Siloxane Resin Coating for Flexible Displays

Solution Overview

Problem

Transparent polymer films face challenges in achieving a balance between surface hardness and flexibility, with existing coatings either compromising on flexibility to enhance hardness or vice versa, leading to issues like curling and cracking.

Innovation Solution

A resin composition incorporating a silane compound and a diol compound with a linear structure, which allows for dense crosslinking and flexibility through alkoxy-diol substitution reaction or condensation-polymerization, resulting in a cured product with surface hardness of at least 3H and excellent abrasion resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If organic materials are used for coating to maintain flexibility, then flexibility is improved, but surface hardness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidsurface hardness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a hybrid organic-inorganic coating composition that combines organic polymers with inorganic silane compounds. The organic component provides flexibility and moldability, while the inorganic silane component contributes high surface hardness and transparency. Through chemical bonding between the organic polymer and inorganic silane, the coating achieves a synergistic effect that simultaneously delivers both flexibility and high surface hardness, resolving the contradiction between these two properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If inorganic materials are used for coating to increase surface hardness, then surface hardness is improved, but flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface hardnessVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a hybrid organic-inorganic coating composition that combines organic polymers with inorganic silane compounds. The organic component provides flexibility and moldability, while the inorganic silane component contributes high surface hardness and transparency. Through chemical bonding between the organic polymer and inorganic silane, the coating achieves a synergistic effect that simultaneously delivers both flexibility and high surface hardness, resolving the contradiction between these two properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If dense network formation is used to improve surface hardness, then surface hardness is improved, but adhesivity deteriorates causing curling and cracking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface hardnessVSAvoidadhesivity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent carefully controls the molecular structure parameters of the silane compound, specifically using silane compounds with 2 to 4 hydrolyzable groups and appropriate organic groups. By optimizing these structural parameters and controlling the hydrolysis and condensation reaction conditions, the patent achieves a balanced crosslinking density that provides high surface hardness while maintaining adequate adhesivity to the substrate, thus preventing curling and cracking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates different local structures within the coating: a dense crosslinked network structure in the bulk provides high surface hardness, while the interface region maintains optimized bonding characteristics for good adhesivity. The gradual transition in network density from the substrate interface to the coating surface allows simultaneous achievement of hardness and adhesion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 resin composition maximizes flexibility while securing surface hardness and scratch resistance, preventing curling and cracking, and is suitable for use in flexible display applications.

Implementation Method 1

A resin composition incorporating a silane compound and a diol compound with a linear structure, which allows for dense crosslinking and flexibility through alkoxy-diol substitution reaction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAlkoxy-diol substitution reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

A resin composition incorporating a silane compound and a diol compound with a linear structure, which allows for dense crosslinking and flexibility through alkoxy-diol substitution reaction or condensation-polymerization

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCondensation-polymerization: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP3636719B1Resin composition for coating, and coating film comprising cured product thereof as coating layer

Publication Date: 2024.10.23 KOLON INDUSTRIES INC

AI summary

The present invention relates to a resin composition for coating, and a coating film comprising a cured product thereof as a coating layer. Particularly, the present invention relates to a resin composition for coating, and a coating film comprising a cured product thereof as a coating layer, wherein the resin composition for coating comprises a siloxane resin that is chemically bonded by compounds comprising alkoxysilane and diol, which comprise epoxy or acryl within the chemical structures thereof.