AGC creates 15% lighter glass for mobile devices

Soda-lime glass was chosen for the substrate materials for several reasons. The composition allows it to it maintains its form when subjected to heat, which is always an issues for mobile device. Soda-lime also resists discoloring when exposed to ultraviolet radiation and it is able to accept chemical strengthening without causing any deformation or loss of clarity. All of these things would be very good news for manufacturers in the ever growing smartphone market, who have to deal with more daily wear and tear than computer and laptop screen makers.

AGC is expected to start the mass production of this lighter glass, using the float process, later in this month. For those of you who are not familiar with it, the float process is a glass-manufacturing method in which glass is floated over molten metal in order to make a highly uniform glass. With the added revenue from this new glass AGC expects its annual sales to exceed 10 billion Yen, or 120 million USD, by the year 2013.

Anyone who is interested in seeing AGC's soda-lime glass substrate first hand will be able to do so at Display Week 2011 of the Society for Information Display (SID) in Los Angeles, California, on May 15, where the glass will be making an appearance.

More information: AGC press release

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