Multi-layer wet-dry hardcoats for flexible cover lens

• Main Authors: Thothadri, Manivannan, You, Harvey, Forster, Daniel Paul, Morrison, Neil
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 21.05.2024
• Subjects: ELECTRICITY; OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS; OPTICS; PHYSICS

Implementations described herein generally relate to flexible display devices, and more specifically to flexible cover lens films. The flexible cover lens film has improved strength, elasticity, optical transmission, and anti-abrasion properties. The flexible cover lens film comprises a multi-layer hardcoat disposed on a substrate layer. The substrate layer has a thickness between 2 μm to 100 μm, and the multi-layer hardcoat has a thickness between 1 μm to 10 μm. The multi-layer hardcoat comprises a first layer deposited using a wet deposition process, a second layer deposited using a dry deposition process, and one or more adhesion promotion layers. In terms of optical properties, the multi-layer hardcoat has a total transmission greater than 88%, a haze of about 1% or less, and a yellowness index of b*<1. By combining wet and dry deposition processes to form the multi-layer hardcoat, the cover lens film is both flexible and strong with hardness between 4 H and 9 H.