10 Jun 2005

GE Expands Illuminex* Diffuser Film Portfolio into Complete Solutions for LCD TVs, Notebook PCs, Auto GPSs and Monitors

BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — June 10, 2005 —GE Advanced Materials has announced that it is expanding its Illuminex* diffuser film family of optical films for liquid crystal display (LCD) back-lighting applications into complete display solutions for applications such as televisions, notebook PCs, computer monitors, and automotive global positioning system (GPS) displays. These materials provide both top and bottom diffuser film solutions in LCD back-light modules to help enhance performance under demanding environmental reliability conditions and greatly expand GE’s wing-to-wing materials solutions capabilities for the global electronics industry. GE’s Illuminex diffuser films offer key advantages over traditional coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films by eliminating the coating, which can experience failures from flaking, voids, and scratching of light guides, resulting in poor yields.

GE continues to expand its technology resources in the area of electronics at its Shanghai China Technology Center. At the center, GE is currently developing next-generation Illuminex display products, working closely with customers to accelerate the product development process. In addition, GE will continue to expand manufacturing capabilities for Illuminex diffuser films, which includes the Pacific region, in 2006.

“The proliferation of new products with LCDs and the trends toward larger size and greater thinness have created challenges for manufacturers in terms of higher temperature performance, optical quality, and durability,” said Todd Hoff, market director - Displays, GE Advanced Materials. “By extending our Illuminex diffuser film portfolio into full solutions for LCDs and making further global investments in this product line, GE will be able to offer comprehensive performance and quality advantages in a range of applications.”

Illuminex diffuser films combine the advantages of GE’s expertise in Lexan* polycarbonate optical-quality resins with a Class 10,000 low-stress, optical-quality clean room environment. These films feature excellent optical properties that are “built into” the film formulation and/or calendared into the film surface – vs. traditional PET films that are coated – to help deliver an excellent combination of cost-effective quality and performance. Further, Illuminex diffuser films may help increase yield vs. coated diffuser products, which scratch more easily and can fail during handling and assembly.

As LCDs continue to evolve, becoming larger and thinner with an increased number of light sources, there is a need for higher temperature and humidity performance. GE Advanced Materials’ products help address these requirements, offering a heat deflection temperature (HDT) of 130 C and outstanding performance in high-temperature and high-humidity conditions.

GE continues to expand the functionality of diffuser films in a wide variety of applications, including:

• Automotive / GPS navigational display units: Illuminex diffuser films can be found inside of the LCD back light of GPS navigational units. The films help deliver superior operating reliability due to their higher glass transition temperature (Tg) and superior dimensional stability in extreme conditions. This results in a display, which maintains luminance and superior flatness when compared with traditional coated diffuser films. As these applications are exposed to typical end-use operating temperatures of more than 85 C, the performance of the film used in these displays is critical to quality.

• Notebook PCs: As notebook PC technology becomes increasingly advanced to incorporate computing, entertainment, and communication, the need for improved visual performance becomes paramount. With these displays getting thinner and correspondingly hotter, Illuminex diffuser films may provide superior performance at higher temperatures and humidity, and can deliver superior anti-scratching in notebook light guides. GE Advanced Materials has combined Lexan optical resins, optical film manufacturing, and propri

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+31 164 29 20 97

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Notes for editors

About GE Advanced Materials

GE Advanced Materials (www.geadvancedmaterials.com) is a world leader in providing high-technology material solutions. Headquartered in Pittsfield, Mass., its businesses include Plastics, Silicones, Quartz, Automotive, Specialty Film & Sheet, Polymershapes, and Sealants and Adhesives.

GE (NYSE: GE) is Imagination at Work – a diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world's toughest problems. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing, media content and advanced materials, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com.

*Illuminex, Lexan, LNP, Faradex, and Ultem are trademarks of General Electric Company.

Related images

GE Advanced Materials has announced it is expanding its Illuminex* diffuser film family of optical films for liquid crystal display (LCD) back-lighting applications into complete display solutions for applications such as televisions, notebook PCs, computer monitors, and automotive global positioning system (GPS) displays. These materials provide both top and bottom diffuser film solutions in LCD back-light modules to help enhance performance under demanding environmental reliability conditions and greatly expand GE’s wing-to-wing materials solutions capabilities for the global electronics industry. The high-tech GE diffuser films also offer key advantages over traditional coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films by eliminating the coating, which can experience failures from flaking, voids, and scratching of light guides, resulting in poor yields.

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