Abstract: The retardation film contains a cellulose ester, has a film thickness of 15 to less than 40 ?m, has a film thickness variation both in the widthwise direction and lengthwise direction of 0 to 4 ?m, and satisfies an Rt humidity fluctuation of 1% to 12%: (a difference of retardation Rt (590) values in the thickness direction represented by the following formula (ii) measured at a wavelength of 590 nm after the film has been left to stand for 5 hours in each of a 23° C., 20% relative humidity environment and a 23° C., 80% relative humidity environment)/(Rt (590) value measured after the film has been left to stand for 5 hours in a 23° C., 55% relative humidity environment)×100 Rt(590)={(nx+ny)/2?nz}×d??Formula (ii) wherein nx: a refractive index in the slow axis direction in the film plane, ny: a refractive index in the direction perpendicular to the slow axis in the film plane, nz: a refractive index in the thickness direction of the film, and d: a film thickness.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a cellulose acetate film having excellent adhesion to a polarizer, and in which there is minimal change in retardation with respect to residual solvent during film stretching. This phase difference film contains cellulose acetate ? having a degree of acetyl substitution of 2.1 or less, cellulose acetate ? having a degree of acetyl substitution of 2.3-2.5, and a compound having a van der Waals volume of 500 ?3 to 1000 ?3 in the amount of 5-10 mass % with respect to the total amount of the cellulose acetate ? and the cellulose acetate ?, and the phase difference film is stretched.

Abstract: A method of producing an optical compensating resin film for a polarizing plate including casting a resin exhibiting a glass transition temperature of 150 to 200° C. determined via DSC via a solution casting to form a film; peeling the formed film; conveying the film at a temperature of 60° C. or less for at least 90 seconds; and stretching the film.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a polarizing plate safe in operation, less burdensome on the environment, and with excellent adhesion to a polarizer; also disclosed are a polarizing plate manufactured using said method, and a liquid crystal display device using said polarizing plate. In the method of manufacturing a polarizing plate, a polarizing plate is manufactured in which a protective film which is hydrophilized by alkali saponification is laminated to at least one surface of the polarizer. In the method, said protective film contains cellulose acetate, and the surface free energy before alkali saponification of said protective film satisfies formula (SI), below, and the surface free energy after alkali saponification satisfies formula (SII), below. Formula (SI): 0.25??sh/?sp?0.40; Formula (SII): 1.5??sh/?sp?3.0 (wherein ?sh represents the hydrogen bond component of the surface free energy, and ?sp represents the dipole component).

Abstract: To provide a retardation film that, while maintaining a high retardation value, has increased durability such as moist heat resistance and can prevent the occurrence of color unevenness even if made in a size having a large area. The retardation film contains a cellulose ester as the primary component, has a film thickness of 15 ?m or more and less than 40 ?m, has a film thickness variation both in the widthwise direction and lengthwise direction of 0 to 4 ?m, and satisfies an Rt humidity fluctuation represented by the formula (1) described below of 1% to 12%. Formula (1): Rt humidity fluctuation=(?Rt value, a difference of retardation Rt(590) values in the thickness direction represented by the following formula (ii) measured at a wavelength of 590 nm after the film has been left to stand for 5 hours in each of a 23° C., 20% relative humidity environment and a 23° C., 80% relative humidity environment)/(Rt(590) value measured after the film has been left to stand for 5 hours in a 23° C.

Abstract: Provided is an optical film which exhibits low internal haze, low internal scattering, and excellent moisture resistance though the film contains diacetylcellulose having excellent retardation-inducing properties. An optical film characterized by comprising: a cellulose acetate ? which has a 6% viscosity of 70 to 250 mPas and a degree of acetyl substitution of 2.0 to less than 2.5; another cellulose acetate ? which has a 6% viscosity lower than that of the cellulose acetate ? and a degree of acetyl substitution of 2.0 to less than 2.5; ester compound C which has 1 to 12 pyranose or furanose structures of at least one kind and in which all or a part of the OH groups of the structures are esterified; and polyester D represented by Formula (1). B-(G-A)n-G-B (1).

Abstract: A method of preparing a retardation film includes cellulose acetate having an average degree of acetylation of 2.0 to 2.5 and having a moisture content of 1.0 mass % or less, where the retardation film includes a compound having a Van der Waals volume of 450 to 1000 ?3. The retardation film is prepared by a dope preparing step of dissolving cellulose acetate having an average degree of acetylation within the range of 2.0 to 2.5 to prepare a dope; a film product forming step of casting the dope onto a metal belt to form a film product; a film product peeling step of peeling off the film product from the metal belt; a drawing step of drawing the peeled film product; and a drying step at a drying temperature of 140° C. or more.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a retardation film which includes cellulose acetate having a low degree of acyl substitution and, despite this, swells very little when immersed in a saponifying solution and which has satisfactory adhesion to polarizing elements. This retardation film comprises: a cellulose ester which has a total degree of substitution with acyl groups of 2.0-2.55 and in which when log [Mw(a)] obtained through analyses by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), low angle laser light scattering (LALLS), and viscosity measurement, is plotted as abscissa and log [Iv(a)], obtained through the analyses is plotted as ordinate, the plot has a slope of 0.65-0.85; and a glass-transition-temperature lowering agent having an SP value of 9.0-11.0. The retardation film contains a solvent remaining therein in an amount of 700-3,000 mass ppm and has a change in weight through storage at 80° C. and 90% RH of ?0.5 to 0.5%.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a cellulose acetate film having excellent adhesion to a polarizer, and in which there is minimal change in retardation with respect to residual solvent during film stretching. This phase difference film contains cellulose acetate ? having a degree of acetyl substitution of 2.1 or less, cellulose acetate ? having a degree of acetyl substitution of 2.3-2.5, and a compound having a van der Waals volume of 500 ?3 to 1000 ?3 in the amount of 5-10 mass % with respect to the total amount of the cellulose acetate ? and the cellulose acetate ?, and the phase difference film is stretched.

Abstract: An optical compensation film and a liquid crystal display characterized in that in a scattered-light intensity measurement for a film with an incident light with 90° in a scattered light profile of a goniophotometer, in the case of measuring so as to detect a scattered light intensity at the position of 130° from a light source, a difference in scattered light intensity between the case where a film slow axis is installed horizontally on a sample stand and the case where the film slow axis is installed vertically is 0.05 or less.

Abstract: A method of producing an optical compensating resin film for a polarizing plate including casting a resin exhibiting a glass transition temperature of 150 to 200° C. determined via DSC via a solution casting to form a film; peeling the formed film; conveying the film at a temperature of 60° C. or less for at least 90 seconds; and stretching the film.

Abstract: Disclosed are: a polarizing plate having visibility and viewing angle characteristics; and a liquid crystal display device using the polarizing plate. Specifically disclosed is a polarizing plate which is obtained by sandwiching a polarizer between first and second cellulose ester films. The polarizing plate is characterized in that the first cellulose ester film is formed from a cellulose ester having a total degree of substitution of acyl groups of 2.8-3.0, and the second cellulose ester film is formed from a cellulose ester having a total degree of substitution of acyl groups of 2.0-2.6, and has a retardation value Ro of 30-200 nm and a retardation value Rt of 70-300 nm.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide: a retardation film which uses a low-substituted cellulose ester and has improved retardation after saponification and improved wet heat stability of internal haze; a polarizing plate which uses the retardation film; and a liquid crystal display device. An optical film of the present invention contains a cellulose ester and a compound represented by general formula (1), and is characterized in that the compound has an average degree of substitution within the range of 3.0-6.0 and contains a component having a degree of substitution of 4 or less in an amount of 30-80% by mass (inclusive). (In the formula, R1-R8 each represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkylcarbonyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted allylcarbonyl group, and R1-R8 may be the same as or different from one another.

Abstract: A vibration generator making a closed loop of a magnetic circuit of a permanent magnet to obtain a high vibrating force while kept small in size, including a reciprocating vibrator having a ring-shaped permanent magnet in a center hole of a ring-shaped weight, a first and second plate springs supporting this reciprocating vibrator at a recessed case and end plate to be able to elastically displace in a thickness direction spanning a first and a second end faces, a tubular toroidal coil passing through a center hole of the permanent magnet and generating a reciprocating vibrating magnetic field for reciprocatingly driving the permanent magnet in the thickness direction, and a columnar core passing through this toroidal coil, the ring-shaped permanent magnet being magnetized in the thickness direction, and the toroidal coil having a lower toroidal coil and an adjoining reversely wound series connected upper toroidal coil coaxial with the same.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide: a retardation film which uses a low-substituted cellulose ester and has improved retardation after saponification and improved wet heat stability of internal haze; a polarizing plate which uses the retardation film; and a liquid crystal display device. An optical film of the present invention contains a cellulose ester and a compound represented by general formula (1), and is characterized in that the compound has an average degree of substitution within the range of 3.0-6.0 and contains a component having a degree of substitution of 4 or less in an amount of 30-80% by mass (inclusive). (In the formula, R1-R8 each represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkylcarbonyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted allylcarbonyl group, and R1-R8 may be the same as or different from one another.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a polarizing plate safe in operation, less burdensome on the environment, and with excellent adhesion to a polarizer, also disclosed are a polarizing plate manufactured using said method, and a liquid crystal display device using said polarizing plate. In the method of manufacturing a polarizing plate, a polarizing plate is manufactured in which a protective film which is hydrophilized by alkali saponification is laminated to at least one surface of the polarizer. In the method, said protective film contains cellulose acetate, and the surface free energy before alkali saponification of said protective film satisfies formula (SI), below, and the surface free energy after alkali saponification satisfies formula (SII), below. Formula (SI): 0.25??sh/?sp?0.40; Formula (SII): 1.5??sh/?sp?3.0 (wherein ?sh represents the hydrogen bond component of the surface free energy, and ?sp represents the dipole component).

Abstract: Provided is an optical film which exhibits low internal haze, low internal scattering, and excellent moisture resistance though the film contains diacetylcellulose having excellent retardation-inducing properties. An optical film characterized by comprising: a cellulose acetate ? which has a 6% viscosity of 70 to 250 mPas and a degree of acetyl substitution of 2.0 to less than 2.5; another cellulose acetate ? which has a 6% viscosity lower than that of the cellulose acetate ? and a degree of acetyl substitution of 2.0 to less than 2.5; ester compound C which has 1 to 12 pyranose or furanose structures of at least one kind and in which all or a part of the OH groups of the structures are esterified; and polyester D represented by Formula (1). B-(G-A)n-G-B (1).

Abstract: A polarizing plate, includes: a hard coat film; a protective film; and a polarizer sandwiched between the hard coat film and the protective film, wherein the hard coat film includes a first cellulose ester film being contact with the polarizer, and a hard coat layer provided on the first cellulose ester film, wherein the hard coat layer includes a composition containing a curable resin and at least one thermoplastic resin selected from a group of a thermoplastic polyester resin, a thermoplastic polyester urethane resin, and an acrylic resin not having an ethylenically-unsaturated double bond, and wherein the hard coat layer is a cured layer of the composition, and has 500 to 200,000 protrusions per mm2 on a surface thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are: a polarizing plate having visibility and viewing angle characteristics; and a liquid crystal display device using the polarizing plate. Specifically disclosed is a polarizing plate which is obtained by sandwiching a polarizer between first and second cellulose ester films. The polarizing plate is characterized in that the first cellulose ester film is formed from a cellulose ester having a total degree of substitution of acyl groups of 2.8-3.0, and the second cellulose ester film is formed from a cellulose ester having a total degree of substitution of acyl groups of 2.0-2.6, and has a retardation value Ro of 30-200 nm and a retardation value Rt of 70-300 nm.

Abstract: A vibration generator making a closed loop of a magnetic circuit of a permanent magnet to obtain a high vibrating force while kept small in size, including a reciprocating vibrator having a ring-shaped permanent magnet in a center hole of a ring-shaped weight, a first and second plate springs supporting this reciprocating vibrator at a recessed case and end plate to be able to elastically displace in a thickness direction spanning a first and a second end faces, a tubular toroidal coil passing through a center hole of the permanent magnet and generating a reciprocating vibrating magnetic field for reciprocatingly driving the permanent magnet in the thickness direction, and a columnar core passing through this toroidal coil, the ring-shaped permanent magnet being magnetized in the thickness direction, and the toroidal coil having a lower toroidal coil and an adjoining reversely wound series connected upper toroidal coil coaxial with the same.