Abstract: The present photosensitive resin composition 2 comprises a polyamic acid resin 4, a photosensitive agent, a dispersible compound 3 dispersible in the polyamic acid resin 4, and a solvent. The porous resin is obtained by removing the solvent from the photosensitive resin composition 2 to form a composition in which the dispersible compound 3 is dispersed in the polyamic acid resin 4, removing the dispersible compound to make the composition porous, and curing the porous photosensitive resin composition. The porous resin enables forming a fine circuit pattern and has a low dielectric constant and, when used as an insulating layer of a circuit board, brings about improved high frequency characteristics.

Abstract: A process of producing a polymer optical waveguide, including (a) a step of forming an undercladding layer on a substrate; (b) a step of forming a photosensitive resin composition layer containing a 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative and a resin on the undercladding layer; (c) a step of irradiating a region of the photosensitive resin composition layer corresponding to a core pattern with UV light through a mask to form UV light-exposed areas and UV light-unexposed areas on the photosensitive resin composition layer; (d) a step of heating the UV light-exposed areas and UV light-unexposed areas of the photosensitive resin composition layer; and (e) a step of forming an overcladding layer on the photosensitive resin composition layer after heating.

Abstract: A photosensitive polyimide resin precursor composition capable of providing a polyimide resin that is not substantially colored, is transparent and has heat resistance, an optical polyimide resin obtained from the composition, and an optical waveguide using the polyimide resin. The photosensitive polyimide resin precursor composition contains (a) 100 parts by weight of a polyamic acid obtained from a tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride and a diamine, (b) 0.01 parts by weight or more and less than 5 parts by weight of a 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative, (c) 5-50 parts by weight of a glycol (ether). The optical polyimide resin is obtained by irradiating the photosensitive resin precursor composition with UV light, followed by exposure, heating, development, and then heating. The optical waveguide comprises a core layer comprising the optical polyimide resin, and a cladding layer thereof.

Abstract: An optical diffusing plate that gives a anisotropic scattering of a linearly polarized light and has an excellent diffusion property in a scattering direction, and that is suitable for improving visibility, brightness of a liquid crystal display, comprising a birefringent film and a minute domain with a birefringent characteristic different from the birefringent film in a dispersed state in the birefringent film, the minute domain comprising a side chain type liquid crystal polymer comprising a monomer unit (a) containing a liquid crystalline fragment side chain and a monomer unit (b) containing a non-liquid crystalline fragment side chain, and a refractive index difference (&Dgr;n1) between the birefringent film and the minute domain in a direction orthogonal to a direction of axis that gives a maximum transmittance of linearly polarized light being 0.03 or more, and a refractive index difference (&Dgr;n2) in a direction of axis that gives a maximum transmittance being 80% or less of the &Dgr;n1.

Abstract: An optical film containing polyaryletherketone and a method of producing the optical film, the optical film being excellent in the heat resistance and uniformity, and the film having a negative birefringence. The optical film compensates birefringence of a liquid crystal display, thereby providing an optical element or an image display device that has desired color tones and viewing-angle characteristics. The optical film having a negative birefringence of 0.001 to 0.6 is produced by coating a solution containing polyaryletherketone on a substrate and subsequently drying the coating.

Abstract: This invention provides a polymerizable liquid crystal compound having a large value of An/n, excellent in coating properties on an alignment film and easily aligned. Disclosed is a polymerizable liquid crystal compound having at least one polymerizable reactive group and showing nematic liquid crystal properties, having a &Dgr;n/n value of 0.14 or more wherein n is average refractive index and &Dgr;n is extraordinary light refractive index (ne) minus ordinary light refractive index (no), and being aligned by application onto an alignment film.

Abstract: A heat-resistant polymer foam is disclosed which has excellent heat resistance, a fine cellular structure, and a low apparent density. The heat-resistant polymer foam comprises a heat-resistant polymer having a glass transition point of 120° C. or higher, e.g., a polyimide or polyether imide, and has an average cell diameter of from 0.01 &mgr;m to less than 10 &mgr;m. This heat-resistant polymer foam can be produced by, for example, impregnating a heat-resistant polymer under pressure with an non-reactive gas such as carbon dioxide, which is in, e.g., a supercritical state, reducing the pressure, and then heating the polymer at a temperature exceeding 120° C. to foam the polymer.

Abstract: The polyamic acid of the invention can be obtained by the reaction of an acid anhydride component comprising pyromellitic anhydride and 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane with 2,2′-di-substituted-4,4′-diaminobiphenyls as a first aromatic diamine and any aromatic diamine component, as a second aromatic diamine, of 2,2-bis(4-aminophenoxyphenyl)propanes, 1,1-bis(4-(4-aminophenoxy)-3-t-butyl-6-methylphenyl)butane, 2,2-bis(3-amino-4-methylphenyl)hexafluoropropane and &agr;,&agr;′-bis(4-aminophenyl)diisopropylbenzenes in an organic solvent. The polyimide resin of the invention can be obtained by heating such a polyamic acid solution. In the production of a circuit board, by using a photosensitive polyamic acid having a sensitizer incorporated in such a polyamic acid solution, a patterned polyimide resin layer can be provided as an insulation layer on a metal foil.

Abstract: An optical diffusing plate that gives a anisotropic scattering of a linearly polarized light and has an excellent diffusion property in a scattering direction, and that is suitable for improving visibility, brightness of a liquid crystal display, comprising a birefringent film and a minute domain with a birefringent characteristic different from the birefringent film in a dispersed state in the birefringent film, the birefringent film comprises a birefringent stretched film, and the minute domain comprises a positive uniaxial liquid crystal polymer, wherein a length of the minute domain in a direction of stretching axis is longer than a length in a direction orthogonal to the stretching axis, and the liquid crystal polymer is aligned perpendicularly to a stretching axis of the birefringent stretched film.

Abstract: An optical diffusing plate that gives a anisotropic scattering of a linearly polarized light and has an excellent diffusion property in a scattering direction, and that is suitable for improving visibility, brightness of a liquid crystal display,

Abstract: A method of efficiently removing a low molecular weight substance from a polyimide precursor or polyimide in which the low molecular weight substance is dispersed as micro-domains, without using a large amount of an organic solvent. The method of removing a low molecular weight substance comprises subjecting either a polymer composition having a micro-domain structure made up of a continuous phase comprising a polyimide precursor and, dispersed therein, a discontinuous phase comprising a low molecular weight substance or a polyimide composition obtained from the polymer composition by converting the polyimide precursor into a polyimide to extraction with a combination of supercritical carbon dioxide and a co-solvent to thereby remove the low molecular weight substance. The co-solvent is preferably an aprotic polar solvent, more preferably a nitrogen compound solvent or a sulfur compound solvent.

Abstract: A low thermal expansion circuit board 1 on which a semiconductor element can be mounted with ease and high reliability, which comprises an insulating layer 3 having an Ni—Fe—based alloy foil or a titanium foil as a core, a wiring conductor 4 on both sides thereof, and an adhesive resin layer 5 on the side on which a semiconductor element is to be mounted.

Abstract: An aromatic polycarbodiimide comprising a structural unit represented by the following formula (I): where R is an organic group having 3 or more carbon atoms, and n is an integer of 2 to 300, and a polycarbodiimide solution, a polycarbodiimide sheet, and an insulated coated electric wire which are prepared using the aromatic polycarbodiimide. The aromatic polycarbodiimide has high solubility in an organic solvent, satisfactory workability, and excellent heat resistance and humidity resistance. The insulated coated electric wire has excellent durability and is highly reliable under high pressure, high humidity conditions.

Abstract: A method of efficiently removing a low molecular weight substance from a polyimide precursor or polyimide in which the low molecular weight substance is dispersed as micro-domains, without using a large amount of an organic solvent. The method of removing a low molecular weight substance comprises subjecting either a polymer composition having a micro-domain structure made up of a continuous phase comprising a polyimide precursor and, dispersed therein, a discontinuous phase comprising a low molecular weight substance or a polyimide composition obtained from the polymer composition by converting the polyimide precursor into a polyimide to extraction with a combination of supercritical carbon dioxide and a co-solvent to thereby remove the low molecular weight substance. The co-solvent is preferably an aprotic polar solvent, more preferably a nitrogen compound solvent or a sulfur compound solvent.

Abstract: A porous polyimide having a finely cellular structure and having a low dielectric constant and heat resistance. The porous polyimide can be produced by a process comprising adding a dispersible compound to a polyimide precursor to form a micro-domain structure in which the dispersible compound is dispersed in the polymer so as to have a size smaller than 10 &mgr;m and then removing the dispersible compound by extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide to thereby make the precursor porous, wherein the interaction parameter &khgr;AB between the polyimide precursor A and the dispersible compound B is larger than 3. This porous polyimide has an average cell diameter smaller than 5 &mgr;m and a dielectric constant of 3 or lower.

Abstract: A porous article having excellent heat resistance, a finely cellular structure, and a low dielectric constant; and a process for producing the porous article which comprises subjecting a polymer composition having a micro-domain structure comprising a continuous polymer phase and dispersed therein a discontinuous phase having an average diameter smaller than 10 &mgr;m to a treatment for removing the ingredient constituting the discontinuous phase by at least one operation selected from vaporization and decomposition and by an extraction operation to thereby make the polymer porous. The ingredient constituting the discontinuous phase has a weight average molecular weight of, e.g., 10,000 or lower. Liquefied carbon dioxide, supercritical carbon dioxide, or the like can be used as an extraction solvent for the ingredient constituting the discontinuous phase.

Abstract: A porous polyimide having a finely cellular structure and having a low dielectric constant and heat resistance. The porous polyimide can be produced by a process comprising adding a dispersible compound to a polyimide precursor to form a micro-domain structure in which the dispersible compound is dispersed in the polymer so as to have a size smaller than 10 &mgr;m and then removing the dispersible compound by extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide to thereby make the precursor porous, wherein the interaction parameter &khgr;AB between the polyimide precursor A and the dispersible compound B is larger than 3. This porous polyimide has an average cell diameter smaller than 5 &mgr;m and a dielectric constant of 3 or lower.

Abstract: A homeotropic alignment liquid crystal film used for an optical film of a visual display etc. is manufactured by a method in which a side chain type liquid crystal polymer comprising a monomer unit (a) containing a liquid crystalline fragment side chain and a monomer unit (b) containing a non-liquid crystalline fragment side chain is coated on a substrate on which a vertical alignment film is not prepared, and the liquid crystal polymer is fixed while maintaining an alignment state after the liquid crystal polymer is homeotropically aligned in liquid crystal state.

Abstract: The polyamic acid of the invention can be obtained by the reaction of an acid anhydride component comprising pyromellitic anhydride and 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane with 2,2′-di-substituted-4,4′-diaminobiphenyls as a first aromatic diamine and any aromatic diamine component, as a second aromatic diamine, of 2,2-bis(4-aminophenoxyphenyl)propanes, 1,1-bis(4-(4-aminophenoxy)-3-t-butyl-6-methylphenyl)butane, 2,2-bis(3-amino-4-methylphenyl)hexafluoropropane and &agr;,&agr;′-bis(4-aminophenyl)diisopropylbenzenes in an organic solvent. The polyimide resin of the invention can be obtained by heating such a polyamic acid solution. In the production of a circuit board, by using a photosensitive polyamic acid having a sensitizer incorporated in such a polyamic acid solution, a patterned polyimide resin layer can be provided as an insulation layer on a metal foil.

Abstract: An aromatic polycarbodiimide comprising a structural unit represented by the following formula (I): 1