IEC 62899-502-1:2017

Overview

IEC 62899-502-1:2017 is an international standard from the IEC that defines quality assessment and mechanical stress testing methods for organic light emitting diode (OLED) elements fabricated on flexible substrates using printed electronics techniques. The standard targets flexible OLED elements intended for device and display applications (it explicitly excludes OLED products intended for lighting). It provides test procedures and evaluation methods to assess reliability when flexible OLEDs are subjected to mechanical deformation and environmental conditions.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and applicability
  • Applies to printed electronics flexible OLED elements on flexible substrates; lighting products are excluded.
• Mechanical stress test methods
  • Defined tests include bending, rolling, torsion, and tension. Each test has:
    • General description
    • Required testing apparatus (illustrated in the standard)
    • Detailed testing procedures
    • Evaluation and testing conditions
• Optical and electrical evaluation
  • Methods for measuring electrical and optical characteristics such as IVL (current–voltage–luminance) characteristics, luminous flux, and luminance uniformity are specified.
  • Annexes provide normative measurement procedures, apparatus layouts and acceptance criteria.
• Environmental and atmospheric conditions
  • Standard defines coexisting environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, air pressure) relevant for reproducible mechanical stress testing.
• Failure criteria and acceptance
  • The document includes criteria for evaluating performance degradation following stress testing to support reliability assessment.
• Normative references
  • Cross-references established IEC standards for related testing and measurement practices.

Practical applications and who uses this standard

IEC 62899-502-1 is useful for:

• Manufacturers and process engineers developing printed flexible OLEDs who need to validate mechanical robustness and production quality.
• Product designers and systems integrators evaluating suitability of flexible OLED elements for applications such as flexible displays, wearable electronics, automotive and aircraft interiors, and architectural surfaces.
• Test laboratories and QA teams implementing standardized mechanical stress tests and optical/electrical measurements for reliability assessment.
• R&D teams researching materials, inks and substrates to improve mechanical durability of printed OLED assemblies.
• Suppliers and spec writers who need harmonized test methods for procurement or compliance purposes.

Related standards

• IEC 62715-6-1 (flexible display mechanical stress methods)
• IEC 62341 series (OLED display environmental and optical/electro-optical measurement methods)
• Other parts of the IEC 62899 printed electronics series

Keywords: IEC 62899-502-1, printed electronics, flexible OLED, mechanical stress testing, bending test, rolling test, torsion test, IVL characteristics, luminous flux, luminance uniformity, quality assessment, reliability testing.