Plastic cover lens of touch screens are commonly made of PMMA or PC, while another type uses glass as the material. Neither material is inherently “better”; it's a matter of “more suitable.” The choice depends on the specific application scenario and product requirements.
1. Recommended Application Scenarios for Plastic Cover Touchscreens Based on Their Properties
Industrial Control and Automation Equipment
Scenarios: Control panels in factory workshops, PLC touchscreens, test and measurement instruments, heavy machinery operation interfaces.
Reasoning: Industrial environments often involve vibration, impact, and even potential tool drops from heights. Plastic's impact resistance and shatterproof properties (even if broken, it won't form sharp fragments) are crucial, significantly enhancing equipment durability and safety.
Education, Children, and Public Equipment
Scenarios: Children's learning tablets, electronic readers, library kiosks, self-service ticketing machines, interactive shopping mall guide displays.
Reason: Durable against drops when accidentally dropped by children. For public equipment, it also better withstands accidental bumps and intentional vandalism, reducing maintenance costs.
Wearables and Flexible Displays
Scenarios: Curved or irregularly shaped screens for smartwatches and fitness bands, as well as some conceptual flexible display devices.
Reason: Plastic's bendable and highly malleable properties enable creation of complex 2.5D or even 3D curved surfaces that conform better to areas like wrists—a challenge for glass.
Low-Cost, Lightweight Consumer Electronics
Applications: Feature phones, digital photo frames, remote controls, etc.
Reason: Plastic costs significantly less than tempered glass, helping control overall device expenses. Its lighter weight also reduces equipment bulk.
2. Advantages and Disadvantages Compared to Glass Covers
(1) Advantages:
Impact Resistance and Safety: This is the core advantage of plastic covers. They offer excellent toughness, resist shattering, and withstand severe impacts and drops. Even if fractured, they typically crack or split rather than shatter into sharp fragments like glass, enhancing safety.
Lightweight: Plastic has a much lower density than glass. Using plastic covers effectively reduces the overall weight of the device, enhancing portability and user experience.
Moldability and Processability: Plastic can be easily formed into complex shapes—such as curved surfaces and irregular cuts—through processes like injection molding, offering far greater design flexibility than glass. Achieving curves in glass requires complex thermal bending processes, which are costly and limited in shape options.
Cost-Effectiveness: Plastic covers are significantly cheaper than high-quality chemically strengthened glass, both in raw materials and processing costs, making them advantageous for controlling overall device budgets.
(2) Disadvantages:
Poor Scratch Resistance: This is the biggest drawback of plastic covers. Their low surface hardness makes them susceptible to scratches from keys, gravel, and other hard objects. Prolonged use often results in fine surface scratches, affecting aesthetics and touch responsiveness. Typically requires protective films, whereas glass covers (especially premium tempered glass) offer excellent scratch resistance.
Subpar tactile feel and texture: Plastic often feels rough and dull, lacking the smooth, cool sensation of glass. Visually, plastic can convey a “cheap” impression, failing to match glass's transparency and premium look, which hinders product quality perception.
Light Transmission and Display Quality: While optical-grade plastics (like PMMA) may offer high initial light transmission, this degrades as scratches accumulate during use. This results in display quality that is less transparent, vibrant, and sharp compared to glass covers.
Insufficient chemical and weather resistance: Plastics are susceptible to corrosion by organic solvents like alcohol, requiring careful cleaning. Prolonged UV exposure may cause certain plastics to age, yellow, or degrade. Glass, however, offers stable chemical properties with superior corrosion and aging resistance.
3. Choosing between plastic and glass covers fundamentally involves balancing cost, durability, weight and texture, scratch resistance, and display quality.
If your product prioritizes drop resistance, cost, lightweight design, or unique shapes, a plastic cover is the wise choice.
If your product demands premium texture, smooth tactile feel, crystal-clear display, and daily wear resistance, a glass cover remains the superior option.