Abstract: A novel polyimide compound which has a low linear expansion coefficient and permits film formation by a spin coating method or the like, a preparation method for the polyimide compound, and an optical film and an optical waveguide produced by employing the compound. The polyimide compound has a structural unit represented by the following general formula (1): wherein X is a covalent single bond, —CH2—, —C(CF3)2— or —CR(R?)— (wherein R and R?, which may be the same or different, are each a C1 to C6 alkyl group or an aryl group); A and B, which may be the same or different, are substituents each selected from a hydroxyl group, a halogen group and a C1 to C4 alkyl group; a and b, which are the numbers of the substituents A and B, respectively, are each an integer of 0 to 2; and o, p and q are each an integer of 1 to 5.

Abstract: Provided are an ultrasonic inspection device, an ultrasonic inspection method, and an atomic power plant nondestructive inspection method that are capable of efficiently generating ultrasonic waves having a sufficient intensity and that are capable of carrying out preferable inspection in a wide range. Provided is an ultrasonic inspection device including a laser device that emits output-adjusted laser light and a volumetric inspection ultrasonic-wave transmitting unit having a transmitting diaphragm that generates ultrasonic waves upon being irradiated with the laser light emitted by the laser device, inspection being carried out by radiating the ultrasonic waves generated by the transmitting diaphragm of the volumetric inspection ultrasonic-wave transmitting unit on a structural member, wherein the transmitting diaphragm is formed of titanium.

Abstract: A resin composition is provided, which satisfies both an uncured layer flexibility requirement and a patterning resolution requirement for production of an optical waveguide by a roll-to-roll process. An optical waveguide produced by using the resin composition is also provided. The resin composition comprises: (A) an aromatic multifunctional epoxy polymer having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 500 to 5000; (B) an aromatic multifunctional epoxy polymer having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 10000 to 50000; (C) at least one of monofunctional, difunctional and trifunctional liquid aromatic epoxy monomers; and (D) a photoacid generator; wherein the components (A), (B) and (C) are present in proportions of 80 to 90 parts by weight, 5 to 15 parts by weight, and 1 to 10 parts by weight, respectively, based on a total of 100 parts by weight of the components (A), (B) and (C).

Abstract: Provided are an ultrasonic inspection device, an ultrasonic inspection method, and an atomic power plant nondestructive inspection method that are capable of efficiently generating ultrasonic waves having a sufficient intensity and that are capable of carrying out preferable inspection in a wide range. Provided is an ultrasonic inspection device including a laser device that emits output-adjusted laser light and a volumetric inspection ultrasonic-wave transmitting unit having a transmitting diaphragm that generates ultrasonic waves upon being irradiated with the laser light emitted by the laser device, inspection being carried out by radiating the ultrasonic waves generated by the transmitting diaphragm of the volumetric inspection ultrasonic-wave transmitting unit on a structural member, wherein the transmitting diaphragm is formed of titanium.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical film containing polyester with a specific structure, and methods for production thereof. Further, the invention also relates to an optical laminate, a polarizing plate, and an image display device each using the optical film. The polyester may be obtained by condensation polymerization of dicarboxylic acid compound(s) and bisphenol compound(s), and preferably has no halogen atom in its chemical structure. According to the invention, high productivity of the optical film can be achieved since the polyester has a high solubility in solvents, and an environmental loading for production can be reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a resin solution containing polyester with a specific structure, an optical film containing the polyester, and methods for production thereof Further, the invention also relates to an optical laminate, a polarizing plate, and an image display device each using the optical film. The polyester may be obtained by condensation polymerization of dicarboxylic acid compound(s) and bisphenol compound(s), and preferably has no halogen atom in its chemical structure. According to the invention, high productivity of the optical film can be achieved since the polyester has a high solubility in solvents, and an environmental loading for production can be reduced.

Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection apparatus is provided in which the size of the apparatus can be made compact by using laser light, the degradation and deformation of the inspected object is prevented, and a broad range of inspections can be carried out. An ultrasonic inspection apparatus (1) is provided with a laser apparatus (5) that irradiates laser light and a volumetric inspection ultrasonic wave transmitter (17) having a transmitting diaphragm (39) that is irradiated by the laser light emitted by the laser apparatus (5) and that generates ultrasonic waves (C); and the ultrasonic inspection apparatus (1) carries out volumetric inspections by irradiating the ultrasonic waves (C) that are generated by the transmitting diaphragm (39) of the ultrasonic wave transmitting portion (17) to the inspected object.

Abstract: A resin composition for an optical waveguide is provided, which has excellent adhesiveness to a cladding layer of the optical waveguide and excellent patternability for formation of a core portion of the optical waveguide and reduces the optical waveguide loss. An optical waveguide produced by using the resin composition is also provided. The resin composition comprises: (A) a multifunctional partially-acrylated epoxy resin, as a major component, having an epoxy group and a (meth)acrylate group in the same main chain thereof; and (B) a photopolymerization initiator as a curing component. The optical waveguide includes: a substrate; a cladding layer provided on the substrate; and a core portion provided on the cladding layer for transmission of an optical signal; wherein the core portion is formed from the resin composition.

Abstract: A resin composition for an optical waveguide is provided, which permits easy formation of a core pattern using an alkali developing liquid and suppresses degradation of the alkali developing liquid. An optical waveguide produced by using the resin composition is provided. The resin composition comprises: (A) an alkali soluble resin, as a major component, having a structural unit represented by formula (1): wherein R1, R2 and R3, which may be the same or different, are each a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R5 and R6, which may be the same or different, are each a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R4 is and m+n+p=1, m>0, n>0 and p>0; and (B) a photopolymerization initiator. The optical waveguide includes a substrate, a cladding layer provided thereon, and a core portion provided in the cladding layer for transmitting an optical signal.

Abstract: An optical waveguide production method is provided which reduces a transmission loss, improves alignment mark visual detectability, and ensures excellent productivity. In the optical waveguide production method, an under-cladding layer, a core and an alignment mark are formed on a surface of a metal substrate. On the other hand, a molding die is prepared which includes a cavity and an alignment mark to be associated with the alignment mark. In turn, light emitted from the side of the molding die is utilized for positioning the metal substrate and the molding die with reference to the pair of associated alignment marks. Then, an over-cladding layer is formed over the core. The alignment mark is formed from a photo-curable composition comprising the following components (A) and (B): (A) a polymerizable composition having a (meth)acrylate group; and (B) a photoradical polymerization initiator.

Abstract: A resin composition is provided, which satisfies both an uncured layer flexibility requirement and a patterning resolution requirement for production of an optical waveguide by a roll-to-roll process. An optical waveguide produced by using the resin composition is also provided. The resin composition comprises: (A) an aromatic multifunctional epoxy polymer having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 500 to 5000; (B) an aromatic multifunctional epoxy polymer having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 10000 to 50000; (C) at least one of monofunctional, difunctional and trifunctional liquid aromatic epoxy monomers; and (D) a photoacid generator; wherein the components (A), (B) and (C) are present in proportions of 80 to 90 parts by weight, 5 to 15 parts by weight, and 1 to 10 parts by weight, respectively, based on a total of 100 parts by weight of the components (A), (B) and (C).

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical film containing aromatic polymer which shows high solubility to solvents, and methods for production thereof. Further, the invention also relates to an optical laminate, a polarizing plate, and an image display device each using the optical film. The optical film may be attained by using polyester with a specific structure. The polyester with a specific structure may be obtained by condensation polymerization of bisphenol compound(s) and dicarboxylic acid compound(s) with biphenyl structure, and preferably has no halogen atom in its chemical structure. The optical film of the invention advantageously has not only high solubility in solvents but also a high level of heat resistance and birefringence producing capability. When the content of the biphenyl structure is high, the optical film of the invention can also have large wavelength dispersion of birefringence.

Abstract: A liquid resin composition is provided which satisfies both a tackiness-free requirement and a curing sensitivity requirement for production of an optical waveguide by a roll-to-roll process. An optical waveguide produced by using the liquid resin composition and a production method of the optical waveguide are also provided. The liquid resin composition for the production of the optical waveguide comprises: (A) a (meth)acrylate polymer, as a major component, having a plurality of (meth)acryl groups in its molecule; (B) a liquid thiol monomer having a plurality of thiol groups in its molecule; and (C) a photopolymerization initiator.

Abstract: [Object] The present invention provides a liquid crystal panel with which a display with extremely small change in color depending on a viewing direction can be realized, and a liquid crystal display including the same. [Solution to Problem] The liquid crystal panel includes: a first polarizer 30; a second polarizer 50; a first optical compensation layer 60; a second optical compensation layer 70; and a liquid crystal cell 40. The first polarizer 30 is arranged on one surface of the liquid crystal cell 40. The second polarizer 50 is arranged on the other surface of the liquid crystal cell 40. The first optical compensation layer 60 is arranged between the liquid crystal cell 40 and the first polarizer 30. The second optical compensation layer 70 is arranged between the liquid crystal cell 40 and the second polarizer 50. The first optical compensation layer 60 satisfies the following mathematical formulae (1) and (2).

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical film containing aromatic polymer which shows high solubility to solvents, and methods for production thereof. Further, the invention also relates to an optical laminate, a polarizing plate, and an image display device each using the optical film. The optical film may be attained by using polyester with a specific structure. The polyester with a specific structure may be obtained by condensation polymerization of bisphenol compound(s) and dicarboxylic acid compound(s) with biphenyl structure, and preferably has no halogen atom in its chemical structure. The optical film of the invention advantageously has not only high solubility in solvents but also a high level of heat resistance and birefringence producing capability. When the content of the biphenyl structure is high, the optical film of the invention can also have large wavelength dispersion of birefringence.

Abstract: The birefringent film of the present invention contains an aromatic polyester having a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (1). In the general formula (1), A(s), B(s), C(s), and D(s) are each independently represent a group selected from a halogeno group, an alkyl group which has 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and an aryl group. Also, a and b each represent an integer of 0 to 4, and c and d each represent an integer of 0 to 3. R1 represents a hydrogen atom, or an alkyl group which has 1 to 10 carbon atoms. R2 represents an alkyl group which has 2 to 10 carbon atoms. R3 to R6 each independently represent a group or atom selected from a hydrogen atom, a halogeno group, an alkyl group which has 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and an aryl group. Furthermore, l and m each represent an integer of 2 or more.

Abstract: An ester-based polymer to be used in the present invention has at least a repeating unit represented with the general formula (I). A and B are substituents substituted on a stilbene group. R1 is a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. R2 is a linear or branched alkyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms. R3 to R6 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. n is an integer of 2 or more.

Abstract: A novel polyimide compound which has a low linear expansion coefficient and permits film formation by a spin coating method or the like, a preparation method for the polyimide compound, and an optical film and an optical waveguide produced by employing the compound. The polyimide compound has a structural unit represented by the following general formula (1): wherein X is a covalent single bond, —CH2—, —C(CF3)2— or —CR(R?)— (wherein R and R?, which may be the same or different, are each a C1 to C6 alkyl group or an aryl group); A and B, which may be the same or different, are substituents each selected from a hydroxyl group, a halogen group and a C1 to C4 alkyl group; a and b, which are the numbers of the substituents A and B, respectively, are each an integer of 0 to 2; and o, p and q are each an integer of 1 to 5.

Abstract: A novel polyimide compound which has a lower linear expansion coefficient and permits film formation by a spin coating method or the like, a preparation method for the polyimide compound, and an optical film and an optical waveguide produced by employing the compound. The polyimide compound has a structural unit represented by the following general formula (1): wherein X and Y are each a covalent single bond, —CO—, —O—, —CH2—, —C(CF3)2— or —CR(R?)— (wherein R and R?, which may be the same or different, are each a linear or branched C1 to C4 alkyl group); A and B are each a halogen group; a and b, which are the numbers of the groups A and B, respectively, are each 0 or an integer of 1 or 2; and R1, R2, R3 and R4, which may be the same or different, are each a hydrogen atom or a linear C1 to C4 alkyl group.

Abstract: The invention relates to a resin solution containing polyester with a specific structure, an optical film containing said polyester, and methods for production thereof. Further, the invention also relates to an optical laminate, a polarizing plate, and an image display device each using the optical film. The polyester may be obtained by condensation polymerization of dicarboxylic acid compound(s) and bisphenol compound(s), and preferably has no halogen atom in its chemical structure. According to the invention, high productivity of the optical film can be achieved since the polyester has a high solubility in solvents, and an environmental loading for production can be reduced.