Display device with protective layer

1 . A display device comprising:

a display panel; and

a protective layer contacting a rear surface of the display panel, and comprising:

a high modulus protective portion on the rear surface of the display panel; and

a low modulus protective portion spaced from the rear surface of the display panel with the high modulus protective portion interposed therebetween, and having a variance in modulus in a thickness direction of the protective layer that is greater than a variance in modulus in the high modulus protective portion in the thickness direction.

2 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the low modulus protective portion contacts a rear surface of the high modulus protective portion.

3 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the high modulus protective portion and the low modulus protective portion comprise an organic material.

4 . The display device of claim 3 , wherein the high modulus protective portion and the low modulus protective portion comprise a same material, and

wherein a degree of curing of the high modulus protective portion is different from a degree of curing of the low modulus protective portion.

5 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the low modulus protective portion is about 50% or less than a sum of a thickness of the high modulus protective portion and the thickness of the low modulus protective portion.

6 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the variance in modulus in the low modulus protective portion is about 1.5 times greater than the variance in modulus in the high modulus protective portion.

7 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the high modulus protective portion and the low modulus protective portion are provided in plurality, and

wherein the high modulus protective portions and the low modulus protective portions are alternately arranged on the rear surface of the display panel.

8 . The display device of claim 7 , wherein one of the low modulus protective portions defines a rear surface of the protective layer.

9 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the protective layer further comprises a barrier layer comprising an inorganic material, and contacting the high modulus protective portion and the rear surface of the display panel.

10 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the protective layer further comprises an intermediate modulus protective portion between the high modulus protective portion and the low modulus protective portion, and having a modulus that is less than a modulus of the high modulus protective portion, and greater than a modulus of the low modulus protective portion.

11 . The display device of claim 10 , wherein the high modulus protective portion, the intermediate modulus protective portion, and the low modulus protective portion are provided in plurality, and

wherein the high modulus protective portions, the intermediate modulus protective portions, and the low modulus protective portions are alternately arranged on the rear surface of the display panel along the thickness direction.

12 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the display panel comprises:

a base substrate;

pixels above the base substrate; and

an encapsulation layer above the pixels.

13 . The display device of claim 12 , wherein the base substrate comprises a synthetic resin layer.

14 . The display device of claim 1 , further comprising an input-sensing layer above the display panel.

15 . The display device of claim 1 , further comprising a color filter layer above the display panel.

16 . A display device comprising:

a flexible base substrate comprising an upper surface and a rear surface;

light-emitting elements above the upper surface of the flexible base substrate;

a barrier layer contacting the rear surface of the flexible base substrate, and comprising an inorganic material;

a first protective portion contacting the barrier layer, and comprising an organic material; and

a second protective portion below the first protective portion, and comprising an organic material,

wherein a modulus of the second protective portion is less than a modulus of the first protective portion, and increases along a thickness direction of the second protective portion toward the first protective portion.

17 . The display device of claim 16 , wherein a thickness of the second protective portion is about 50% or less than a sum of a thickness of the first protective portion and the thickness of the second protective portion.

18 . A display device comprising:

a display panel; and

a protective layer contacting a rear surface of the display panel, and comprising:

an upper portion below the rear surface of the display panel; and

a lower portion below the upper portion, defining a rear surface of the protective layer, and having a lower modulus than a modulus of the upper portion,

wherein the modulus of the lower portion or the modulus of the upper portion changes along a thickness direction of the protective layer.