Corning shows slim and flexible Willow Glass
updated 02:51 pm EDT, Mon June 4, 2012
Corning does not reveal hardware partners for its latest Willow Glass product
Corning, which makes Gorilla Glass found in many portable electronics such as smartphones, tablets, and notebooks, has now introduced a new product called Willow Glass. It's promised to be very thin and flexible, allowing future gadgets to be wrapped completely in it, Corning said. Willow Glass will support thinner backplanes and color filters for OLED and LCD screens and enable the production of curved screens as well.
The material can be produced like newsprint, on a "roll-to-roll" process that hasn't been possible before and at temperatures of up to 500 degrees Celsius, the company said. It may even be as thin as 100 microns, or about the same as a piece of paper.
Corning is now providing samples of the new product to devicemakers, but doesn't name them. It's also said to be working with research institutions and equipment makers to develop an optimized design process. The company is also exploring use of the product and associated technology in lights and solar cells.
