Touch screens are easy to use, but they are afraid of the sun!
Just like our skin will turn black and aging if it is exposed to the sun for a long time, the touch screen will be harmed by ultraviolet (UV) rays if it is exposed to the sun for a long time, which will cause the screen to turn yellow, brittle, and the touch does not work, and even shorten its life.
1. Influence of ultraviolet radiation on touch screen
Ultraviolet light is a part of sunlight with high energy. Long-term exposure to ultraviolet light will have a certain impact on the material and structure of the touch screen. Specifically, the impact of UV on the touch screen is mainly reflected in the following aspects:
1.1 Material aging: UV rays will make the glass, glue and other materials of the touch screen yellow, brittle, and even cracked.
1.2 Decline in touch performance: UV irradiation may lead to changes in the conductivity of the touch-sensitive layer, thereby affecting the sensitivity and accuracy of the touch screen. Especially in a long time under high intensity UV irradiation, this effect may be more obvious.
1.3 Reduced visual effect: touch screen as a display interface, its clarity and color performance is critical to the user experience. UV rays may cause fading and discoloration of the coating or material on the screen surface, thus affecting the visual effect. The aging surface is more prone to scratches and roughness, and reflecting ambient light interferes with visibility (e.g., you can't see the content in the sunlight).
1.4 Shorter life: Long-term exposure to UV light may significantly shorten the overall life of the touch screen, which not only affects the user experience, but may also increase the cost of repair and replacement.
2. The anti-ultraviolet (UV) treatment of the touch screen is designed to prevent material aging, optical performance degradation, and failure of the touch function caused by long-term exposure to sunlight. The following are some common treatments:
2.1 Application of anti-UV adhesive
Anti-UV adhesives such as OCA (Optical Clear Adhesive) adhesive are widely used in touch panel manufacturing. This type of adhesive has excellent UV resistance and can prevent discoloration, degradation and damage caused by UV. the use of OCA adhesive not only ensures the long-term stability and durability of the touch screen, but also improves the clarity of the screen and the stability of the color.
2.2 The use of functional coatings
Functional coatings can give the required performance of the substrate. In the manufacture of touch panels, the damage to the screen caused by ultraviolet rays can be effectively prevented by applying a layer of functional coating with UV resistance. This coating usually has good transparency and weather resistance, and can maintain the aesthetics and service life of the screen.
2.3 Infrared and ultraviolet protective film
In order to further enhance the UV protection of the touch screen, some manufacturers have a layer of specialized film on the surface of the touch screen. This film can block harmful infrared and ultraviolet radiation, while maintaining image clarity and touch responsiveness. In addition, the film can also play the role of anti-glare, anti-reflection, etc., to improve the user experience in different environments.
2.4 Selection of high-performance materials
In the manufacturing process of the touch screen, the selection of materials with excellent UV resistance is also an important way to improve UV protection. For example, the use of ITO (Transparent Conductive Oxide) film with high transmittance and low reflectivity can effectively block UV rays while maintaining screen transparency. In addition, some special glass materials such as AGM glass also has excellent UV protection and high strength, high transmittance and other characteristics, suitable for the manufacture of high-end touch screen.
The anti-UV aging function is the key guarantee for touchscreens to work reliably in outdoor or high-light environments, which directly affects the durability, user experience and cost of the device. Especially in harsh environments, the UV resistance of touch panels is even more effective.