Polarizing Decision
Samsung SDI has started strengthening its competitiveness in the polarizing film business. A polarizer makes a screen clear and vivid by restricting the plane in which light waves vibrate.
This is why polarizing film is considered a key material to produce display panels. In fact, it accounts for nearly 10 percent in the production cost of display panels. According to market research institute IHS, the size of the global polarizing film market reached about 10 trillion won (US$9.16 billion) as of 2014.
According to related industry sources, Samsung SDI is considering the extended application of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polyester film, which is currently being used to produce only 32 inch (81.28cm) to 55 inch (139.7cm) TVs, to different models, including monitors.
In 2012, Samsung SDI developed a technology to replace polarizing film’s core material, triacetate cellulose (TAC), to PET, and used the technology in its TVs. A TAC film, which is used on existing film cameras, is cost ineffective. Since it is vulnerable to moisture, the film is inappropriate for long-term transportation, like crossing the ocean in display panels.
Accordingly, Samsung SDI developed a new material for polarizing films using PET films, which are resistant to moisture and have relatively low production cost. Polarized PET film boasts a sixtieth higher performance than existing polarized TAC film in water vapor transmission rate, a measure of the passage of water vapor through a substance.
Samsung SDI got into the polarized film business after taking over Ace Digitech in 2007. Since the acquisition, Ace Digitech built and operated a third production line to manufacture TVs mainly from smaller products in 2010. In 2011, the company merged with Ace Digitech and incorporated the Cheongju plant in a bid to improve business efficiency.