The flexible display market has innovated the display market. The flat panel display is adopted for more than 40 years. Desired advances focused on producing a lightweight, thinner model that was easy to handle and store. Scientists and engineers believe that flexible flat panel technology has significant consumer opportunities in the future, with the production of rollable displays in recent years. According to the market database, a flexible display or rollable display is a digital visual display that is flexible in design. Various electronic manufacturers have become engaged in adapting this technology to e-readers, smartphones, and other electronic products. Without the photo or text being blurred, those displays may be rolled up like a scroll. Electronic ink, Gyricon, Organic LCD, and OLED are the techniques involved in the implementation of the flexible display.
Display technology has evolved from conventional Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) displays to flexible displays. Flexible screens are lightweight, thinner, durable, and can be conveniently folded or rolled without any modification. According to the market database, this technology provides new possibilities for display producers to incorporate new display features in diverse applications, including handheld devices, tablets, wearables, digital signage, and automotive display screens. Active-matrix display such as a Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) is built on a plastic substrate surface is used by the technology. The Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED), and Electronic Paper Display (EPD) are the technologies used by flexible displays.
This technology uses plastic, instead of traditional glass, as the main layer. In some applications, thin glass or steel may be used as a substrate for flexible display. One of the key benefits of glass and displays built on steel is higher working temperature, while plastic substrates provide superior flexibility, lightweight, and durability.
Durability is the main benefit of this technology. It can withstand impact better than the rigid glass systems, as the display can be bent and adjusted. Thus, shattered displays might be a distant memory soon. Today bendable displays can use plastic, but under severe stress, the plastic can break. According to the market database, manufacturers such as Corning are experimenting on a lightweight glass called Willow, which is to be placed in smartphones, televisions, and computers. Willow is thin as paper and can be twisted but will crack if it gets rounded up too far.
Evolution of Flexible Display
According to the market database, the growing demand for this technology from the healthcare and automobile sectors will generate growth opportunities for key manufacturers operating in the industry. Automotive designers are focused on consolidating automotive interiors with these displays. For example, Audi Ag and Samsung Corporation entered into a strategic alliance in 2019 to promote the Audi introduction A9 model, an inspiration automotive.
Although curved screens are impressive, these are not the same as the ones that are bent. LCDs are typically combinations composed of backlight, polarizer, thin-film capacitor, liquid crystals, and filtering glass. Typically, LCDs are flat but some companies such as Samsung have succeeded in manufacturing curved LCDs. Thanks to its simple nature, improved picture quality, and versatility, the newly launched organic LED ecosystem (OLED) has gained prominence. Backlighting is not needed for OLED displays, so they can be thinned and shaped into particular forms, such as the curved display on the Samsung Galaxy S7. According to the market database, OLED is a better option for curved displays, with versatility, thinness, and outstanding image quality. OLED would overthrow LCD TVs in the future. However, they are too pricey for large displays such as televisions and computer monitors to manufacture.
Key Drivers of Growth in the Flexible Display Market
A primary factor driving market growth is the increasing need for thin and flexible displays in consumer electronics, such as portable and wearable devices. According to the market database, growing applications for smartphones, notebooks, tablets, and watches will fuel the global demand for this technology. Major players and governments around the world are investing in R&D and technical innovation of display technology, fueling the global flexible display growth further. Also, product advancement in eco-friendly and lighter products is anticipated to propel demand in the global marketplace.
The development of this industry is hindered by technological challenges associated with these products. As OLEDs use chemically reactive electrodes, the substances used in these products are susceptible to air or moisture, which deteriorates the coating when it is in contact with moisture. A thin-film encapsulation is deposited in the OLED plates to address these barriers, restoring gadgets from being compromised and delivering enhanced image quality.
