Samsung develops cheaper glass for LCD TVs

Samsung has developed a method to manufacture LCD panels from ordinary glass plates, which could significantly reduce the cost of LCD screens for TVs and laptops.

Because LCD panels are manufactured at extremely high temperatures, they are made from high-quality non-alkaline glass, which is resistant to heat and to the chemicals used in LCD production.

Ordinary glass would change colour and distort during the manufacturing process.

Samsung has developed a method of manufacturing LCDs at lower temperatures, eliminating the risk of the glass changing colour. With this method it is possible to use cheaper soda-lime glass for the screens.

The company has produced a 19in, 1280 x 1024 panel, which is said to give the same image quality as an LCD made in the customary way.

The process is still in the early stages of development, and may not be ready for mass production of screens for several more years.