[테크월드=이나리 기자] As LCD TV sizes have increased so has demand for non-triacetyl cellulose (non-TAC) polarizers used in LCD panels, which is expected to grow 24% year-on-year in 2017 to 314 million square meters, according to IHS Markit.
The adoption rate of non-TAC polarizer, such as acryl, COP, PET and PC, in all LCD panels is expected to increase to 31% in 2017 from 26% in 2016. Panel makers, such as BOE, CSOT and Innolux, have recently started expanding the application of non-TAC films and they also plan to ramp up new large generation fabs in the next few years, driving the growth of the non-TAC polarizer market. By 2020, non-TAC polarizer demand is projected to total 454 million square meters, with an adoption rate of 40%, while that of TAC polarizer to fall to 60% with 679 million square meters.
Among non-TAC polarizers, there has been a particular interest in PET polarizer thanks to its lower price and greater durability against moisture compared to other non-TAC polarizers. Demand for PET polarizer is expected to amount to almost 100 million square meters in 2020. It will account for 21% of the total non-TAC polarizer market in 2020, up from 11% in 2016.
While interests in PET polarizer are increasing among film makers, LG Chem recently started to supply PET polarizer. SKC also succeeded in developing PET film for polarizer, and plans to enter the polarizer market in the second half of this year. As the PET film price is expected to fall with more PET film makers in the market and Samsung SDI -- major supplier of PET polarizer -- has just started a new line, the PET polarizer market is more likely to spring up beginning this year.
What is a polarizer?
A polarizer is composed of two PVA films and four PVA protection films. The PVA film, which polarizes the light from backlight units, uses protection films on both sides. Traditionally, TAC film has been used for protection due to its outstanding optical features, versatility to be modified to films, and sufficient capacity developed from the film-camera era. However, with the migration to larger panel sizes and increased popularity of open cell business models, this all changed.
Today, non-TAC polarizing films are preferred for larger LCD panels, as they have better durability than TAC polarizer. In addition, in the shipping process of open cell display modules, which expose the polarizer, the role of the protection films becomes even more important as temperature and humidity could influence the performance of the polarizer and potentially the panel. As panel makers are located in Asia, open cells pass the equator twice by boat when shipped to Europe.
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