Alkali-Free Glass Composition for OLED Substrates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Alkali-free glass substrates for OLED displays face challenges in balancing devitrification resistance, meltability, strain point, and thermal expansion coefficient, making it difficult to achieve high productivity, heat resistance, and matching thermal expansion with film members.

Innovation Solution

A glass composition with 55% to 80% SiO2, 12% to 30% Al2O3, 0% to 3% B2O3, 0% to 1% Li2O+Na2O+K2O, and 5% to 35% MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO, with specific molar ratios and content restrictions to enhance strain point, devitrification resistance, and reduce thermal expansion coefficient.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the strain point of the alkali-free glass is increased, then heat resistance is improved, but devitrification resistance and meltability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestrain pointVSAvoiddevitrification resistance and meltability
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the chemical composition parameters of the glass, specifically setting Al2O3 content at 12-30 mol% and MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO content at 5-35 mol%, while limiting alkali content to 0.5 mol% or less. This compositional parameter optimization enables the glass to achieve a high strain point (improving heat resistance) while maintaining adequate devitrification resistance and meltability for manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If the thermal expansion coefficient of the alkali-free glass is reduced, then matching with film members is improved, but devitrification resistance and meltability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal expansion coefficientVSAvoiddevitrification resistance and meltability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction through parameter changes in glass composition, specifically optimizing the ratio of Al2O3 (12-30 mol%) to alkaline earth metal oxides (MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO at 5-35 mol%). This compositional parameter control enables the glass to achieve a low thermal expansion coefficient that matches semiconductor films while maintaining sufficient devitrification resistance and meltability for practical manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the devitrification resistance and meltability of the alkali-free glass are increased, then productivity is improved, but strain point is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevitrification resistance and meltabilityVSAvoidstrain point
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the glass composition within specific ranges: Al2O3 at 12-30 mol% provides adequate devitrification resistance, while MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO at 5-35 mol% improves meltability. The alkali content is strictly limited to 0.5 mol% or less to maintain high strain point. This balanced compositional parameter selection achieves all three requirements simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If the chemical etching rate in HF is increased, then production efficiency is improved, but glass composition control becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveetching rate in HFVSAvoidglass composition control
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by selecting specific glass composition parameters that inherently provide high etching rate in HF. The composition ranges (Al2O3: 12-30 mol%, MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO: 5-35 mol%, alkali: ≤0.5 mol%) are optimized to achieve rapid HF etching for thickness reduction while maintaining compositional simplicity and manufacturing control, avoiding the need for complex additional components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12157697B2Glass
Publication Date: 2024.12.03 NIPPON ELECTRIC GLASS CO LTD

AI summary

Devised is a glass which has high heat resistance and a low thermal expansion coefficient, and is excellent in productivity. A glass of the present invention includes as a glass composition, in terms of mol %, 55% to 80% of SiO2, 12% to 30% of Al2O3, 0% to 3% of B2O3, 0% to 1% of Li2O+Na2O+K2O, and 5% to 35% of MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO, and has a thermal expansion coefficient within a temperature range of from 30° C. to 380° C. of less than 40×10−7/° C.