Foldable Display Protective Coating for Scratch Resistance and Low Glare
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flexible electronic apparatuses face challenges in maintaining operational reliability and durability during repeated folding and unfolding, particularly due to issues with scratch resistance and visual clarity.
Innovation Solution
A protective member comprising a protective base layer, a hard coating layer made from a silsesquioxane-based resin and oxetane-based resin composition, and an antireflection layer with alternating high and low refractive index layers, enhancing durability and reducing glare.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a hard coating layer is applied to improve scratch resistance, then durability is improved, but flexibility and adaptability to folding motion deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining silsesquioxane-based resin with oxetane-based resin in specific proportions (93-95 wt% silsesquioxane, 5-2 wt% oxetane) to create a coating composition that achieves both hardness and flexibility. The silsesquioxane provides scratch resistance while the oxetane component maintains flexibility during folding, resolving the contradiction between durability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the coating material by precisely controlling the weight ratio of silsesquioxane-based resin to oxetane-based resin. This parameter optimization allows the coating to achieve the desired balance between hardness (for scratch resistance) and flexibility (for folding motion), transforming the material properties to satisfy both requirements.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an antireflection layer with multiple layers is applied to reduce reflectivity, then visual clarity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a gradient structure in the antireflection layer where the refractive index changes gradually across different layers. Specifically, the refractive indices are arranged in a sequence (e.g., 1.3-1.5, 1.5-1.7, 1.7-1.9) that provides progressive refraction, achieving effective reflectivity reduction with fewer discrete layer interfaces compared to traditional multi-layer designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the refractive index parameters of each layer in the antireflection coating sequence. By carefully selecting and arranging materials with specific refractive indices in a gradient pattern, the design achieves superior optical performance (reduced reflectivity) while controlling the overall complexity of the multi-layer structure.
3Strength
If silica nanoparticles are added to the coating composition to improve hardness, then scratch resistance is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameter of silica nanoparticles in the coating composition, specifying a precise weight ratio (3-5 wt%). This parameter control ensures sufficient nanoparticle content for achieving the desired hardness while preventing excessive aggregation that would compromise manufacturing uniformity. The optimized concentration balances performance enhancement with manufacturability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by incorporating silica nanoparticles into the silsesquioxane-based resin matrix. The nanoparticle-composite structure provides enhanced hardness while the resin matrix ensures uniform dispersion and prevents aggregation issues, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision requirements at acceptable levels.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a balance between flexibility and robustness, ensuring the display device remains intact and maintains high display quality during low-curvature folding, with improved scratch resistance and reduced reflectivity.
Implementation Method 1
a hard coating layer including a polymer derived from a coating composition, wherein the hard coating layer is disposed on the protective base layer; and an antireflection layer including a high refractive index layer and a low refractive index layer disposed on the high refractive index layer, wherein the antireflection layer is disposed on the hard coating layer, wherein the coating composition includes a silsesquioxane-based resin, an oxetane-based resin, a photopolymerization initiator, and silica nanoparticles
Implementation Method 2
an antireflection layer including a high refractive index layer and a low refractive index layer disposed on the high refractive index layer, wherein the antireflection layer is disposed on the hard coating layer
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes: a display panel configured to fold along a folding axis; and a protective member disposed on the display panel, wherein the protective member includes: a protective base layer; a hard coating layer including a polymer derived from a coating composition, wherein the hard coating layer is disposed on the protective base layer; and an antireflection layer including a high refractive index layer and a low refractive index layer disposed on the high refractive index layer, wherein the antireflection layer is disposed on the hard coating layer, wherein the coating composition includes a silsesquioxane-based resin, an oxetane-based resin, a photopolymerization initiator, and silica nanoparticles, and wherein a first weight of the silica nanoparticles is about 3 wt % to about 5 wt % based on a total weight of the coating composition.