Mitsubishi makes new protective layer for OLED panels

Mitsubishi Plastic has developed a flexible transparent film that can be used, among other things, as a protective layer for OLED panels and solar cells. In the long run, the film could replace the glass substrates in HDTVs, for example.

The new ‘View-Barrier’ coating distinguishes itself from competing products, according to Mitsubishi Plastics, by allowing very little water vapor to pass through. The so-called water vapor transmission rate of the View-Barrier material is significantly lower at 10-6g/m2 per day than the 10-4g/m2 per day of the X-Barrier film introduced in June 2008. This is especially important for OLED panels, whose lifespan is shortened under the influence of moisture. Mitsubishi Plastics thinks to guarantee the low transmissivity value for one to two years.

In addition to a high resistance to water vapor, the new film can also be provided with other properties at the request of the customer. For example, View-Barrier can be made anti-reflective, the film can filter out ultraviolet radiation and it is possible to make the material scratch-resistant. The material would therefore be suitable for various applications, such as e-paper and flexible solar cells.

According to Mitsubishi Plastics, the plastic film can eventually replace the combination of glass and other plastics from LCD and plasma TVs and solar panels, for example. The company did not disclose prices for View-Barrier – which depend on customer requirements – but did say that the film material can be produced more cheaply than glass.