WACKER and VIA optronics Intensify

Low-Reflection Liquid Crystal Displays

WACKER, the Munich-based chemical Group, is expanding its sales collaboration with VIA optronics, a company that manufactures and enhances
liquid crystal displays (LCDs). The two parties have signed an agreement to this effect. They plan to strengthen their cooperation in optical bonding and, in doing so, bundle sales and marketing activities. They have also agreed to share more knowledge in developing new products and processing technologies. WACKER has been supplying VIA optronics with highly transparent silicone gels since 2011. These kinds of silicones make it possible to manufacture low-reflection and energy-saving displays and touchscreens for mobile electronic devices.

VIA optronics has many years of experience in manufacturing and enhancing displays and is a pioneer in optical bonding. The company, which is based in Germany, specializes in reducing display reflections. These kinds of reflections can severely restrict the possible uses of LCDs. They are caused by a design constraint that requires a gap between the cover glass or touchscreen and makes it possible for reflections to occur. This can significantly impair the readability of the display, especially in direct sunlight.

The optical bonding process employed by VIA optronics largely eliminates reflections because it uses a transparent silicone gel to bond the full surface of the touchscreen to the LCD. Such bonded displays are not just more brilliant and readable. They also consume comparatively little power, because less energy is required to illuminate the display. In addition, the silicone bond offers protection against dust and moisture and increases the mechanical stability. “WACKER and VIA optronics are both technology leaders in their fields. We contribute our knowledge of silicones and silicone gels while VIA optronics provides its optical bonding expertise. This results in numerous synergies for our customers,” says Peter Summo, head of the Engineering Silicones business unit at WACKER. “Demand for low-reflection displays is rising all the time. Thanks to their brilliance, energy efficiency and ruggedness, these kinds of displays are more and more frequently found on mobile devices such as smartphones, measuring instruments and navigation devices.”

For the optical bonding, VIA optronics uses a specialty silicone gel that was custom developed specifically for this purpose by WACKER.
The room-temperature-curing gel is highly transparent, highly elastic and slightly tacky. The last of these ensures optimum bonding of the
components. “Display manufacturers are facing increasingly tough technical challenges,” stresses VIA optronics founder, Jürgen Eichner. “Our customers require displays that are flatter and more brilliant than ever before and consume as little power as possible. These demands could not be met without optical bonding and an advanced material like silicone.” VIA optronics values the intensified collaboration with the chemical Group. As Eichner says, “WACKER is one of the leading manufacturers of silicones and possesses unique knowledge. Those are ideal prerequisites for developing innovative solutions for the displays of the future.”