Corning Inc. recently announced the launch of Corning® Willow™ Glass, an ultra-slim flexible glass that could reportedly revolutionize the shape and form of next-generation consumer electronic technologies. The new glass can help enable thin, light and cost-efficient applications like today’s slim displays and the smart surfaces of the future. The thinness, strength, and flexibility of the glass have the potential to enable displays to be “wrapped” around a device or structure. In addition, the glass can be processed at temperatures up to 500°C.

High-temperature processing capability is essential for today’s high end displays, and is a processing condition that cannot be supported with polymer films. Corning Willow Glass will enable the industry to pursue high-temperature, continuous “roll-to-roll” processes–similar to how newsprint is produced–that have been impossible until now.

The glass will reportedly support thinner backplanes and color filters for both organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and liquid crystal displays (LCDs) in high-performance portable devices such as smartphones, tablets, and notebook computers. This new, ultra-slim flexible glass can also help develop conformable (curved) displays for immersive viewing or mounting on non-flat surfaces.

Willow Glass samples are being shipped to customers developing new display and touch applications. The company is also collaborating with research institutions, customers, and equipment makers to develop an ecosystem of compatible process equipment, including optimized process design.

For more information, visit www.corning.com.