Abstract: Provided are multilayer laminates having one or more layers comprising twisted nematic liquid crystals and one or more layers of a polymeric sheet comprising a polymer with a modulus between 20,000 psi (138 MPa) and 100,000 psi (690 MPa). The twisted nematic liquid crystal layers reflect infrared radiation. Thus, the multilayer laminates are useful to reduce the transmission of infrared energy. For example, in some embodiments the multilayer laminates are useful as windows to reduce energy consumption necessary to cool the interior of a structure such as an automobile or building. Preferably, the multilayer laminates retain the beneficial properties of safety glass. The multilayer laminates may include additional layers such as infrared absorbing layers, half wave plates, and the like, to minimize the transmission of infrared energy. The multilayer laminates may also include further additional layers such as polymeric films, polymeric sheets, rigid sheets, and the like.

Abstract: Provided are multilayer laminates having one or more layers comprising twisted nematic liquid crystals and one or more layers of a polymeric sheet comprising a polymer with a modulus of 20,000 psi (138 MPa) or less. The twisted nematic liquid crystal layers reflect infrared radiation. Thus, the multilayer laminates are useful to reduce the transmission of infrared energy. For example, in some embodiments the multilayer laminates are useful as windows to reduce energy consumption necessary to cool the interior of a structure such as an automobile or building. Preferably, the multilayer laminates retain the beneficial properties of safety glass. The multilayer laminates may include additional layers such as infrared absorbing layers, half wave plates, and the like, to minimize the transmission of infrared energy. The multilayer laminates may also include further additional layers such as polymeric films, polymeric sheets, rigid sheets, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive composition, and more precisely, an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive composition which is prepared by copoly-merization of a vinyl and/or acrylic monomer having a cross-linkable functional group and comprises 100 weight part of a high molecular weight (meth)acrylic copolymer which is prepared by copolymerization of a vinyl and/or acrylic monomer harboring a cross-linkable functional group and whose weight average molecular weight is 40˜100 times as high as the entanglement molecular weight, 5˜50 weight part of a low molecular weight (meth)acrylic copolymer which does not contain a cross-linkable functional group and whose weight average molecular weight is 2˜15 times as high as entanglement molecular weight, and 0.01˜10 weight part of a multifunctional cross-linking agent.

Abstract: A photosensitive resin composition for forming column spacers for a liquid crystal display device is provided. The composition includes an alkali-soluble resin, a reactive unsaturated compound, a photoinitiator and a solvent. The alkali-soluble resin includes structural units represented by Formulae 1, 2 and 3, which are described in the specification. A pattern formed using the composition is also provided. The pattern shows improved thickness uniformity, good developability without leaving any residual image, superior solvent resistance and high recovery rate.

Abstract: A method of encapsulating an organic light-emitting device is disclosed, wherein the device includes a light-emitting portion and an electrical contact portion, the method including forming a polymer layer over the light-emitting portion and the electrical contact portion of the device; forming a separation in the polymer layer between a portion of the polymer layer disposed over the light-emitting portion of the device and a portion of the polymer layer disposed over the electrical contact portion of the device; adhering a film removal structure to the portion of the polymer layer disposed over the electrical contact portion of the device; and removing the film removal structure, thereby causing the removal of the portion of the polymer layer disposed over the electrical contact portion of the device.

Abstract: A curable composition is provided and contains (A) at least either a hydrolyzed product of organosilane or a condensation reaction product of the hydrolyzed product having a mass average molecular weight of from 500 to 10,000 in terms of ethylene glycol, (B) a fluorine-containing resin having a mass average molecular weight of 5,000 or more in terms of polystyrene, and a fluoroalkyl structure and a polysiloxane structure, and (C) a silane coupling agent represented by a prescribed formula or at least either a hydrolyzed product of the silane coupling agent or a condensation reaction product of the hydrolyzed product.

Abstract: The invention provides a photocurable polymer composition having a fluorine-containing polymer and a fluorine-free polymer, and preferably further having a polymerizable double bond-containing compound and a photopolymerization initiator. The fluorine-containing polymer preferably includes a fluorosilsesquioxane skeleton.

Abstract: To provide an adhesive comprising an acrylic resin (1), an acrylic resin (2), a silicone oligomer (3) and a crosslinking agent (4): wherein the acrylic resin (1) comprises a structural unit (a) derived from a monomer (A) and a structural unit (b) derived from a monomer (B) and has a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000,000 to 2,000,000, wherein the (A) is a (meth)acrylic ester represented by the formula (A) (wherein R1 represents hydrogen atom or methyl group, and R2 represents alkyl or aralkyl groups having 1 to 14 carbon atoms wherein hydrogen atom(s) of the R2 may be substituted with alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms), and the (B) is at least any one of a (B-1) and a (B-2) wherein the (B-1) is a monomer comprising carboxyl group and one olefinic double bond, and the (B-2) is a monomer comprising at least one polar functional group selected from the group consisted of hydroxyl group, amide group, amino group, epoxy group, oxetanyl group, aldehyde group and isocyanate group and an olef

Abstract: The invention aims at a curing agent, curable compositions or compositions for optical materials, capable of providing for cured artifacts having laudable heat resistance, optical transparency, and light resistance; optical materials and methods for their production; and liquid crystal displays and LED's made by using the materials. A curing agent, which comprises at least two SiH groups, is obtainable by subjecting an aliphatic organic compound (?1) and an acyclic and/or cyclic polyorganosiloxane (?1) to hydrosilylation reaction. The curing agent is also obtainable by subjecting an organic compound (?2) and a cyclic polyorganosiloxane (?2) to hydrosilylation reaction.

Abstract: Presently described are (e.g. brightness enhancing film) optical articles comprising the reaction product of a polymerizable resin and surface modified inorganic nanoparticles, methods of surface modifying inorganic nanoparticles, and surface modified inorganic nanoparticles. The surface treatment comprises at least one monocarboxylic acid having a refractive index of at least 1.50 and/or at least one monocarboxylic acid having a Mn of at least 200 g/mole and an ethylenically unsaturated group and/or at least one dicarboxylic acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, particularly for producing LCD displays, comprising two surfaces while also being provided with at least one support having two supporting surfaces and a pressure-sensitive layer on each of the two supporting surfaces. The invention is characterized in that at least one of the two surfaces of the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape has silvery reflective properties.

Abstract: A display medium which has a memorizing ability and is superior in the stability under a severe condition or to folding is provided by a displaying medium comprising a substrate and a constituting layer provided on the substrate, in which the constituting layer contains a binder and a liquid crystal composition dispersed in the binder, and the binder contains a hydrophilic polymer hardened by a hardening treatment.

Abstract: A radiation-curable desiccant-filled adhesive/sealant composition comprising a radiation-curable resin, one or more desiccant fillers, one or more photoinitiators or photosensitizers, and optionally, one or more inorganic or organic fillers.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film of the present invention comprises an optical film; and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer laminated on at least one side of the optical film, wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is formed from a pressure-sensitive adhesive containing a (meth)acrylic polymer (A) and a resin component (B) having an aromatic ring structure in its main chain. The pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film has durability and can be prevented from causing display unevenness in a peripheral portion of a display screen.

Abstract: There is provided an optical film obtained by laminating a polarizing film protective layer and a retardation film comprising a liquid crystalline compound layer, a retardation film protective layer and a polymer film, wherein the retardation film protective layer comprising a cured product of a UV-curable resin composition is inserted between the polymer film and the liquid crystalline compound layer to control or block the migration to the liquid crystalline compound layer of a material present in the polymer film and affecting the optical properties of the liquid crystalline compound layer by migrating to the liquid crystalline compound layer, in such a manner that the protective layer side of the polarizing film and the liquid crystalline compound layer side of the retardation film are opposed to each other.

Abstract: A UV-curable resin composition for alignment film and an alignment film which is prepared by curing the composition with UV rays. The migration of a material which is present in a polymer film and capable of affecting the optical properties of a liquid crystalline compound layer to the liquid crystalline compound layer is controlled or blocked. The composition comprises at least one (meth)acrylate compound having one or more polar groups and one or more (meth)acryloyl groups in the molecule and a photoinitiator. A protective layer is inserted between a polymer film and a liquid crystalline compound layer for controlling or blocking the migration of the material which is present in the polymer film and capable of affecting the optical properties of the liquid crystalline compound layer.

Abstract: Described is an optical compensator device that can maintain a high degree of performance in the demanding environment of projection display. A mounting process involves using a sealant between optically clear glass or ceramic substrate and low elastic polymer retarder film. The sealant may mitigate or prevent the degradation of the retarder film by acting as an oxygen barrier that seals the substrate and increases the lifetime of the device in high luminance.

Abstract: Presently described are microstructured articles such as a brightness enhancing film or optical turning film. The microstructured articles comprise a brightness enhancing polymerized structure comprising the reaction product of a composition comprising an organic component having at least one oligomeric urethane (meth)acrylate and surface modified silica nanoparticles.

Abstract: A protective film (1) includes a substrate (10), an upper hardened layer (20), a lower hardened layer (22), a mirror-effect layer (30), and a DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) film (40). The substrate is made of transparent plastic material, and has an upper surface (100) and a lower surface (102). The upper hardened layer is formed on the upper surface of the substrate, and the lower hardened layer is formed on the lower surface of the substrate. The mirror-effect layer is formed on a surface of the lower hardened layer. The DLC film is formed on a surface of the upper hardened layer. A method for making the protective film is also provided.

Abstract: Presently described are microstructured articles such as a brightness enhancing film or optical turning film. The microstructured articles comprise a brightness enhancing polymerized structure comprising the reaction product of a composition comprising an organic component having at least one oligomeric urethane (meth)acrylate and surface modified silica nanoparticles.

Abstract: To provide a resin composition for spacer useful for the formation of a pixel-patterned spacer on a substrate in a liquid crystal display device, a spacer using the composition, and a liquid crystal display device that can display high-quality images, a resin composition for spacer contains at least one resin selected from (1) an allyl-containing resin, (2) an allyl-and-hydroxyl-containing resin, and (3) a resin mixture of an allyl-containing resin and a hydroxyl-containing resin.

Abstract: A photopolymerizable composition comprising a polymerizable compound and a photopolymerization initiator, wherein the polymerizable compound is characterized by comprising (a) a bifunctional (meth)acrylic acid (thio)ester compound containing a sulfur atom in the molecule and (b) at least one of a (meth)acrylic acid ester compound represented by the general formula (1) or a bifunctional (meth)acrylic acid ester compound having a urethane linkage: wherein R1 and R2 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R3 and R4 are each independently an alkyl group, an aralkyl group, an aryl group or a halogen atom; m and n are each an integer of 0 to 2; X1 is an alkylidene group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; and Y1 and Y2 are each independently a poly(oxyalkylene) group with the proviso that at least one of Y1 and Y2 is a poly(oxyalkylene) group having a hydroxy group.

Abstract: Provided is an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive composition for a polarizing film comprising an acrylic copolymer copolymerized from (meth)acrylic ester monomers having different glass transition temperatures. The acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive composition of the present invention can minimize the problem of light leakage due to shrinkage or expansion of a polarizing film attached to a liquid crystal display panel because it has very superior stress relaxation ability while maintaining superior major properties such as adhesion durability, cuttability, etc.

Abstract: There is provided a laminate comprising a hard coat layer having the outermost surface to which slipperiness has been imparted. The laminate comprises a transparent substrate and a hard coat layer provided on said transparent substrate. The hard coat layer is formed of a cured product of a composition comprising a fluorine-modified urethane acrylate and/or a polydimethylsiloxane having a polyether-modified acryl or polyether group.

Abstract: Disclosed are photo or electron beam curable polymerizable compositions, and preparation thereof and devices containing such cured material. The composition contains completely or substantially completely hydrogenated hydrocarbon-based material completely free or substantially free of carbon-carbon double and triple bonds containing photo or electron beam curable terminal or pendant groups, low-outgassing photoinitiators, an optional viscosity adjustment component and an optional filler. The composition is visible light, UV or electron beam curable. It cures into a low-modulus, low outgassing polymer material. The composition can be used as an adhesive, sealant or lens potting material. It is ideal for use in lithographic tools and other optical devices involving deep or vacuum ultraviolet radiations, in particular, as lens potting materials for 248 nm, 193 nm and 157 nm lithographic tools, as well as other optical devices involving using high fluence irradiation.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical multilayer comprising a polymeric substrate having a non-zero out-of plane birefringence and an amorphous polymeric overlayer that comprises an amorphous polymer having a Tg value above 160° C. and having the sign of its out-of-plane birefringence opposite to that of the polymeric substrate so as to provide a total out-of-plane phase retardation of said optical multilayer of between ?30 nm and 30 nm for wavelengths of light between 400 and 700 nm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a display comprising at least one substrate having at least one electrically modulated imaging layer thereon, at least one patterned electrically conductive layer, and at least one antistatic layer.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises a transparent support and an optically anisotropic layer. The optically anisotropic layer is formed from liquid crystal molecules and monomers having four or more double bonds. The monomers are polymerized to form a polymer in the optically anisotropic layer.

Abstract: The polarizing plate protection film of the present invention has excellent adhesion with the polarizer because of the polyurethane resin layer formed on the thermoplastic saturated norbornene-type resin film. In addition, blocking of the protection film can be prevented by the PVA layer formed on the polyurethane resin layer. The polarizing plate using the protection film of the present invention is excellent in terms of durability under high temperature and high humidity conditions, and it is suitably used for liquid crystal displays and such.

Abstract: A transmittable light-scattering sheet (a transmitting type light-scattering sheet) of the present invention comprises a plurality of layers, each having a bicontinuous structure composed of a plurality of polymers. The layers differ from each other in average period size of the bicontinuous structure. The sheet may comprise, for example, a first layer having a bicontinuous structure (e.g., the average period size of the bicontinuous structure of 1.5 to 4 &mgr;m) and a second layer each having a bicontinuous structure (e.g., the larger average period size of the bicontinuous structure than that of the first layer by 0.5 to 8 &mgr;m). In the sheet, the first layer may be next to the second layer. The ratio of the period size of the first layer to that of the second layer may be the first layer/the second layer=1.3/1 to 4/1. Such a sheet can impart a directionality to a reflected light.

Abstract: A fluorine-containing copolymer of the following formula. A film-forming composition containing the copolymer. An anti-reflection film having a low-refractive-index layer containing the copolymer. An anti-reflection film having the above anti-reflection film on a transparent support. An image display device having the anti-reflection film.

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: A reflector is disclosed which enables bright image display with a wide angle of view and can be efficiently fabricated by a a simplified process. The reflector includes a resin layer having at its surface microscopic projections and depressions and formed by application of a coating composition containing a binder resin and crosslinked resin particles.

Abstract: An orientation layer for aligning liquid crystal molecules is provided on a substrate. The orientation layer contains an acrylic copolymer or a methacrylic copolymer. The copolymer comprises repeating units represented by the formula (I) and repeating units represented by the formula (II) or (III).

Abstract: An orientation layer of an acrylic copolymer is used to orient rod-like liquid crystal molecules perpendicularly to rubbing direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to monoreactive mesogenic compounds of formula I wherein P, Sp, X, n, Y1, Y2, r1, r2, r3, Z1 and Z2 are defined herein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing thermotropic casting resin systems that comprise at least one matrix polymer including at least one thermotropic monomer compound which cannot be mixed with the matrix polymer, whereby the matrix polymer an the thermotropic monomer compound are selected in such a way that their refraction indices are almost the same in a temperatrue range that is below the temperature required for structural change and that reaches the temperature of structural change of the thermotropic monomer compound, the casting resin system being translucent or transparent in this termperature range. After dissolving the monomer thermotropic compund in a matrix solution containing a photohardening oligomer, reactive diluents and photoinitiators and a liquid, photohardenable system is obtained, photoradiation with exclusion of oxygen is carried out for hardening.

Abstract: A protective film of a polarizing plate comprising a cellulose ester film, wherein a variation in a weight of the cellulose ester film is 0 to 2% under a keeping condition of 80±5° C. and 90±10% RH for 48 hours.

Abstract: A polyvinyl alcohol film obtained by casting on drum, in which the variance in thickness along the TD direction of the film is 0.5 &mgr;m/mm or less, the thickness of the film is within the range of 20 to 150 &mgr;m, and the width of the film is at least 2 m.

Abstract: Polymer particles made from copolymers of multifunctional (meth)acrylate monomer and multifunctional aromatic monomers are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of improving the compression characteristics of (meth)acrylate polymer particles by copolymerizing with a multifunctional (meth)acrylate monomer a multifunctional aromatic monomer. The particles are of a size, uniformity, and contain physical characteristics that make them ideally suitable for use as spacers in liquid crystal display devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to polymerizable fluorophenylenes of formula I wherein P, Sp, X, n, L, Z1, Z2, A, B, m and R have the meaning of claim 1, to a polymerizable liquid crystalline composition comprising at least one polymerizable mesogenic fluorophenylene of formula I, to the use of the inventive mesogenic fluorophenylenes and compositions comprising them for the preparation of linear or crosslinked liquid crystalline polymers, and to the use of inventive compounds, compositions and polymers in liquid crystal displays, polarizers, compensators, alignment layers, color filters or holographic elements, adhesives, synthetic resins with anisotropic mechanical properties, cosmetics, diagnostics, liquid crystal pigments, for decorative and security applications, in nonlinear optics, optical information storage or as chiral dopants.