group or an epoxy group, and the second hard coating layer 330 may include a polysilsesquioxane containing an acryl group. In an exemplary embodiment, one layer selected from the first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340 may include a polysilsesquioxane containing a silicone group, and another layer selected from the first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340 may include a polysilsesquioxane containing an epoxy group. However, in other exemplary embodiments, the first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340 may include the same material.

[0081] In an exemplary embodiment, the sum of the thickness of the first hard coating layer 320 and the thickness of the third hard coating layer 340 may be the same as or similar to the thickness of the second hard coating layer 330. For example, the difference between the sum of the thickness of the first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340 and the thickness of the second hard coating layer 330 may be less than about 50% of the smaller of the sum of the thickness of the first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340 and the thickness of the second hard coating layer 330. Figure 5 In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, a ratio of the sum of the thicknesses of the first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340 to the thickness of the second hard coating layer 330 may be about 1:1.5 to about 1.5:1.

[0082] In an exemplary embodiment, the overall thickness of the hard coating layer including the first hard coating layer 320, the second hard coating layer 330, and the third hard coating layer 340 may be in the range of about 40 μm to about 60 μm. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the thickness of each of the first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340 may be in the range of about 10 μm to about 20 μm. The thickness of the second hard coating layer 330 may be greater than the thickness of the first hard coating layer 320 and the thickness of the third hard coating layer 340. When the overall thickness of the hard coating layer is less than about 40 μm, the hard coating layer may not have sufficient hardness, and when the overall thickness exceeds about 60 μm, the curling force may not be sufficiently offset.

[0083] Hereinafter, another exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept will be described. Figure 6 Another exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept shows Figure 1 The cross-sectional view shown in FIG. Figure 6 The cover window 300 of the present exemplary embodiment has a four-layer structure instead of a double-layer structure. Figure 1 The exemplary embodiments are different.

[0084] For example, according to Figure 6 The cover window 300 of the exemplary embodiment includes a first hard coating layer 320, a second hard coating layer 330, a third hard coating layer 340, and a fourth hard coating layer 350 sequentially stacked on a first side of a base layer 310. For example, Figure 6 In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the first side of the base layer 310 may be an upper side of the base layer 310 .

[0085] In this exemplary embodiment, the first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340 may include materials that curl in the same direction during the curing process, and the second hard coating layer 330 and the fourth hard coating layer 350 may include materials that curl in the opposite direction during the curing process compared to the curling direction of the materials of the first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340 may include the same material, and the second hard coating layer 330 and the fourth hard coating layer 350 may include the same material.

[0086] In an exemplary embodiment, the first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340 may include an acryl-based organic-inorganic material. For example, the first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340 may include polysilsesquioxane containing an acryl group. In this exemplary embodiment, the second hard coating layer 330 and the fourth hard coating layer 350 may include a silicon-based organic-inorganic material or an epoxy-based organic-inorganic material. For example, the second hard coating layer 330 and the fourth hard coating layer 350 may include polysilsesquioxane containing a silicone group or an epoxy group.

[0087] However, in another exemplary embodiment, the first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340 may each include a material selected from polysilsesquioxane containing a silicone group and polysilsesquioxane containing an epoxy group, and the second hard coating layer 330 and the fourth hard coating layer 350 may include polysilsesquioxane containing an acryl group.

[0088] The thickness of each of the first hard coating layer 320 , the second hard coating layer 330 , the third hard coating layer 340 , and the fourth hard coating layer 350 may be in the range of about 10 μm to about 15 μm.

[0089] In an exemplary embodiment, the sum of the thicknesses of the first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340 is the same as or similar to the sum of the thicknesses of the second hard coating layer 330 and the fourth hard coating layer 350. For example, the difference between the sum of the thicknesses of the first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340 and the sum of the thicknesses of the second hard coating layer 330 and the fourth hard coating layer 350 may be less than about 50% of the smaller of the sum of the thicknesses of the first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340 and the sum of the thicknesses of the second hard coating layer 330 and the fourth hard coating layer 350 to stably counteract the curling forces in opposite directions. For example, in Figure 5 In an exemplary embodiment, a ratio of the sum of the thicknesses of the first hard coating layer 320 and the third hard coating layer 340 to the sum of the thicknesses of the second hard coating layer 330 and the fourth hard coating layer 350 may be in a range of about 1:1.5 to about 1.5:1.

[0090] exist Figure 5In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the overall thickness of the hard coating layer including the first hard coating layer 320, the second hard coating layer 330, the third hard coating layer 340, and the fourth hard coating layer 350 may be in the range of about 40 μm to about 60 μm. When the overall thickness of the hard coating layer is less than 40 μm, the hard coating layer may not have sufficient hardness, and when the overall thickness exceeds 60 μm, the curling force may not be sufficiently offset.

[0091] although Figure 1 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 The exemplary embodiment of the invention shows a cover window 300 including two hard coating layers, three hard coating layers, and four hard coating layers disposed on the first side of the base layer 310, but the exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept are not limited thereto. For example, in other exemplary embodiments, the cover window 300 may include: at least one first hard coating layer disposed on the first side of the base layer 310, the at least one first hard coating layer comprising an acryl-based organic-inorganic material; and at least one second hard coating layer disposed on the first side of the base layer, the at least one second hard coating layer each comprising at least one material selected from a silicon-based organic-inorganic material and an epoxy-based organic-inorganic material. The layers of at least one first hard coating layer and at least one second hard coating layer may be arranged differently on the first side of the base layer 310. In an exemplary embodiment, the sum of the thicknesses of at least one first hard coating layer and at least one second hard coating layer may be in the range of about 40 μm to about 60 μm. The ratio of the overall thickness of at least one first hard coating layer to the overall thickness of at least one second hard coating layer may be in the range of about 1:1.5 to about 1.5:1. Hereinafter, the display device 1000 according to the exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figures 7 to 9 Display devices 1000 according to exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept are respectively illustrated.

[0092] Reference Figure 7 According to the exemplary embodiment of the present exemplary embodiment, the display device 1000 includes a display panel 200 and a cover window 300 disposed on a first side of the display panel 200. For example, Figure 7 In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the first side of the display panel 200 may be an upper side of the display panel 200. The cover window 300 may be a Figure 1 For convenience of explanation, detailed descriptions of the same constituent elements are omitted.

[0093] Reference Figure 7In the display device 1000 according to the present exemplary embodiment, no hard coating layer is disposed between the display panel 200 and the base layer 310. Therefore, the overall thickness of the display device 1000 can be relatively thin, and when an impact is applied to the cover window 300, a problem of cracks being generated in the hard coating layer disposed between the base layer 310 and the display panel 200 can be prevented.

[0094] Except that the structure of the cover window 300 is not Figure 1 The structure shown in the exemplary embodiment is Figure 5 In addition to the structure shown in the exemplary embodiment, Figure 8 The display device 1000 shown in the exemplary embodiment is Figure 7 For convenience of explanation, detailed descriptions of the same constituent elements are omitted.

[0095] For example, refer to Figure 8 An exemplary embodiment similar to Figure 7 In the exemplary embodiment, no hard coating layer is disposed between the display panel 200 and the base layer 310. Therefore, the overall thickness of the display device 1000 can be relatively thin, and when an impact is applied to the cover window 300, the problem of cracks being generated in the hard coating layer disposed between the base layer 310 and the display panel 200 can be prevented. Figure 8 The cover window 300 of the exemplary embodiment is similar to the reference Figure 5 The cover window 300 described in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 is the same as that of the cover window 300 described in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 , and thus a detailed description of the same constituent elements is omitted for convenience of description.

[0096] Except that the structure of the cover window 300 is not Figure 1 The structure shown in the exemplary embodiment is Figure 6 In addition to the structure shown in the exemplary embodiment, Fig. 9 The display device 1000 shown in the exemplary embodiment is Figure 7 For convenience of explanation, detailed descriptions of the same constituent elements are omitted.

[0097] Reference Fig. 9 An exemplary embodiment of Figure 7 As in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, no hard coating layer is disposed between the display panel 200 and the base layer 310. Therefore, the overall thickness of the display device 1000 can be relatively thin, and when an impact is applied to the cover window 300, the problem of cracks being generated in the hard coating layer disposed between the base layer 310 and the display panel 200 can be prevented.

[0098] As described above, in the cover window and the display device including the cover window according to the exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, the hard coating layer is multi-layered on the first side of the base layer 310, and the hard coating layer curled in the positive direction and the hard coating layer curled in the reverse direction during the curing process have similar thicknesses. Therefore, the problem of bending of the cover window due to curling of the hard coating layer during the curing process can be prevented, and the cover window can be relatively thin and cracks can be prevented from being formed.

[0099] While the inventive concept has been described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the inventive concept is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments and encompasses various modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A cover window, comprising: Grassroots; a first hard coating layer disposed on a first side of the base layer; a second hard coating layer, disposed on the first hard coating layer; a third hard coating layer, disposed on the second hard coating layer; as well as a fourth hard coating layer, disposed on the third hard coating layer, wherein the first hard coating layer and the third hard coating layer each comprise an acryl-based organic-inorganic material, and the second hard coating layer and the fourth hard coating layer each comprise a silicon-based organic-inorganic material or an epoxy-based organic-inorganic material, or The first hard coating layer and the third hard coating layer each include the silicon-based organic-inorganic material or the epoxy-based organic-inorganic material, and the second hard coating layer and the fourth hard coating layer each include the acryl-based organic-inorganic material.

2. The cover window according to claim 1, wherein: The acryl-based organic-inorganic material is a polysilsesquioxane containing an acryl group; The silicon-based organic-inorganic material is a polysilsesquioxane containing a silicone group; and The epoxy-based organic-inorganic material is a polysilsesquioxane containing an epoxy group.

3. The cover window according to claim 1, wherein: The thickness of the first hard coating layer and the thickness of the second hard coating layer are each in the range of 10 μm to 30 μm.

4. The cover window according to claim 1, wherein: A ratio of a thickness of the first hard coating layer to a thickness of the second hard coating layer is in a range of 1:1.5 to 1.5:

1.

5. The cover window according to claim 1, wherein: The sum of the thickness of the first hard coating layer and the thickness of the second hard coating layer is in the range of 40 μm to 60 μm.

6. The cover window according to claim 1, wherein: The thickness of the first hard coating layer and the thickness of the third hard coating layer are each in the range of 10 μm to 20 μm.

7. The cover window according to claim 1, wherein: The thickness of the second hard coating layer is greater than the thickness of the first hard coating layer and the thickness of the third hard coating layer.

8. The cover window according to claim 1, wherein: A ratio of a sum of thicknesses of the first hard coating layer and the third hard coating layer to a thickness of the second hard coating layer is in a range of 1:1.5 to 1.5:

1.

9. The cover window according to claim 1, wherein: The sum of the thickness of the first hard coating layer, the thickness of the second hard coating layer, and the thickness of the third hard coating layer is in the range of 40 μm to 60 μm.

10. The cover window according to claim 1, wherein: A thickness of each of the first hard coating layer, the second hard coating layer, the third hard coating layer, and the fourth hard coating layer is in a range of 10 μm to 15 μm.

11. The cover window according to claim 1, wherein: A ratio of a sum of thicknesses of the first hard coating layer and the third hard coating layer to a sum of thicknesses of the second hard coating layer and the fourth hard coating layer is in a range of 1:1.5 to 1.5:

1.

12. The cover window according to claim 1, wherein: The sum of the thicknesses of the first hard coating layer, the second hard coating layer, the third hard coating layer, and the fourth hard coating layer is in the range of 40 μm to 60 μm.

13. A display device, comprising: Display panel; as well as The cover window according to any one of claims 1 to 12, arranged on a first side of the display panel, Wherein, the display device does not include a hard coating layer between the base layer of the cover window and the display panel.

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