SEOUL, April 20 (AJP) - A research team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology has developed a core technology that fundamentally eliminates the wrinkle problem in foldable smartphone displays by redesigning the adhesive areas between the screen and its support plate, the prominent science institute said Monday.
According to the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), the new technique ensures that folding stress is distributed across the device rather than concentrating on a single point, allowing for a smooth surface even after tens of thousands of uses. This breakthrough is expected to serve as a turning point for the foldable market as the industry looks to expand the technology to tablets and laptops.
The persistent crease on foldable screens has long been a major drawback, causing visual distortion and reduced durability. While global smartphone manufacturers have invested heavily in research and development to address this issue, they have yet to completely remove the visible line where the device folds. Industry experts have often identified this physical flaw as the primary barrier to the wider adoption of foldable devices.
Professor Lee Phil-seung and his team at the KAIST Department of Mechanical Engineering began their research to address common frustrations experienced by mobile users. After disassembling dozens of used foldable phones and conducting numerous experiments, the team discovered that the key lay in how the display is bonded to the internal support structure. By redesigning the adhesive zones, the researchers ensured that the mechanical strain of folding is spread out rather than pinching the screen at a specific point.
To verify the performance of the prototype, the researchers used straight LED lights to test for surface irregularities. Unlike commercial products, where the reflected light appears bent or distorted at the fold, the KAIST prototype maintained a perfectly straight reflection. The team confirmed that no visual distortion occurred even under testing conditions sensitive enough to detect surface curves smaller than 0.1mm.
The technology is designed to be durable enough to withstand tens of thousands of folding cycles with minimal deformation. Because the structural changes are straightforward, the researchers believe the method can be easily integrated into existing manufacturing processes for various devices beyond smartphones, including tablets and notebooks.
"We have solved a difficult challenge that global companies could not resolve using a relatively simple and clear method," Professor Lee said. "We expect this technology to spread across the next generation of displays, including laptops and tablets, further strengthening the technical competitiveness of South Korea."
KAIST has registered a patent for the technology in South Korea and has filed additional patent applications in the United States, China, and the European Union. According to the university, the simplicity of the design makes it highly viable for mass production.
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