Corning Expects 'Working Design' Of Foldable Glass In 12-18 Months

(This report was corrected to say Corning expects to have working glass designs, not significant results as earlier reported, in 12-18 months.)

Corning has no plans to back down in the face of advances in foldable smartphone technology that increasingly relies on plastic. The glass specialist company is jumping right into the center of the foldable smartphone bandwagon with plans to produce working designs of strong and flexible glass covers in 12 to 18 months.

In an interview with GSM Arena, Scott Forester, Division Vice President, Marking and Innovation Products at Corning, talked about how the company keeps a balance between scratch resistance and durability when it comes to making glass display for smartphones. He also talked about how the company is planning to adapt to the rising trend of foldable smartphones and how the currently available technology would make the use of glass in foldable displays possible.

Forester said that the challenge is to make a formula for a glass material that will have the same flexibility as plastic yet will have the durability and scratch resistance Gorilla Glass has been known for.

Corning has reportedly developed a product as thick as a human hair at 100 microns. The company is currently working with OEM and expects to "have some working glass designs in 12 to 18 months."

The origin of Gorilla Glass, as noted in the GSM Arena article, can be traced back to 2007 when Steve Jobs contacted Corning seeking a thin, lightweight, yet durable glass for what would be the first iPhone. Corning kept on making Gorilla Glass more resistant to scratches and drops.

Corning faced a challenge when foldable smartphones displays made of plastic were introduced. Plastic is more flexible and can be folded without breaking unlike glass.