Engineered films for display technologies

Flexible displays and flexible electronics is an area generating considerable interest at present. This article will discuss the requirements of a base substrate for flexible displays and contrast the plastic films that are being developed for this application. The review will cover how the surfaces and properties of the films are being engineered to make them suitable for laying down barrier coatings and for laying down thin film transistor arrays. The barrier technologies that are being developed and the issues facing the development of a flexible glass'' will be discussed.