May 22 2007
DuPont has commercialized a unique line of anti-reflective (AR) film coatings to significantly improve the image contrast and color quality of Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs).
DuPont Optilon AR coating solutions are liquid formulations that enable the manufacture of single-layer, anti-reflective films for the front of LCD displays that greatly decrease surface reflections. In addition, they provide abrasion resistance and reduced cost due to a simpler manufacturing process. DuPont believes that Optilon AR coatings will play a key role in reaching the next level of high definition television (HDTV) picture quality to increase contrast and enable brighter and more vivid colors.
Last year, the company launched DuPont Optilon Advanced Composite Reflectors (ACRs), films designed to significantly improve the performance of LCDs by allowing better light utilization and increased display luminance, with lower overall manufacturing cost. Optilon ACR reflectors are located in the rear of the display backlight, and control the reflection of light to the front of the display with very high efficiency.
"The Optilon product line is a key advancement for the fast-growing $7 billion optical films industry," said Cynthia C. Green, vice president and general manager - DuPont Fluoroproducts. "With DuPont Optilon AR coatings and Optilon Advanced Composite Reflectors, DuPont now offers solutions for better image quality, efficient power use and reduced cost for the front and back of LCD displays. These are key examples of DuPont innovation providing advanced materials for better displays that are easier to see, more durable and lower cost for consumers."
DuPont believes that an optimum combination of high-performance and cost- effectiveness is critical to push beyond current LCD technology barriers. A key requirement for realizing the next level of LCD performance is cost- effective glare reduction. Incumbent anti-reflective multilayer films are often costly to produce or have lower performance, but single-layer Optilon AR has the benefit of simplifying the process to lower costs while providing extremely low reflectivity and excellent abrasion resistance. It also allows for a smudge-resistant surface, neutral color, low haze and high light transmission.
In addition to Optilon AR and ACR, other DuPont materials used in the displays market include:
- Further developments in the company's laser imaging process to replace photolithography in the manufacture of color filters for LCDs;
- A unique solution-processing of small molecule materials for organic light emitting diode displays (OLEDs) and a material set including DuPont DB hole injection layer and DuPont emitter and charge transport materials - the essential materials used to make an OLED display;
- DuPont Kapton E polyimide films for very fine pitch circuitry, superior dimensional stability, high modulus, and easy processing through chemical etching and laser ablation;
- DuPont Pyralux flexible circuit materials that are adhesiveless flexible laminates enabling sharp, crisp, flawless images;
- DuPont Riston dry film photoresists that go into circuit boards for cell phones and other flexible displays to improve drop resistance in portable devices;
- DuPont Zyron chamber cleaning and etch gases, used for thin-film plasma processes;
- DuPont Kalrez parts used in display and semiconductor manufacture, which offer outstanding plasma, chemical and thermal resistance and reduce out gassing and contamination in thermal and wet applications.
- DuPont Vespel parts and shapes that improve yields, increase throughput, reduce consumables and increase manufacturing space, and;
- Films provided by the DuPont Teijin Films joint venture.
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