Foldable Window Hard Coating for Durability Without Cracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing window coatings for foldable electronic devices lack the necessary balance of flexibility and durability, leading to potential damage during folding and reduced longevity.
Innovation Solution
A hard coating composition comprising a silsesquioxane compound, photo-polymerization initiator, and silica nanoparticles, applied to form a flexible and durable hard coating layer with an anti-reflection and anti-fingerprint layer, enhancing the window's structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a hard coating layer is formed to improve durability and hardness, then the window becomes more resistant to damage and fingerprints, but the flexibility required for foldable devices is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the hard coating layer by incorporating specific silsesquioxane compounds with controlled molecular structures and ratios. This allows tuning of the coating's mechanical properties to achieve both hardness and flexibility simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between durability and adaptability for foldable devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite hard coating layer combining silsesquioxane compounds with other materials to achieve synergistic effects. The composite structure provides enhanced durability while maintaining flexibility, allowing the window to withstand both mechanical stress and folding operations
2Strength
If the hard coating layer is made thicker to improve durability, then resistance to external impacts increases, but the coating becomes more prone to cracking during folding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the thickness and compositional parameters of the hard coating layer to achieve a balance where sufficient impact resistance is provided without creating excessive brittleness. By controlling the molecular structure and cross-linking density through parameter adjustment, the coating maintains reliability during folding while providing adequate protection
3Strength
If conventional hard coating materials are used to improve surface hardness, then the coating becomes more resistant to wear, but the overall durability in foldable applications is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops a composite coating system that integrates silsesquioxane compounds with specific molecular architectures into the hard coating matrix. This composite approach enhances not only surface hardness but also overall durability by improving adhesion, flexibility, and resistance to environmental factors, addressing the limitations of conventional single-material coatings
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 coating provides improved flexibility and durability, allowing the window to withstand folding and external impacts while maintaining clarity and resistance to fingerprints.
Implementation Method 1
photo-curing the dried preliminary hard coating layer to form a hard coating layer
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments provide a hard coating composition, a window produced from the hard coating composition, a method of manufacturing the window, and an electronic device including the window. The hard coating composition includes a solvent and a hard coating solid matter, wherein the hard coating solid matter includes a silsesquioxane compound, and a photo-polymerization initiator. The silsesquioxane compound is represented by Formula 1, which is explained in the specification.