Gorilla Glass: Televisions of Tomorrow?

Originally invented in 1962, Gorilla Glass was briefly produced in the 60's, but was eventually placed on the back burner simply because it seemed to have no practical commercial use. Today - more than 40 years in the future - it's being mass produced in anticipation of it becoming the latest trend for touch screen tablets and art-deco televisions. Will it prove to be the new multibillion-dollar payoff that Corning Inc. expects it to be?

What is Gorilla Glass?

During the late 1950's, Corning began work on developing a glass that would be as strong as steel. Trying a variety of different heating and layering techniques, they would eventually come up with a strong yet flexible material, which they called Chemcor. Combining this with their super-thin glass, Corning believed that they had created a super strong material that would be the new choice for car windows. Unfortunately, a rival manufacturer was able to beat them to the punch with a far cheaper alternative and even an attempt to use the Chemcor to produce special sunglasses went down the tubes.

In 2006, however, the idea to use Chemcor resurfaced with the need for durable cell phone cover glass. It was then that the name was changed to Gorilla Glass and, ever since, it's been geared up as the glass of the future.

Why Gorilla Glass Is Better

Said to be up to 3 times stronger than chemically-strengthened soda-lime glass, Gorilla Glass maintains its strength while being only half as thick as other products on the market. This means that it will cut down on shipping costs and overall weight, while still being able to produce a product that is strong and durable. It can also be used as a protective covering for many touch-screen devices, offering a very high-quality product that reduces the risk of surface damage.

Gorilla Glass is also an environmentally-friendly product, produced in compliance with RoHS standards. Containing no heavy metals, it's perfect for devices that are engineered to meet environmental standards and it can be formed in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, making it ideal for the smallest of cell phones to the latest art-deco televisions. Additionally, customizations like anti-splinter adhesive films, easy-to-clean coatings, formed parts and on-glass printing add even more flexibility and originality to an already-great product.

The Future of Gorilla Glass

Currently, there are more than 100 devices on the market that are utilizing Gorilla Glass. Among them are Motorolla Inc.'s Droid phone and the new LG Electronics' X300 notebook. Corning is expecting Gorilla Glass to take off, not only in the production of cell phones, touch-screen devices and notebooks, but also in the future of tv sets. With their customization possibilities, Gorilla Glass could enable television sets to become beautiful wall art, when not in use, as opposed to that standard black screen you see now. Additionally, designers are considering it for use in unusual products, such as car sunroofs and refrigerator doors.

Some skeptics say that Gorilla Glass raises the price without raising the value of the product, adding roughly $30-60 to an average set. It remains to be seen whether consumers feel that the lighter, damage-resistant Gorilla Glass is worth the extra money, or if they'd prefer to stay with a inferior, yet cheaper, product.

Sources:

Corning.com - The Manufacturer of Gorilla Glass

http://gizmodo.com/ - Discussion of Gorilla Glass

Associated Press - Products now using Gorilla Glass