LG Display unveils world‘s first 50% stretchable display technology

(LG Display Co.)

South Korean display maker LG Display Co. announced on Sunday that it has successfully developed the world’s first stretchable display capable of expanding up to 50 percent, the highest elongation rate in the industry.

The development was unveiled during a gathering at LG Sciencepark in Magok, western Seoul, on Friday.

LG Display was chosen as the lead company for a national project on stretchable display development in 2020 and has since collaborated with 19 industry, academia, and research institutions at home.

Stretchable displays are referred to as the ultimate free-form displays as they can be freely altered by stretching, folding, or twisting.

LG Display’s new prototype features a 12-inch screen that stretches up to 18 inches while delivering a high resolution of 100 pixels per inch (ppi) and full red, green, and blue color of a regular monitor.

The maximum elongation rate has more than doubled from 20 percent to 50 percent, compared to its first stretchable display prototype unveiled in 2022.

Higher elongation rates allow for diverse design possibilities in displays, enhancing product competitiveness when commercialized.

“We applied many new technologies, including a special silicon substrate used in contact lenses and a wiring design that withstands pressure well, achieving a performance that surpasses the original project target of a 20 percent elongation rate,” said a company official.

The display is also durable enough to endure over 10,000 stretches and maintains high image quality even under extreme conditions, including low and high temperatures and external impacts, thanks to micro-LED light sources smaller than 40 micrometers.

During the event on Friday, LG Display presented various concepts for using stretchable displays, such as hand-manipulated displays for vehicles and wearable displays that can be attached to firefighter suits.