Although the demand for cover lens lamination and sensor lamination is declining, rising direct-bonding demand for mobile phones is making up the loss. The functional use of adhesives in direct bonding will account for more than half (51.3 percent) of total area share in 2016, after comprising just 46.2 percent in 2015.
OCA is more suitable than OCR for use in flexible curved displays and 3D cover glass. In addition, vivid decorative film is now replacing the conventional color ink beneath the cover lens, which requires OCA for bonding. Even as smartphones from Samsung and Apple lead growth in the flexible display market in 2017, the demand for decorative film will grow even faster.
Although the overall tablet PC market is declining, Apple, Microsoft and Samsung are now adopting OCR for direct bonding, which is leading to rising OCR demand. In addition, two-in-one tablets with 10-inch displays also use direct bonding.