Gorilla Glass maker Corning is entering a new market segment as the company has announced its new Gorilla Glass NBT. According to the firm this new protective cover glass for notebooks that feature touchscreen displays, helps to prevent scratches and other forms of damage that may emanate from everyday handling and use.

Corning stated that touch is fast becoming the primary way consumers are interacting with their mobile devices and along with the increased use of touch, the potential for screen scratches becomes more likely. Scratches can result in the cover glass eventually breaking, when the devices are subject to normal day-to-day usage (swiping, tapping, gripping and cleaning).

Replacing the screen can be expensive and can cost as much as half of the full notebook price, according to Corning. Additionally, Corning’s consumer research revealed that complaint rates for scratching on notebook displays are already up to four times higher than those for other mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones.

The company asserts that its new Gorilla Glass NBT provides enhanced scratch resistance, and reduced scratch visibility. In addition, these also offer improved retained strength once a scratch does occur, in order to assist in protecting notebook displays from breakage that can occur with lower-performing soda lime glass.

Benefits of Gorilla Glass NBT

Corning has already made its Gorilla Glass NBT protective glass cover available to OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and this new notebook tech is expected to find its way onto several notebook product models by leading global brands later this year.

“Known as the cover glass of choice, Corning Gorilla Glass now extends its exceptional capabilities into the emerging touch-enabled notebook market,” said James R. Steiner, senior VP and GM of Corning Specialty Materials.

“We are confident that Corning Gorilla Glass NBT will outperform legacy soda lime glass, delivering eight to ten times more scratch resistance. In fact, for just one to two percent of a notebook’s retail price, consumers can now get the best cover glass solution: a Gorilla solution. Simply put, we believe that if you don’t have Gorilla on your device, it’s not as good.”

In related news, data analytics company ABI Research recently revealed that global smartphone shipments represents more than half (52%) of all mobile phone shipments for the second quarter in a row.