LG Chem develops plastic flexible OLED lighting panels

LG Chem is aiming to start initial production of plastic flexible OLED lighting panels during the first half of 2015

1 Jul 2013 | Editor

LG Chem’s OLED Light Division has announced that it has finalised development of its new plastic film type flexible OLED panels. The panels are produced through new processes and technologies using plastic films which enable the panels to be lighter and truly flexible compared to flexible-glass substrates.

LG Chem is aiming to begin initial production of plastic flexible OLED lighting panels during the first half of 2015, which is expected to open significant opportunities for expanding the market.

According to LG Chem truly flexible OLED panels will enable unprecedented luminaire designs as well as new lighting applications for automotive and aerospace industry. LG Chem even suggests that in the future flexible lighting may be applied like wallpaper.

The key to producing truly flexible bottom-emission OLED lighting panels that has been :

the adoption of transparent polyimide substrate
a new substrate coating technology has been applied to reduce costs
additional barrier technologies have been applied to prevent material degradation against the permeation of water vapour and oxygen

About LG Chem OLED Light Division

LG Chem’s OLED Light business was officially launched in 2011, following the company’s 15 year research endeavor on OLED materials. As LG Chem was already a leading components supplier for the LCD industry, the company combined its operational excellence with its material expertise to be the first OLED panel manufacturer to mass produce panels at efficacies of 60lm/W.

LG Chem’s OLED Light business also possesses an optimal cost structure with LG Chem producing its own materials as well as most of the key components for OLED panel production. Finally, with Korea being the leading country in OLED displays, LG Chem is surrounded by the best OLED infrastructure in the world. The company has recently announced that it will be mass producing its 80 lm/W OLED panels as well as bendable panels within the third quarter of this year.