With the rise of foldable phones, the wind direction of their related materials has also changed. Among them, there is the transparent PI, which is the CPI film, which is selected as the foldable mobile phone cover material. In today's smart phone market, the popularity of foldable devices is just around the corner, so the market demand for CPI films that meet the required performance will also increase significantly.
In August 2019, the Yano Institute of Economic Research announced the global market forecast for high-performance films. In particular, the transparent PI film (CPI film) for foldable smartphones is expected to ship 130,000 square meters in 2019, and this number is expected to expand to 350,000 square meters by 2021.
According to the results of this survey, 2020 shipments of transparent PI films (CPI films) for foldable smartphones will be 200,000 square meters, an increase of about 54% over 2019. Shipments in 2021 are expected to increase by about 75% over 2020. In addition to PI films, products such as transparent acrylic films, flex-resistant PET films, and highly transparent polyurethane films with optical self-healing functions will also debut, and will drive the market expansion.
At present, CPI films have been widely used in the manufacture of photovoltaic devices such as flexible printed circuit boards, flexible displays, touch screens, and flexible solar cells.
Previously, Japanese media reported that Toyobo has developed a buckling-resistant optical PET film that is expected to replace PI films for glass cover plates of foldable mobile phones. Then there was news that new materials such as Corning's foldable ultra-thin glass and Toray's foldable aramid film could compete with it.
However, according to the film chain observation, CPI film still has great advantages. It has abundant production conditions, complete technical reserves, and a more complete and stable industrial chain. The covers used in foldable mobile phones currently on the market The boards are all CPI films.
At present, the industrialized production enterprises of CPI films are mainly concentrated in Japan, South Korea, and the United States, with Mitsubishi Gas, DuPont, Toyobo, Mitsui Chemicals, SK, Cologne and other major producers. Among them, Japan is now the world's main producer and consumer of transparent polyimide films, with output accounting for 95% of the world.
According to a survey by the Yano Institute of Economic Research, the development of thin films with good low dielectric, low water absorption, high heat resistance and refractive properties for foldable smartphone covers and 5G substrates is underway.
In the application of the foldable smartphone cover, transparency will be improved by improving the molecular structure and combination of PI. In addition, through the use of polymeric materials and technologies, products that have improved mechanical strength such as impact resistance and deformation resistance have also appeared.
The transparency of the cover film material of Japan's Sumitomo Chemical can reach more than 90%, and can achieve 200,000 times of folding, and its performance is undoubtedly extremely excellent in terms of the entire film material industry.
It is no doubt that foldable phones will lead the trend in the next few years. Over time, the materials involved will also make us more dazzled. At least for now, CPI can still retain a place with its perfect industrial chain, and even stand still. It is unknown.