Abstract: A surface illuminant device for illuminating a short-distance observation picture plane, capable of easily being enlarged in area without inviting a non-uniformity in visibility, the device comprising a light guide (12), a light reflection member (18), a linear light source disposed to extend in a Y-direction along a light incident end face in a Y-Z plane of the light guide (12), and a prism sheet (20) for converting a light advancing direction. The light guide (12) has a light outgoing mechanism of a fine unevenness structure for emitting from a light outgoing surface (12-3) an incident light from the linear source, and a light focusing means for acting on the light passed through the light guide (12) and the prism sheet (20) to allow it to leave in a focused status.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a resin composition which selectively absorbs light of the wavelength band in the vicinity of wavelength 580 nm, as well as to the optical products to be formed from this resin composition. The beads possessing light selective function are formed from a transparent polymer which contains a neodymium compound: these beads are then dispersed in a transparent resin composition. Comparing to the case when the neodymium compound is directly dispersed in the resin composition, a large amount of neodymium compound can be added to the resin composition without decreasing the mechanical and thermal properties of the resin composition.

Abstract: There are disclosed a light-diffusing methacrylic resin comprising a dispersion of crosslinked fine particles in a substrate polymer comprising mainly methyl methacrylate and having the characteristics mentioned below:(1) the difference between the refractive indexes of the crosslinked fine particles and the substrate polymer is 0.02 to 0.15.(2) the concentration by weight of the poly-functional monomer used as starting material in the crosslinked fine particles is 5 to 20%,(3) the average particle diameter of the crosslinked fine particles in the light-diffusing methacrylic resin is 5 to 20.mu., the percentage of particles having a particle diameter of 2.mu. or less being less than 1% by weight in the total amount of the crosslinked fine particles to be mixed, and(4) the concentration by weight of the crosslinked fine particles in the light-diffusing methacrylic resin is 0.08 to 10%, and a process thereof.

Abstract: A process for producing a light diffusing methacrylic resin article consisting essentially of a substrate polymer and crosslinked polymer beads having an average particle diameter of 1-16 .mu.m dispersed therein, the difference between the refractive indexes of the crosslinked polymer beads and the substrate polymer being 0.02-0.

Abstract: A resin composition suitable for various optical uses, which comprises a base resin and 0.1 to 60% based on the weight of said resin composition, of fine silica or glass particles, said fine silica or glass particles having an average particle diameter of 0.05 to 50 .mu.m and having their surface treated with at least one silane compound selected from those represented by the following general formulae (I) to (IV): ##STR1## wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 3, R.sup.1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and R is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms or a halogen-substituted, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms, wherien the silane does not couple the particle and the resin.

Abstract: Light-diffusing methacrylic plates are continuously prepared by casting a polymerizable material composed of methyl methacrylate or a partially polymerized product thereof with 0.2 to 3.0% by weight of a light diffusing material between two belts. The belts are separated by an average distance l but are capable of both compression and expansion relative to this average separation. The method involves applying compression at at least one point in the casting space to reduce the separation distance and then allowing expansion back to a maximum distance wherein the maximum spacing between the belts is from (l+1) mm to (l+0.2) mm and the minimum spacing during compression is from (l-1) mm to (l-0.2) mm.

Abstract: A synthetic resin composition is provided which comprises at least one lanthanoid-containing compound selected from the group consisting of oxides, hydroxides, inorganic and/or organic acid salts and complexes of lanthanoids and a vinyl polymer.The resin composition has a high neutron ray-shielding capacity and excellent optical and mechanical properties.

Abstract: A methacrylic resin capable of selectively absorbing light rays having a wavelength of 580 nm is advantageously produced either by dispersing or dissolving neodymium compound in a resin-forming starting material selected from monomeric methyl methacrylate, a monomer mixture composed mainly of methyl methacrylate and partially polymerized products thereof, and polymerizing the resin-forming starting material. A solvent capable of dissolving therein the resin-forming starting material and the neodymium compound may be incorporated in the resin-forming starting material.

Abstract: An acrylic laminated diffuser panel having a high light-diffusing property is provided, which comprises a laminate of an acrylic resin film having a high light-diffusing property and an acrylic resin plate, wherein the acrylic resin film is integrated with the acrylic resin plate. The acrylic laminated diffuser panel is prepared by laminating the acrylic resin film on the molding surface of at least one of a pair of casting mold parts, casting an acrylic monomer or its partially polymerized product into a space between said pair of casting mold parts, and then, polymerizing the acrylic monomer or the partially polymerized product.