Display technology is one of the essential technologies for people to get huge amounts of information every day in the information age. Liquid crystal display (LCD) has gradually replaced the traditional diode display (CRT) and become the mainstream display mode in the 21st century because of its advantages of lightness, environmental protection and low consumption.

1. Characteristics of liquid crystal materials industry

The technical level of liquid crystal material industry is high. The production of liquid crystal materials needs three processes: synthesis, purification and mixing of liquid crystal monomers. The thermal stability, chemical stability, photoelectric stability, voltage retention, resistivity and other indicators of liquid crystal materials are strictly required. The determination of process, purification and detection technology and the continuous research and development of new products are more difficult. Enterprises in the industry need long-term research and accumulation of experience in order to meet the requirements of downstream LCD panel manufacturers. Therefore, the entry barrier of the liquid crystal material industry is relatively high, and the industry has certain monopoly characteristics. At the same time, the existence of high technology and monopoly, so that the liquid crystal materials industry to maintain a long-term profit level higher than the downstream.

In terms of business mode, custom mode is widely adopted in research, production and sales of liquid crystal materials. The downstream of the industry is developing rapidly, the variety of products is constantly enriched, and the content of science and technology is constantly improving, so the requirements for liquid crystal materials are constantly developing; liquid crystal materials are one of the core materials of liquid crystal panel, the stability and performance of liquid crystal materials have a direct impact on the display quality of liquid crystal panel, and the manufacturers of liquid crystal panel adopt liquid crystal materials. There are strict requirements. Therefore, in the LCD industry chain, LCD panel manufacturers usually customize LCD material products to LCD material manufacturers according to production needs, LCD material manufacturers develop and produce according to customized standards, and sell products to the panel manufacturers.

Two. Development status of liquid crystal materials industry

At present, Korea, Japan and Taiwan of China are more advanced TFT-LCD technology and industrial system developed countries and regions, on behalf of LCD manufacturers are Samsung, LGD, Sharp Japan, Taiwan Youda, Qimei and so on. At present, Japan's TFT-LCD supporting materials industry chain is the most complete, with leading manufacturers of liquid crystal materials CHISSO and DIC. German liquid crystal MERCK is in the absolute leading position in the high-grade TFT liquid crystal material market without a strong panel manufacturer in Germany, relying on its strong chemical technology foundation and advanced R&D innovation ability. Driven by local downstream manufacturers, Korea and Taiwan are increasing their investment in liquid crystal materials, striving to break through the monopoly of German and Japanese enterprises, liquid crystal materials manufacturers such as Taiwanese Dali Polymer, Korea Eastward and so on have a certain production capacity of liquid crystal materials.

Due to technical barriers, lack of relevant personnel and other reasons, China's LCD panel industry started relatively late, has been lagging behind the demand of LCD TV and other display manufacturers, LCD materials and other upstream ancillary industries, production capacity, technology level is also in a long-term backward position. Since the 1980s, a small number of domestic manufacturers rely on universities and research institutes, began the research and development of liquid crystal materials and industrialization process. However, the characteristics of industry barriers and the shortage of panel production lines in the past make domestic LCD material manufacturers far behind the world's advanced level. Up to the last two years, due to the support of various industrial policies, the successive construction of high-generation panel production lines in China and the gradual increase of cooperation and exchanges with foreign counterparts, several representative manufacturers appeared in the LCD material industry, such as Mixed Crystal Manufacturers Chengzhi Yonghua, Jiangsu Chengdu, 800 million space-time, and single crystal manufacturers Yantaiwan. Run, Xi'an Ruilian and so on, have mastered certain core technology, production capacity and production base. Liquid crystal intermediates, monomers and TN, STN mixed crystals have occupied an important position in the world, and increased investment in the research and development of TFT mixed crystals, capacity expansion.

Three. Development trend of liquid crystal materials industry

In the future, TFT-LCD will still be the mainstream display technology, and the liquid crystal material industry will have broad market prospects. After years of development, LCD technology continues to improve, the application is becoming increasingly widespread, has formed a complete industrial system. TFT-LCD has the characteristics of low cost, low working voltage, high resolution, good anti-interference, and has a considerable capacity base. Other flat panel display technologies such as OLED and plasma technology, due to the cost, durability and other defects, can not be compared with it. As one of the core materials of TFT-LCD, liquid crystal materials will benefit directly from its growth. (Zhu Jinchao)