WACKER Presents Innovation Award for the Development of New Silicone Resins for Optical Bonding Applications

• September 08, 2020

SeungA Lee and JungEun Lee work at the Center of Electronics Excellence, a Group research institute in Seoul. They developed customized solutions based on novel UV-crosslinkable silicone gels for the burgeoning market for high-quality non-reflective displays. In a process called optical bonding, the silicone gel bonds the thin cover glass with the electronic layers beneath. The display is made non-reflective by filling the gap with gel and, thus, forcing out the air.

Silicone gels differ from other systems based on organic materials due to their stability and resistance to environmental influences, even after many years of service. As a result, they are widely used in sophisticated applications, such as large instrument-panel displays, restaurant-menu touchscreens, multi-functional sports watches and, above all, in the automotive industry. In every vehicle class, car makers are increasingly turning to ever-larger displays that are bonded with silicone gel. Such displays are indispensable for handling state-of-the-art connectivity systems. Furthermore, they open new design opportunities for car interiors, such us curved dashboard displays.

As in the past, a key reason for the notable success of WACKER’s new product line is that customers receive products tailored to their individual needs.“The prize winners from our South Korean Application Technology department developed UV-crosslinkable silicone resins in close collaboration with a number of electronic-sector customers and, based on their specifications, tailored solutions precisely for various applications,” said Christian Hartel, member of Wacker Chemie AG’s Executive Board. “Their work has enabled WACKER to become a leading silicone manufacturer in the highly attractive optical-bonding market.”