Abstract: The optical compensatory sheet has a transparent support and an optically anisotropic layer formed from liquid crystal molecules aligned in an average inclined angle of less than 5°. The optical compensatory sheet gives the retardation value in plane (Re) in the range of 10 to 1,000 nm and the retardation value along the thickness direction (Rth) in the range of 10 to 1,000 nm.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lubricant composition containing a compound of formula (1) and a carboxylic acid, and exhibiting excellent lubrication potency. wherein D represents a cyclic group; X represents a single bond, a group NR1 (where R1 represents a hydrogen atom, or an alkyl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms), an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a carbonyl group, a sulfonyl group, or a divalent linking group of a combination thereof; R represents an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group, or a heterocyclic group; m indicates an integer of from 2 to 11.

Abstract: A novel optical compensatory sheet is disclosed the sheet comprises a transparent support and an optically anisotropic layer formed of discotic liquid-crystal molecules thereon. The anisotropic layer comprises at least one air interface control agent, thereby having an air interface polarity of at least 1.5-fold relative to that of a layer which does not comprise said air interface control agent.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition comprises liquid crystal molecules and an alignment promoter. The alignment promoter is represented by the formula (I): (Hb-L1-)nBl??(I). In the formula (I), Hb is an aliphatic group having 4 to 40 carbon atoms, an aromatic group having 6 to 40 carbon atoms or an aliphatic substituted oligosiloxanoxy group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms. L1 is a single bond or a divalent linking group, and n is an integer of 2 to 12. Bl is an n-valent group comprising at least two rings.

Abstract: A conductive film comprising: a support; a particle-containing layer; and a metal thin film layer, in this order, wherein the particle-containing layer contains particles having a mean particle size of from 1 to 10 ?m and a heat decomposed material of a metal acetylide and has irregularities derived from a shape of the particles formed on a surface thereof, and the the metal thin film layer contains a metal element.

Abstract: A circularly polarizing plate comprises a linearly polarizing membrane and a quarter wave plate. The quarter wave plate comprises an optically anisotropic layer A and an optically anisotropic layer B. The quarter wave plate has such an optical characteristic that a retardation value essentially is a quarter of a wavelength when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm. One of the optically anisotropic layers A and B is a layer made from liquid crystal molecules, and the other is a polymer film or a layer made from liquid crystal molecules.

Abstract: A novel lubricant composition is disclosed. The composition comprises a molecular complex formed by intermolecular interaction between molecules capable of tautomerization, wherein at least one of the molecules has at least one ester bond and is represented by the formula (I) (but excluding any compound represented by the formula (TAM) below) formula (I) where, Q1 represents an oxygen atom, sulfur atom or N(R13); R11 to R13 independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, at least one of which being a substituent containing at least one ester bond and at least one chain selected from the group consisting of C4 or longer alkyl chains and the like; and forumula (TAM) where R1, R2 and R3 independently represents a substituent, x, y and z independently represent an integer of 1 to 5.

Abstract: A novel lubricant composition is disclosed. The composition comprises the compound selected from the formula (1), where D represents an m-valent cyclic group capable of bonding to “m” of —X—R; Xs respectively represent a single bond or a bivalent linking group selected from the group consisting of NR1, where R1 is a hydrogen atom or a C1-30 alkyl group, oxygen, sulfur, carbonyl, sulfonyl and any combinations thereof; Rs respectively represent a substituted or non-substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or heterocyclic group provided that at least one R contains an ester bond; and m is an integer from 2 to 11.

Abstract: An optically anisotropic sheet comprises an optically anisotropic layer, an orientation layer and a transparent support in this order. The optically anisotropic layer is formed from discotic liquid crystal molecules. The orientation layer is subjected to rubbing treatment. The discotic liquid crystal molecules are aligned with the orientation layer. An average inclined angle of discotic planes of the discotic liquid crystal molecules is in the range of 50° to 90°. An average direction of optical axes of the discotic liquid crystal molecules is essentially parallel to a rubbing direction of the orientation layer.

Abstract: A novel retarder comprising a long transparent substrate, and up on the substrate, a first and a second optically anisotropic layers formed from a homogenously aligned rod-like liquid crystal compound and having a phase shift substantially equal to n measured and equal to &pgr;/2 respectively at a wavelength of 550 nm; and a first alignment layer having a rubbing axis defining the azimuthal direction of the homogenous alignment in the first anisotropic layer. The angle between the slow axis of the first anisotropic layer and the longitudinal direction of the transparent substrate is 75°, the angle between the slow axis of the second anisotropic layer and the longitudinal direction is 15°, the angle between the slow axis of the second anisotropic layer and the slow axis of the first anisotropic layer is 60° and the azimuthal direction of the homogenous alignment in the first anisotropic layer is substantially orthogonal to the rubbing axis of the first alignment layer.

Abstract: A heterocyclic ring-containing compound represented by the following formula (1). In the formula, D represents a heterocyclic ring residue having a 5- to 7-membered ring structure and substituted with (m+n) of substituents, X represents a divalent linking group consisting of a single bond, NR3 group (R3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1-30 carbon atoms), an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a carbonyl group, a sulfonyl group or a combination thereof, R1 represents an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, which may be substituted or unsubstituted, R2 represents a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, an unsubstituted amino group, a mercapto group, a cyano group, a sulfide group, a carboxy group or salt thereof, a sulfo group or salt thereof, a hydroxyamino group, a ureido group or a urethane group, m represents 1 or 2, and n represents an integer of 1 or larger.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises a transparent support and an optically anisotropic layer. The optically anisotropic layer is formed from liquid crystal molecules. Three principal refractive indices of the optically anisotropic layer are different from each other.

Abstract: An optically anisotropic sheet comprises an optically anisotropic layer, an orientation layer and a transparent support in this order. The optically anisotropic layer is formed from discotic liquid crystal molecules. The orientation layer is subjected to rubbing treatment. The discotic liquid crystal molecules are aligned with the orientation layer. An average inclined angle of discotic planes of the discotic liquid crystal molecules is in the range of 50° to 90°. An average direction of optical axes of the discotic liquid crystal molecules is essentially parallel to a rubbing direction of the orientation layer.

Abstract: A process for alignment of rod-like liquid crystal molecules comprises the steps of: forming an orientation layer for vertical alignment on a support; and forming a liquid crystal layer containing rod-like liquid crystal molecules on the orientation layer to align the rod-like liquid crystal molecules at an average inclined angle of 50 to 90°. The liquid crystal layer further contains a compound represented by the formula (I): (Hb—L1—Cy1—L2—)nCy2  (I) wherein Hb is an aliphatic group having 6 to 40 carbon atoms or an siloxanoxy group substituted with an aliphatic group having 6 to 40 carbon atoms, each of L1 and L2 is a single bond or a divalent linking group, Cy1 is a divalent aromatic group or a divalent heterocyclic group, n is 2, 3 or 4, and Cy2 is an n-valent aromatic group or an n-valent heterocyclic group.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises a transparent substrate, an orientation layer and an optically anisotropic layer in order. The optically anisotropic layer comprises discotic liquid crystal molecules. The orientation layer comprises a denatured polyvinyl alcohol having a hydrocarbon group containing 10 to 100 carbon atoms or a denatured polyvinyl alcohol containing fluorine atoms. The discotic liquid crystal molecules are aligned at an average inclined angle in the range of 50° to 90°. An orientation layer, a liquid crystal display of an STN mode and a method of alignment of discotic liquid crystal molecules are also disclosed.

Abstract: A lyotropic liquid crystal composition comprises silver halide grains, silver grains or optically anisotropic grains dispersed in lyotropic liquid crystal. The grains have an aspect ratio of not less than 2.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises a transparent support and an optically anisotropic layer. The optically anisotropic layer is formed from liquid crystal molecules. Three principal refractive indices of the optically anisotropic layer are different from each other.

Abstract: A novel retarder comprising a long transparent substrate, and up on the substrate, a first and a second optically anisotropic layers formed from a homogenously aligned rod-like liquid crystal compound and having a phase shift substantially equal to &pgr; measured and equal to &pgr;/2 respectively at a wavelength of 550 nm; and a first alignment layer having a rubbing axis defining the azimuthal direction of the homogenous alignment in the first anisotropic layer. The angle between the slow axis of the first anisotropic layer and the longitudinal direction of the transparent substrate is 75°, the angle between the slow axis of the second anisotropic layer and the longitudinal direction is 15°, the angle between the slow axis of the second anisotropic layer and the slow axis of the first anisotropic layer is 60° and the azimuthal direction of the homogenous alignment in the first anisotropic layer is substantially orthogonal to the rubbing axis of the first alignment layer.

Abstract: A novel optical compensatory sheet is disclosed the sheet comprises a transparent support and an optically anisotropic layer formed of discotic liquid-crystal molecules thereon. The anisotropic layer comprises at least one air interface control agent, thereby having an air interface polarity of at least 1.5-fold relative to that of a layer which does not comprise said air interface control agent. An optical compensatory sheet comprising a transparent support and an optically anisotropic layer formed of discotic liquid-crystal molecules thereon, wherein said anisotropic layer comprises at least one compound denoted by formula (I) is also disclosed.

Abstract: A circularly polarizing plate comprises a linearly polarizing membrane and a quarter wave plate. The quarter wave plate comprises an optically anisotropic layer A and an optically anisotropic layer B. The quarter wave plate has such an optical characteristic that a retardation value essentially is a quarter of a wavelength when the retardation value is measured at the wavelength of 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm. One of the optically anisotropic layers A and B is a layer made from liquid crystal molecules, and the other is a polymer film or a layer made from liquid crystal molecules.