UV-Cured Hard Coating for Flexible Display Window Cracks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flexible display devices face challenges in maintaining optical and mechanical properties while ensuring excellent folding properties without causing cracks.

Innovation Solution

A window with a hard coating layer composed of a resin composition including a photoinitiator, a fluorine-based compound, an acrylate-based compound, and a reactive diluent, which provides improved impact resistance and folding properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a rigid window structure is used to provide mechanical strength and optical properties, then the window has good mechanical property and optical property, but the window causes deterioration in folding or bending operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical propertyVSAvoidfolding property

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by using a flexible window structure with a polymer-based hard coating layer that can bend and fold without cracking. The window includes a flexible substrate and a hard coating layer formed by UV-curing resin composition, allowing the window to maintain mechanical strength while adapting to folding operations in flexible display devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies this principle by creating a composite window structure consisting of multiple layers including a flexible substrate, adhesive layer, and hard coating layer formed from UV-curing resin. This composite structure combines the flexibility of polymer substrates with the hardness and optical properties of the UV-cured coating, resolving the contradiction between mechanical strength and folding adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If a thin window structure is used to improve flexibility and folding property, then the window has good folding property, but the window has poor impact resistance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefolding propertyVSAvoidimpact resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a thin flexible window structure with UV-cured hard coating that maintains folding flexibility while providing adequate impact resistance through the cross-linked polymer network formed during UV curing, eliminating the need for thick rigid structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the window materials, specifically using UV-curing resin composition that transitions from liquid to solid state upon UV exposure. This creates a hard, impact-resistant coating while maintaining the overall thin and flexible structure through controlled polymerization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If a hard coating layer is applied to improve impact resistance, then the window has improved impact resistance, but the window may cause cracks in folding operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidfolding durability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flexible polymer-based hard coating layer that can bend without cracking. The UV-cured resin composition forms a cross-linked network structure that provides hardness and impact resistance while the polymer base material maintains flexibility and crack resistance during folding operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an adhesive layer as an intermediary between the flexible substrate and the hard coating layer. This adhesive layer acts as a buffer that absorbs stress during folding, preventing cracks from propagating through the hard coating while maintaining strong bonding between layers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 window effectively prevents the occurrence of cracks and enhances the durability of display devices, even in low curvature structures, by maintaining excellent optical and mechanical properties.

Implementation Method 1

a hard coating layer including a polymer derived from a resin composition including a photoinitiator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotopolymerisation: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 2

the resin composition may further include an ultraviolet absorber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS20250053200A1Window and display device including the same

Publication Date: 2025.02.13 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a window and a display device including the same. The window includes: a hard coating layer including a polymer derived from a resin composition including a photoinitiator, a fluorine-based compound, an acrylate-based compound, and a reactive diluent, and the acrylate-based compound includes at least one of polyester acrylate, epoxy acrylate, urethane acrylate, or ethylene glycol acrylate. The reactive diluent includes at least one of polyester acrylate or polyether acrylate having a molecular weight of greater than 0 grams per mole (g/mol) and about 1000 grams per mole (g/mol) or less.