Everwide newsletter No.488
Experiment § Center-Fill Adhesive for Flexible Mini LED
Flexible Mini LED combines the high brightness and contrast of the conventional Mini LED with the bendability of flexible substrates, such as FPC (flexible printed circuits) and plastic substrates. It overcomes the size and form limitations of traditional flat displays and gives product designers far greater freedom. Its main applications include curved and irregularly shaped automotive displays, wearable devices, portable devices, and large bendable displays (Figure 1). We recently developed JE481-26, a one-component epoxy adhesive, for flexible Mini LED panel applications. At room temperature, it has a viscosity of S21 / 20 rpm < 1000 cps, providing excellent handling and dispensing performance. Applied at the junction of four LED beads (Figure 2), it anchors them in place to prevent detachment and forms a barrier against moisture and dust, protecting the circuitry from short circuits and corrosion. As a protective shell between the LED beads, it lets the display bend freely without being easily damaged. JE481-26 cures rapidly at low temperatures, which shortens processing time and improves productivity. Unlike conventional heat-curing adhesives that require temperatures above 120°C, it helps prevent thermal deformation of the flexible substrate caused by high-temperature curing. After curing at 80°C / 30 minutes, the adhesive surface has a matte black finish that absorbs stray light and eliminates glare, enhancing display contrast and image quality. Once cured, it has a hardness of Shore A 84, while retaining excellent flexibility (Figure 3). -Author: Ms. Chang, Wan-Ting
About Us § Daily Footprints of Public Welfare
This year, we once again purchased 200 tickets to the Huashan Social Welfare Foundation charity baseball game to help fund in-home care for seniors in need. Beyond inviting our colleagues with their families and friends, we shared tickets with volunteers, schools, and community groups, so that even more people could join in and give back (Figure 1,2). This Mid-Autumn Festival, our gift boxes featured handmade pastries from Bear House, which we shared with our team. Bear House is a bakery that provides baking training to people with intellectual disabilities, helping them build job skills and find stable employment (Figure 3-5). We encourage everyone to get to know these organizations and support their meaningful work.
Knowledge § Pros and Cons of Using MMA Monomer in Anaerobic Adhesives
Anaerobic adhesives are composed of oligomers, monomers, initiators, and other components, and polymers are sometimes added to adjust viscosity. Oligomers are high-viscosity fluids and polymers are solids, so both must be dissolved in the monomer before they can form a usable anaerobic adhesive formulation. The monomer must carry an acrylic functional group, and the one with the lowest molecular weight is MMA (methyl methacrylate). This monomer is inexpensive and offers good compatibility and penetration. After curing, any residual monomer on the surface evaporates easily, leaving a tack-free, dry surface. However, MMA has several drawbacks: it is highly volatile and has a distinctive odor, and the cured material depolymerizes above 150°C, causing a significant loss of strength. Its unsuitability for high-temperature use is a key limitation of this monomer.
Living § Sharing My Experience Working at a Japanese Company
Having spent more than a decade at a Japanese company, I have a lot of thoughts on the cultural differences between Taiwanese and Japanese workplaces. Japanese factories run on meticulous routines and exceptionally high safety standards. Each day begins with morning calisthenics, a recitation of the company motto, a toolbox meeting, and pointing-and-calling checks before each task; work doesn't start until all are done. "ご安全に！ Stay safe!" is the greeting heard everywhere on the floor, and safety slogans line the walls, all to make risk awareness second nature. The 5S principles of sorting, setting in order, cleaning, and maintaining cleanliness are likewise carried through to the end, bringing higher productivity, lower risk, and stronger teamwork until they become ingrained habits. One Japanese colleague cut foam padding to the exact shape of each tool and labeled every one in a drawer, a textbook example of 5S. Courtesy matters just as much: business cards are regarded as an extension of one's personal image. When I once asked to borrow a colleague's card to make edits, they were taken aback and said, "That's very unprofessional." It showed me their attention to detail and how seriously they take their work. Now that I've joined Everwide, I hope to bring some of these good practices into my work and help make Everwide a safer, more comfortable place to work. -Author: Mr. Chang, Sheng-Yueh
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