Laminate, virtual reality display device, and method for manufacturing laminate

Abstract

The present invention provides: a laminate which is capable of producing a virtual reality display device in which changes in the color tone of a displayed image over time are suppressed and also has excellent adhesion to a light absorption anisotropic layer; a virtual reality display device; and a method for manufacturing the laminate. The laminate according to the present invention has a substrate, an adhesive layer or a bonding layer, and a light absorption anisotropic layer in this order, wherein the light absorption anisotropic layer contains a liquid crystal compound having smectic liquid crystallinity. The laminate has a curved surface portion, and the light absorption anisotropic layer in the curved surface portion satisfies a predetermined requirement.

Description

Laminate, virtual reality display device, and method for manufacturing laminate

[0001] The present invention relates to a laminate, a virtual reality display device, and a method for manufacturing a laminate.

[0002] A virtual reality display device is a display device that allows users to feel as if they are immersed in a virtual world by wearing a dedicated headset and viewing images displayed through lenses. A proposed configuration for virtual reality display devices is called a pancake lens, which includes an image display device, a reflective polarizer, a half mirror, and a retardation layer, and reduces the overall thickness of the headset by directing light emitted from the image display device back and forth between the reflective polarizer and the half mirror. Note that an absorptive polarizer is also used in the pancake lens.

[0003] On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses a polarizer that contains a dichroic dye and has a curved portion.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-194685

[0005] The present inventors fabricated a virtual reality display device using a polarizing plate having a curved portion as disclosed in Patent Document 1 as an absorptive polarizer, and when their characteristics were evaluated, they found that the color of the displayed image changed over time. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of use in various applications, excellent adhesion of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer is also required.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a laminate that can realize a virtual reality display device that suppresses changes in the color of a displayed image over time and that also has excellent adhesion of an optically absorptive anisotropic layer.An object of the present invention is also to provide a virtual reality display device and a method for manufacturing the laminate.

[0007] The present inventors have conducted extensive research into the above-mentioned problems and have found that the above problems can be solved by the following configuration.

[0008] (1) A laminate having, in this order, a substrate, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer or bonding layer, and an optically absorptive anisotropic layer, wherein the optically absorptive anisotropic layer contains a liquid crystal compound having smectic liquid crystallinity, the laminate has a curved surface portion, and the optically absorptive anisotropic layer in the curved surface portion satisfies the requirement X described below. (2) The laminate according to (1), wherein the optically absorptive anisotropic layer in the curved surface portion satisfies the requirement Y described below. (3) The laminate according to (1) or (2), wherein the optically absorptive anisotropic layer contains a dichroic material. (4) The concentration of the dichroic material in the optically absorptive anisotropic layer is 180 mg / cm. ３The laminate according to (3), which is the following: (5) The laminate according to (3) or (4), wherein the dichroic substance contains at least two or more dichroic dyes having a maximum absorption wavelength of 550 nm or more. (6) The laminate according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the optically absorptive anisotropic layer exhibits a Bragg peak in X-ray diffraction measurement. (7) The laminate according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the in-plane variation in film thickness of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer in the curved portion is less than 7%. (8) The laminate according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the optically absorptive anisotropic layer is a layer formed from a composition containing a dichroic substance and the liquid crystal compound. (9) The laminate according to (8), wherein the composition contains a thiol compound. (10) The laminate according to (8) or (9), wherein the composition contains a compound having an active hydrogen reactive group. (11) The laminate according to any one of (1) to (10), further comprising an alignment film adjacent to the light absorption anisotropic layer. (12) The laminate according to (11), wherein the alignment film is a layer formed from a composition containing a compound having an active hydrogen reactive group. (13) The laminate according to (12), wherein the composition contains a polymer containing a structural unit having a photoreactive group and a structural unit having a polymerizable group. (14) The laminate according to any one of (1) to (13), further comprising a retardation layer and a reflective linear polarizer. (15) The laminate according to any one of (1) to (14), further comprising a cholesteric liquid crystal layer. (16) The laminate according to any one of (1) to (15), further comprising a half mirror. (17) A virtual reality display device comprising the laminate according to any one of (1) to (16).(18) A method for producing a laminate according to any one of (1) to (16), comprising: Step 1, using a mold having a first molding surface, deforming a planar precursor film comprising an optically absorptive anisotropic layer and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer or an adhesive layer along the first molding surface, with the surface on the optically absorptive anisotropic layer side facing the first molding surface; and Step 2, using a substrate having a second molding surface with a smaller radius of curvature than the first molding surface, deforming the precursor film to which the shape of the first molding surface has been transferred in Step 1 along the second molding surface, with the surface of the precursor film to which the shape of the first molding surface has been transferred being opposite to the surface that was in contact with the mold in Step 1, to form a laminate, wherein the first molding surface has a concave shape and the second molding surface has a convex shape, or the first molding surface has a convex shape and the second molding surface has a concave shape. (19) A method for producing a laminate according to any one of (1) to (16), comprising the steps of: providing a temperature distribution in the in-plane direction of a planar precursor film including an optically absorptive anisotropic layer and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer or an adhesive layer; making the surface of the precursor film opposite to the optically absorptive anisotropic layer side a molding surface of a substrate having a curved molding surface; and deforming the precursor film along the molding surface of the substrate to produce a laminate.

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a virtual reality display device in which the change in color of a displayed image over time is suppressed, and it is also possible to provide a laminate having excellent adhesion of an optically absorptive anisotropic layer. According to the present invention, it is also possible to provide a virtual reality display device and a method for manufacturing the laminate.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a top view of an example of a laminate of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a measurement method using an integrating sphere. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the measurement position of the film thickness of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the procedure for molding a film using a mold having a concave molding surface. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the procedure for molding a film using a mold having a concave molding surface. FIG. 7 is a top view of a film used for molding. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the procedure for molding a film using a mold having a convex molding surface. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the procedure for molding a film using a mold having a convex molding surface. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating Method 1. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating Method 1. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating Method 1. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating Method 2. FIG. 14 is a top view of a planar precursor film used in Method 2. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a laminate of the present invention. Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the laminate of the present invention, and Fig. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the virtual reality display device of the present invention.

[0011] The present invention will be described in detail below. The following description of the constituent elements may be based on representative embodiments and specific examples, but the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. In this specification, a numerical range expressed using "to" means a range that includes the numerical values ​​before and after "to" as the lower and upper limits.

[0012] In this specification, "absorption axis" refers to the polarization direction in which absorbance is maximized in a plane when linearly polarized light is incident. "Reflection axis" refers to the polarization direction in which reflectance is maximized in a plane when linearly polarized light is incident. "Transmission axis" refers to the direction perpendicular to the absorption axis or reflection axis in a plane. "Slow axis" refers to the direction in which refractive index is maximized in a plane.

[0013] In this specification, Re(λ) and Rth(λ) represent the in-plane retardation and the thickness retardation, respectively, at a wavelength λ. Unless otherwise specified, the wavelength λ is 550 nm. In the present invention, Re(λ) and Rth(λ) are values ​​measured at a wavelength λ using an AxoScan (manufactured by Axometrics). By inputting the average refractive index ((nx + ny + nz) / 3) and film thickness (d) into AxoScan, the following slow axis direction (°) is calculated: Re(λ) = R0(λ) Rth(λ) = ((nx + ny) / 2 - nz) × d. Note that R0(λ) is displayed as a numerical value calculated by AxoScan, but it means Re(λ).

[0014] In this specification, the refractive indices nx, ny, and nz are measured using an Abbe refractometer (NAR-4T, manufactured by Atago Co., Ltd.) with a sodium lamp (λ = 589 nm) as a light source. When measuring wavelength dependency, measurements can be made using a multi-wavelength Abbe refractometer DR-M2 (manufactured by Atago Co., Ltd.) in combination with an interference filter. Values ​​from the Polymer Handbook (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) and catalogs of various optical films can also be used. Examples of average refractive index values ​​for major optical films are listed below: cellulose acylate (1.48), cycloolefin polymer (1.52), polycarbonate (1.59), polymethyl methacrylate (1.49), and polystyrene (1.59).

[0015] In this specification, A plates and C plates are defined as follows. There are two types of A plates: positive A plates (positive A plates) and negative A plates (negative A plates). When the refractive index in the in-plane slow axis direction (the direction in which the in-plane refractive index is maximum) of the film is nx, the refractive index in the in-plane direction perpendicular to the in-plane slow axis is ny, and the refractive index in the thickness direction is nz, the positive A plates satisfy the relationship of formula (A1), and the negative A plates satisfy the relationship of formula (A2). Note that the positive A plates have a positive Rth value, and the negative A plates have a negative Rth value. Formula (A1) nx>ny≒nz Formula (A2) ny<nx≒nz Note that the above "≒" includes not only the case where the two are completely identical, but also the case where the two are substantially identical. "Substantially the same" means, for example, that "ny ≒ nz" also includes cases where (ny - nz) x d (where d is the film thickness) is -10 to 10 nm, preferably -5 to 5 nm, and "nx ≒ nz" also includes cases where (nx - nz) x d is -10 to 10 nm, preferably -5 to 5 nm. There are two types of C plates: positive C plates (positive C plates) and negative C plates (negative C plates). Positive C plates satisfy the relationship of formula (C1), while negative C plates satisfy the relationship of formula (C2). Note that positive C plates have a negative Rth value, and negative C plates have a positive Rth value. Formula (C1) nz > nx ≒ ny Formula (C2) nz < nx ≒ ny Note that the above "≒" includes not only cases where the two are completely identical, but also cases where the two are substantially identical. The term "substantially the same" includes, for example, the case where (nx-ny) x d (where d is the thickness of the film) is 0 to 10 nm, preferably 0 to 5 nm, in "nx≈ny".

[0016] A characteristic feature of the laminate of the present invention is that the optically absorptive anisotropic layer in the curved portion satisfies Requirement X, described below. The inventors investigated the cause of the change in color of a displayed image over time when a virtual reality display device is fabricated using a polarizing plate (corresponding to an optically absorptive anisotropic layer) having a curved portion manufactured by conventional techniques such as Patent Document 1 as an absorptive polarizer. As a result, they discovered that the cause is variations in molecular density within the polarizing plate during molding. For example, when a polarizing plate is stretched, if the degree of stretching varies depending on the position of the polarizing plate, the intermolecular distance increases in areas where stretching has progressed more, making the molecular density more likely to decrease, resulting in a molecular density distribution. Such a density distribution causes scattering at the density / sparseness interface. Typically, when a polarizing plate is applied to a virtual reality display device, various image processing techniques are used to observe a predetermined color depending on the transmission characteristics of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer. In such cases, if a polarizing plate with the above-described reduced density distribution is used, the effect of reducing the density distribution gradually progresses over time, causing the transmission characteristics of the polarizing plate to change, resulting in a change in color that differs from the initial color under the various image processing conditions initially set, resulting in a change in the color of the displayed image over time. The present invention has discovered that an optically absorptive anisotropic layer that satisfies Requirement X can solve the above-described problem. Requirement X stipulates that the difference between the degree of polarization measured without using an integrating sphere and the degree of polarization measured with an integrating sphere must be within a predetermined range. This difference becomes smaller when the molecular density in the optically absorptive anisotropic layer is low. The inventors have discovered that an optically absorptive anisotropic layer that satisfies Requirement X can solve the above-described problem. Furthermore, in the present invention, an adhesive layer or bonding layer is disposed between the substrate and the optically absorptive anisotropic layer, resulting in excellent adhesion of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer (adhesion of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer to the substrate).

[0017] FIG. 1 shows an example of a laminate of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a top view of the laminate, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1. Line A-A is a line passing through the center C of laminate 10, which is circular when viewed in plan. Laminate 10 has a substrate 12, an adhesive layer 14, and an optically absorptive anisotropic layer 16, in that order. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, laminate 10 has a curved shape. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, laminate 10 has a shape (convex shape) that is curved convexly toward the upper side of the paper. In other words, laminate 10 has a convex shape that protrudes on one surface. It can also be said that laminate 10 has a concave shape that is concave on the other surface. In laminate 10, the entire laminate 10 corresponds to the curved-shaped portion. As shown in Figure 2, the laminate 10 has two opposing surfaces, a first surface 10A and a second surface 10B. The first surface 10A is a curved surface that is convex toward the top of the page, and the second surface 10B is a curved surface that is convex toward the top of the page. The curved surface of the laminate 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a paraboloid of revolution, but it may also be a spherical or spheroidal shape. Also, although an adhesive layer is used in Figures 1 and 2, an adhesive layer may also be used.

[0018] 1 , when the laminate 10 is observed from the normal direction of the tangent plane to the center C of the laminate 10 (corresponding to the apex of the convex portion) (when the laminate 10 is viewed from above), the shape of the laminate 10 is circular. Note that the center C of the laminate 10 is the intersection point between the axis of the spheroid shape and the laminate 10, and corresponds to the position where the center C intersects with the normal to the center of the exit surface of the image display panel when the laminate 10 is incorporated into the virtual reality display device described below. When the laminate 10 is incorporated into the virtual reality display device described below, the laminate 10 is positioned so that it is convex toward the image display panel.

[0019] In a cut surface of the laminate 10 taken along a plane including a normal to the tangent plane of the center C of the laminate 10, the outer contour line of the laminate 10 (the contour line corresponding to the first surface 10A of the laminate 10) is a parabola. Furthermore, when the laminate 10 is cut along any plane parallel to the tangent plane of the center C of the laminate 10, the outer contour line of the laminate 10 is a circle.

[0020] In Figure 1, an embodiment has been described in which the shape of the curved surface portion of the laminate is circular when viewed in a plane, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and the shape of the curved surface portion of the laminate when viewed in a plane may be elliptical or another shape.

[0021] The configuration of the curved portion of the laminate is not limited to the configurations shown in Figures 1 and 2. The curved shape of the curved portion refers to a shape having a curvature greater than zero, and includes a developable curved surface and a three-dimensional curved surface. A developable surface is a surface that can be developed into a plane without expanding or contracting any part of the surface. Examples of developable curved surfaces include surfaces corresponding to cylindrical surfaces, elliptical cylindrical surfaces, conical surfaces, and elliptical conical surfaces, and may be convex or concave curved surfaces. A three-dimensional curved surface refers to a curved surface that cannot be formed by deformation of a plane, i.e., a curved surface that is not developable. Examples of three-dimensional curved surfaces include surfaces corresponding to spherical surfaces and spheroidal surfaces, and surfaces corresponding to curved surfaces whose cross sections form parabolas or hyperbolas (e.g., paraboloids of revolution), and may be convex or concave curved surfaces.

[0022] The curved surface shape is preferably a lens shape. Examples of the lens shape include a spherical shape and a spheroidal shape, and the shape may be a convex lens shape or a concave lens shape.

[0023] The curved surface portion of the laminate is preferably a spherical surface, a spheroidal surface, or a paraboloidal surface of revolution. That is, the curved surface portion is preferably a spherical surface, a spheroidal surface, or a paraboloidal surface of revolution.

[0024] The optically absorptive anisotropic layer in the curved portion of the laminate satisfies Requirement X. Requirement X: When the degree of polarization of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer measured without using an integrating sphere is defined as P1, and the degree of polarization of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer measured with an integrating sphere is defined as P2, the degree of polarization P1 and the degree of polarization P2 satisfy the relationship of Equation (1). Equation (1) Polarization degree P1 - Polarization degree P2 ≦ 0.27%. Requirement X will be explained below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 shows a method for measuring the degree of polarization using a detector D having an integrating sphere IS. As shown in FIG. 3, when incident light I, which is linear light, is incident on the optically absorptive anisotropic layer 18 from the normal direction to the surface of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer 18, transmitted light T, which is parallel to the incident light I (shown by the solid line), and scattered light S, shown by the dashed line, are generated. In particular, as described above, in an optically absorptive anisotropic layer 18 with a large difference in molecular density, scattering is likely to occur at the molecular density interface, making scattered light S more likely to occur. When measuring using an integrating sphere, not only transmitted light T but also scattered light S is detected, as shown in FIG. 3 . When a large amount of scattered light S is generated, the degree of polarization P2 calculated using the formula described below tends to be small. The reason for this tendency for the degree of polarization to be small is an increase in the transmittance in the absorption axis direction in formula (2) described below. In contrast, when a detector without an integrating sphere is used, the scattered light S is not detected by the detector, as shown in FIG. 3 . That is, mainly, only transmitted light T parallel to the incident light I is detected. In such cases, the transmittance in the absorption axis direction in formula (2) described below tends to be small, and as a result, the degree of polarization P1 tends to be large. In other words, the likelihood of scattered light S occurring varies depending on the density and sparseness of the molecular density. The more density and sparseness interfaces there are in an optically absorptive anisotropic layer, the more likely scattered light S is generated, and in such cases, the degree of polarization P2 tends to be small. As a result, the difference between the degree of polarization P1 and the degree of polarization P2 becomes larger. In other words, the difference between the polarization degree P1 and the polarization degree P2 represents the degree of density-sparseness interfaces in the sample, and the smaller this value, the fewer density-sparseness interfaces there are. The smaller this value, the less likely relaxation resulting from the density-sparseness distribution occurs, and as a result, the change over time in the color of the displayed image is suppressed in a virtual reality display device using the laminate of the present invention.The laminate of the present invention preferably satisfies Requirement Y, in that changes in the color of a displayed image over time are further suppressed in a virtual reality display device to which the laminate of the present invention is applied. Requirement Y: The polarization degree P1 and the polarization degree P2 satisfy the relationship shown in Formula (2). Formula (2) Polarization degree P1 - Polarization degree P2 ≦ 0.15% There is no particular lower limit to the difference between the polarization degree P1 and the polarization degree P2 (polarization degree P1 - polarization degree P2), but an example of this is 0%.

[0025] The magnitude of the polarization degree P1 is not particularly limited as long as it satisfies the above-mentioned requirement X, but it is preferably 70 to 100%, more preferably 80 to 99.9%, and even more preferably 95.0 to 99.9%.

[0026] The degree of polarization P1 is calculated without using an integrating sphere by irradiating light from the normal direction to the surface of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer. More specifically, the optically absorptive anisotropic layer is irradiated with linearly polarized light parallel to the transmission axis of the layer from the normal direction to the surface, and the transmittance T1 is measured. The optically absorptive anisotropic layer is then irradiated with linearly polarized light parallel to the absorption axis of the layer, and the transmittance T2 is measured. The degree of polarization P1 is then calculated using the following formula: Polarization degree [%] = [(T1 - T2) / (T1 + T2)] × 100, where T1 is the transmittance for polarized light in the transmission axis direction of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer, and T2 is the transmittance for polarized light in the absorption axis direction of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer. The above measurements can be performed using an automatic polarizing film measuring device (manufactured by JASCO Corporation, product name VAP-7070). Note that the transmittances T1 and T2 correspond to average transmittances obtained by correcting for luminosity of measurements in the wavelength range of 380 to 780 nm. More specifically, this average transmittance is calculated by weighting the transmittance values ​​measured at 5-nm intervals between 380 and 780 nm using the Y value of the XYZ color-matching function (the color-matching function of the CIE 1931 standard observer) standardized by the CIE (International Commission on Illumination). That is, a calculated value A is calculated for each measurement wavelength, which is the product of the transmittance measured at 5-nm intervals between 380 and 780 nm and the Y value corresponding to the wavelength at which the transmittance is measured. The calculated values ​​A obtained at each measurement wavelength are summed to calculate a total value B, and the resulting total value B is then divided by the total value C of the Y values ​​used above (total value B / total value C), thereby calculating the transmittance. Furthermore, the degree of polarization P2 is calculated using a detector with an integrating sphere, following the same procedure as used to calculate the degree of polarization P1. The distance between the detector with an integrating sphere and the light-absorption anisotropic layer serving as the measurement sample is preferably 5 mm.

[0027] When measuring the polarization degree P1 and the polarization degree P2, only the optically absorbing anisotropic layer may be used as the sample, or a laminate including the optically absorbing anisotropic layer and other components (e.g., a support, a photo-alignment film) may be used as the sample. When using a laminate including the optically absorbing anisotropic layer and other components as the sample, the polarization degree P1 and the polarization degree P2 are calculated by eliminating the influence of the other components on the polarization degree. For example, the polarization degree P1 and the polarization degree P2 may be calculated after irradiating the other components with light to confirm that they do not affect the polarization degree. The sample used to measure the polarization degree P1 and the polarization degree P2 may be prepared by cutting out a portion of the curved portion in the laminate. Alternatively, a sample of the optically absorbing anisotropic layer having a shape similar to the curved portion in the laminate may be separately prepared and used as the measurement sample.

[0028] The radius of curvature of the curved portion of the laminate is not particularly limited, but is preferably 20 to 80 mm, more preferably 30 to 80 mm, and even more preferably 35 to 60 mm, in order to further suppress the occurrence of ghosts when the laminate is applied to a virtual reality display device. The radius of curvature of the curved portion may be constant or may vary at any position on the curved portion, and it is preferable that the radius of curvature at any position is within the above range. When the radius of curvature is constant at any position on the curved portion, the shape of the curved portion corresponds to a spherical shape.

[0029] The minimum radius of curvature of the curved portion is not particularly limited, but is preferably 30 to 80 mm, more preferably 35 to 60 mm, in order to further suppress the occurrence of ghosts when the laminate is applied to a virtual reality display device. The maximum radius of curvature of the curved portion is not particularly limited, but is preferably 35 to 80 mm, more preferably 35 to 60 mm, in order to further suppress the occurrence of ghosts when the laminate is applied to a virtual reality display device.

[0030] When the curved shape of the curved portion is a spherical shape, a spheroidal shape, or a paraboloidal shape, the size of the curved portion when viewed from above in the direction of the rotation axis of these shapes is not particularly limited, and the equivalent circle diameter of the curved portion is preferably 30 to 80 mm, more preferably 40 to 60 mm. The equivalent circle diameter is the diameter of a perfect circle having the same projected area as the projected area of ​​the curved portion when observed.

[0031] The thickness of the curved portion is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.5 to 5.0 μm, and more preferably 1.0 to 3.0 μm, in order to obtain a more excellent effect of the present invention. The thickness means the average value of the thickness determined when calculating the in-plane variation in the thickness of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer of the curved portion.

[0032] The in-plane variation in the thickness of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer in the curved portion of the laminate of the present invention is not particularly limited, but is preferably 7% or less, more preferably 4% or less, in order to further suppress the occurrence of ghosts when the laminate is applied to a virtual reality display device. The lower limit is not particularly limited, and may be 0%, but is often 0.1% or more. The following method can be used to measure the in-plane variation in the thickness of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer in the curved portion. First, the laminate is cut with a microtome to expose a cross section, and the cross section is observed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at an appropriate magnification (20,000 to 50,000 times) to determine the thickness of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer in the curved portion. To facilitate cross-section observation, the measurement sample may be subjected to appropriate treatments such as carbon deposition and etching. The acceleration voltage is preferably optimized at 1 to 10 kV.

[0033] The position for measuring the film thickness of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer in the curved portion is determined by the following method. The following describes the laminate 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 as an example. First, when the laminate is applied to a virtual reality display device, the laminate is viewed in plan from the normal direction to the exit surface of the image display panel. The intersection of the laminate in plan view with an axis extending in the normal direction through the center of the exit surface is defined as the center of the curved portion. As shown in Figure 4, in the case of the laminate 10, the center C of the laminate 10 corresponds to the center of the curved portion. Next, in a projected image obtained by viewing the curved portion in plan, a line passing through the center and extending in one in-plane direction is defined as a first line, and a line extending in the in-plane direction perpendicular to the first line is defined as a second line. In Figure 4, a line passing through the center C and extending in the left-right direction of the page is defined as a first line SL1, and a line extending perpendicular to line SL1 is defined as a second line SL2. In FIG. 4 , the first and second lines are defined as lines extending in the left-right and up-down directions on the page, respectively. However, this is not limiting, and any line extending in one in-plane direction may be used as the first line. Next, the first and second lines located within the area of ​​the curved surface portion (within the area of ​​the projected image) in a planar view are each divided into ten parts. As shown in FIG. 4 , the first and second lines SL1 and SL2, indicated by dashed lines, are divided into ten areas of equal length. Of the resulting ten division lines, eight division lines are selected, excluding the division lines at both ends, and the film thickness of the optically anisotropic layer at a position corresponding to each division line is determined from the SEM observation diagram described above. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4 , the first line SL1 is divided into ten parts to obtain eight division lines (D1 to D8), excluding the division lines at both ends. An arbitrary point on each division line is selected, and the film thickness of the optically anisotropic layer at the corresponding position is calculated. The position of the optically anisotropic layer corresponding to any position on the division line corresponds to the intersection of the optically anisotropic layer with an axis extending normal to the projection image of the laminate obtained by viewing the laminate in plan view, passing through the selected position on the division line. In other words, the position on the division line in the projection image is reflected in the position of the optically anisotropic layer, and the film thickness at that position (film thickness normal to the tangent plane at that position) is calculated. The film thicknesses of the eight optically anisotropic layers can be calculated according to the above procedure.For the second line, the film thicknesses of the optically anisotropic layer at eight locations can be calculated using the same procedure as above. The obtained film thickness values ​​at 16 locations are used to calculate the average value, the maximum value, and the minimum value. Next, the largest difference (hereinafter also referred to as the "specific difference") between the maximum value and the average value and the minimum value and the average value is selected, and the ratio of the obtained difference to the average value [(specific difference / average value) x 100] is calculated.

[0034] The optically absorptive anisotropic layer in the laminate of the present invention preferably has an ordered structure derived from a crystalline phase or a higher-order liquid crystal phase in terms of the degree of orientation. The presence of the ordered structure can be confirmed by performing X-ray diffraction measurement on the optically absorptive anisotropic layer as a sample and observing a crystalline Bragg peak (a peak derived from Bragg reflection) by X-ray diffraction. The Bragg peak is a peak derived from the planar periodic structure of molecular orientation, and the periodic interval is preferably 3.0 to 5.0 Å.

[0035] The single plate transmittance of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer is preferably 40% or more, more preferably 42% or more. There is no particular upper limit, but it is often 60% or less. The degree of polarization of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer is preferably 90% or more, more preferably 95% or more, and even more preferably 99% or more. There is no particular upper limit, but it is often less than 100%. The single plate transmittance and degree of polarization of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer are measured using an automatic polarizing film measuring device: VAP-7070 (manufactured by JASCO Corporation).

[0036] The components constituting the present invention will be described in detail below.

[0037] [Substrate] The substrate is a member that supports the light absorption anisotropic layer described below. The type of substrate is not particularly limited, but a lens is preferred. Examples of lenses include convex lenses and concave lenses. Convex lenses include biconvex lenses, plano-convex lenses, and convex meniscus lenses. Concave lenses include biconcave lenses, plano-concave lenses, and concave meniscus lenses. Lenses used in virtual reality display devices are preferably convex meniscus lenses or concave meniscus lenses in terms of widening the viewing angle, and more preferably concave meniscus lenses in terms of minimizing chromatic aberration. Materials that are transparent to visible light, such as glass, crystal, and plastic, can be used for the substrate (lens). Because birefringence in lenses can cause rainbow irregularities and light leakage, a small birefringence is preferable, and zero-birefringence materials are more preferable. The radius of curvature of the substrate (lens) is not particularly limited, but is preferably 20 to 80 mm, more preferably 30 to 80 mm, and even more preferably 35 to 60 mm, in order to achieve superior effects of the present invention.

[0038] [Adhesive Layer or Adhesive Layer] A known layer can be used as the adhesive layer or adhesive layer (hereinafter, collectively referred to as "adhesion layer"). The adhesive layer is formed using a known adhesive (pressure-sensitive adhesive). Examples of adhesives include rubber-based adhesives, acrylic-based adhesives, silicone-based adhesives, urethane-based adhesives, vinyl alkyl ether-based adhesives, polyvinyl alcohol-based adhesives, polyvinylpyrrolidone-based adhesives, polyacrylamide-based adhesives, and cellulose-based adhesives, with acrylic adhesives being preferred. The adhesive layer is formed using a known adhesive. Examples of adhesives include aqueous adhesives, solvent-based adhesives, emulsion-based adhesives, solventless adhesives, active energy ray-curable adhesives, and heat-curable adhesives. Examples of active energy ray-curable adhesives include electron beam-curable adhesives, ultraviolet-curable adhesives, and visible light-curable adhesives, with ultraviolet-curable adhesives being preferred.

[0039] The adhesive layer is preferably disposed so as to be in contact with the substrate. A plurality of adhesive layers may be included in the laminate. For example, a plurality of adhesive layers may be included between the substrate and the light absorption anisotropic layer.

[0040] The thickness of the adhesive layer is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of thinning, it is preferably 25 μm or less, more preferably 15 μm or less, and even more preferably 5 μm or less. There is no particular lower limit, and it is often 0.1 μm or more.

[0041] [Light-Absorption Anisotropic Layer] The light-absorption anisotropic layer contains a liquid crystal compound having smectic liquid crystallinity. A liquid crystal compound having smectic liquid crystallinity refers to a compound that can exhibit a liquid crystal state of a smectic phase. The smectic phase refers to a state in which molecules aligned in one direction have a layer structure. The smectic liquid crystallinity of a liquid crystal compound can be confirmed, for example, by observing the structure unique to the smectic phase using an optical microscope. The liquid crystal compound may be fixed in the light-absorption anisotropic layer. For example, when a polymerizable liquid crystal compound is used to form the light-absorption anisotropic layer, the liquid crystal compound may be fixed by polymerization via a polymerizable group.

[0042] As the liquid crystal compound, either a polymer liquid crystal compound or a low molecular weight liquid crystal compound can be used, with the polymer liquid crystal compound being preferred because it can increase the degree of orientation. Furthermore, as the liquid crystal compound, a polymer liquid crystal compound and a low molecular weight liquid crystal compound may be used in combination. Here, "polymer liquid crystal compound" refers to a liquid crystal compound that has a repeating unit in its chemical structure. Furthermore, "low molecular weight liquid crystal compound" refers to a liquid crystal compound that does not have a repeating unit in its chemical structure.

[0043] The content of the liquid crystal compound in the light absorption anisotropic layer is preferably 25 to 2,000 parts by mass, more preferably 100 to 1,300 parts by mass, and even more preferably 200 to 900 parts by mass, per 100 parts by mass of the dichroic substance. When the content of the liquid crystal compound is within the above range, the degree of orientation of the dichroic substance is further improved. The liquid crystal compound may be contained alone or in combination of two or more types. When two or more types of liquid crystal compounds are contained, the content of the liquid crystal compounds refers to the total content of the liquid crystal compounds.

[0044] In the optically absorptive anisotropic layer, it is preferable that the oriented liquid crystal compound is fixed. In particular, it is more preferable that the homogeneously oriented liquid crystal compound is fixed. In the optically absorptive anisotropic layer, it is preferable that the dichroic substance is oriented in a specific direction. In particular, it is more preferable that the dichroic substance is oriented in one in-plane direction in the optically absorptive anisotropic layer. In particular, it is even more preferable that the dichroic substance is also oriented in the homogeneously oriented liquid crystal compound. As described below, the optically absorptive anisotropic layer is preferably a layer formed using a composition (optically absorptive anisotropic layer-forming composition) containing a liquid crystal compound and a dichroic substance described below. In particular, it is more preferable that the optically absorptive anisotropic layer is a layer obtained by curing a composition containing a liquid crystal compound having a polymerizable group and a dichroic substance. The optically absorptive anisotropic layer preferably contains a cured product of a liquid crystal compound having a polymerizable group.

[0045] <Dichroic Material> A dichroic material refers to a material whose absorbance varies depending on the direction. In the light absorption anisotropic layer, the dichroic material may be fixed. Note that a dichroic material refers to a material that exhibits dichroism, and dichroism refers to the property of having different absorbance depending on the polarization direction.

[0046] The dichroic substance is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include visible light absorbing substances (dichroic dyes), luminescent substances (fluorescent substances, phosphorescent substances), ultraviolet absorbing substances, infrared absorbing substances, nonlinear optical substances, carbon nanotubes, and inorganic substances (e.g., quantum rods), and any conventionally known dichroic substance (preferably, dichroic dyes) can be used.

[0047] As the dichroic substance, a dichroic azo dye compound is preferred. A dichroic azo dye compound refers to an azo dye compound whose absorbance varies depending on the direction. A dichroic azo dye compound may or may not exhibit liquid crystallinity. When a dichroic azo dye compound exhibits liquid crystallinity, it may exhibit either nematic or smectic properties. The temperature range in which the liquid crystal phase is exhibited is preferably room temperature (approximately 20 to 28°C) to 300°C, and more preferably 50 to 200°C from the viewpoints of handleability and manufacturing suitability.

[0048] The dichroic substance preferably contains a dichroic dye having a maximum absorption wavelength of 550 nm or more, and more preferably contains two or more dichroic dyes having a maximum absorption wavelength of 550 nm or more. From the viewpoint of color adjustment, it is preferable to use at least one dye compound having a maximum absorption wavelength in the wavelength range of 560 to 700 nm (hereinafter also referred to as a "first dichroic dye compound") and at least one dye compound having a maximum absorption wavelength in the wavelength range of 455 nm or more and less than 560 nm (hereinafter also referred to as a "second dichroic dye compound").

[0049] In the present invention, three or more dichroic dye compounds may be used in combination. For example, in order to make the light absorption anisotropic layer closer to black, it is preferable to use a first dichroic dye compound, a second dichroic dye compound, and at least one dye compound having a maximum absorption wavelength in the wavelength range of 380 nm or more and less than 455 nm in combination.

[0050] Dichroic materials that can be used in the present invention include those described in WO 2018 / 186503, WO 2019 / 189345, and WO 2018 / 124198.

[0051] The content of the dichroic material is preferably 1 to 30% by mass, more preferably 5 to 25% by mass, and even more preferably 10 to 20% by mass, based on the total solid mass of the light absorption anisotropic layer. ３ Preferably, 150 mg / cm or less ３ The lower limit is not particularly limited, but 20 mg / cm is more preferable.３ More than 40 mg / cm is preferred. ３ The above is more preferable.

[0052] <Other Components> In addition to the components described above, the optically absorptive anisotropic layer may contain an adhesion improver, a plasticizer, a polymer, etc. Here, examples of the adhesion improver include the reactive additives listed in paragraphs

[0123] to

[0129] of JP 2019-091088 A and the boronic acid monomers listed in paragraphs

[0015] to

[0028] of WO 2015 / 053359 A.

[0053] [Laminate Manufacturing Method] The laminate manufacturing method of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it can produce a laminate having the above-mentioned properties. For example, a method can be used in which a planar precursor film including an optically absorbing anisotropic layer and a pressure-sensitive adhesive or adhesive layer is manufactured, and then the planar precursor film is molded to produce a laminate having a curved surface. Examples of methods for molding a laminate include a method of molding a planar precursor film in two stages (Method 1), and a method of molding the planar precursor film by heating it with a heating temperature distribution in the in-plane direction during molding (Method 2). Below, we will first describe the method for manufacturing a planar precursor film, and then Methods 1 and 2 will be described in detail. In the following explanation of Methods 1 and 2, the procedure for obtaining the laminate 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 will be described in detail as an example.

[0054] <Method for Manufacturing a Planar Optically Absorbent Anisotropic Layer> The method for manufacturing a planar optically absorptive anisotropic layer is not particularly limited, and known methods can be used. Among these, a method for manufacturing a planar optically absorptive anisotropic layer using a composition (optically absorptive anisotropic layer-forming composition) containing a dichroic substance and a liquid crystal compound is preferred. More specifically, for example, a method including, in this order, a step of applying a composition for forming an optically absorptive anisotropic layer to a planar support to form a coating film (hereinafter also referred to as a "coating film formation step") and a step of orienting the liquid crystal component and dichroic substance contained in the coating film (hereinafter also referred to as an "orientation step"). The liquid crystal component includes not only the liquid crystal compound described above, but also the dichroic substance having liquid crystallinity if the dichroic substance has liquid crystallinity.

[0055] -Coating film forming process- The coating film forming process is a process of forming a coating film by applying a composition for forming an optically absorptive anisotropic layer onto a planar support. The composition for forming an optically absorptive anisotropic layer contains the dichroic substance and liquid crystal compound described above. The dichroic substance and liquid crystal compound contained in the composition for forming an optically absorptive anisotropic layer may have a polymerizable group. The polymerizable group is preferably an acryloyl group, a methacryloyl group, an epoxy group, an oxetanyl group, or a styryl group, and more preferably an acryloyl group or a methacryloyl group. When the dichroic substance and the liquid crystal compound have a polymerizable group, these compounds can be fixed in the optically absorptive anisotropic layer in the curing process described below.

[0056] The composition for forming an optically absorptive anisotropic layer may contain a thiol compound. A thiol compound is a compound having a thiol group (HS group). The number of thiol groups contained in the thiol compound is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 to 10, and more preferably 2 to 4. The thiol compound is preferably a compound represented by the following formula X: Formula X HS-L-SH where L is a divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group that may contain a group selected from the group consisting of -CO-O-, -CO-, and -O-. The divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group preferably has 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and more preferably 2 to 8 carbon atoms. The content of the thiol compound in the composition for forming an optically absorptive anisotropic layer is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.1 to 10 parts by mass, and more preferably 0.5 to 6 parts by mass, per 100 parts by mass of the liquid crystal compound.

[0057] The composition for forming the optically absorptive anisotropic layer may contain a compound having an active hydrogen reactive group. In this specification, the term "active hydrogen reactive group" refers to a carboxyl group (-COOH), a hydroxyl group (-OH), an amino group (-NH ２The term "active hydrogen reactive group" refers to a group reactive to groups having active hydrogen, such as an alkyl group (--H) and a mercapto group (-SH). Examples of active hydrogen reactive groups include epoxy groups, glycidyl groups, oxazoline groups, carbodiimide groups, aziridine groups, imide groups, alkoxysilyl groups, isocyanate groups, thioisocyanate groups, and maleic anhydride groups. The compound preferably has at least one group selected from the group consisting of epoxy groups, glycidyl groups, isocyanate groups, and alkoxysilyl groups, more preferably has an isocyanate group or an alkoxysilyl group, and even more preferably has an isocyanate group. The number of active hydrogen reactive groups is preferably 1 to 20, more preferably 1 to 10. When multiple active hydrogen reactive groups are present, the multiple active hydrogen reactive groups may be the same or different.

[0058] The compound preferably further has a polymerizable group in addition to the active hydrogen reactive group. The polymerizable group may be, for example, a carbon-carbon unsaturated bond such as a carbon-carbon double bond or a carbon-carbon triple bond. Specific examples include a vinyl group, a vinyloxy group, a 1-chlorovinyl group, an isopropenyl group, a 4-vinylphenyl group, a (meth)acryloyl group, an oxiranyl group, and an oxetanyl group, with a (meth)acryloyl group being preferred. The number of polymerizable groups is preferably 1 to 20, and more preferably 1 to 10.

[0059] As the compound, commercially available products may be used, such as Laromer (registered trademark) PR9000 (manufactured by BASF), Karenz AOI (registered trademark) (manufactured by Showa Denko K.K.), Karenz BEI (registered trademark) (manufactured by Showa Denko K.K.), Karenz MOI-EG (registered trademark) (manufactured by Showa Denko K.K.), and KBM-5103 (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.).

[0060] The content of the compound having an active hydrogen reactive group in the composition for forming the optically absorptive anisotropic layer is preferably 0.1 to 12 parts by mass, more preferably 0.5 to 10 parts by mass, per 100 parts by mass of the liquid crystal compound.

[0061] The support used in this step is not particularly limited, and any known planar support can be used. Furthermore, an alignment film may be provided on the support as needed. By providing an alignment film, the liquid crystal component can be aligned. Examples of the alignment film include a photoalignment film.

[0062] In this step, the composition for forming an optically absorbing anisotropic layer can be easily applied by using a composition for forming an optically absorbing anisotropic layer that contains a solvent, or by using a composition for forming an optically absorbing anisotropic layer that has been converted into a liquid such as a melt by heating, etc. Examples of methods for applying the composition for forming an optically absorbing anisotropic layer include known methods such as roll coating, gravure printing, spin coating, wire bar coating, extrusion coating, direct gravure coating, reverse gravure coating, die coating, spraying, and inkjet printing.

[0063] Orientation Process—The orientation process is a process for orienting the liquid crystalline component contained in the coating film. This results in a planar optically absorptive anisotropic layer. The orientation process may include a drying process. Components such as the solvent can be removed from the coating film by the drying process. The drying process may be performed by leaving the coating film at room temperature for a predetermined period of time (e.g., natural drying), or by heating and / or blowing air. Here, the liquid crystalline component contained in the composition for forming an optically absorptive anisotropic layer may be aligned by the above-described coating film formation process or drying process. For example, in an embodiment in which the composition for forming an optically absorptive anisotropic layer is prepared as a coating liquid containing a solvent, the coating film is dried to remove the solvent from the coating film, thereby obtaining a coating film with optical absorptive anisotropy. When the drying process is performed at a temperature equal to or higher than the temperature at which the liquid crystalline component contained in the coating film transitions from a liquid crystal phase to an isotropic phase, the heat treatment described below may not be performed.

[0064] The transition temperature from the liquid crystal phase to the isotropic phase of the liquid crystalline component contained in the coating film is preferably 10 to 250°C, more preferably 25 to 190°C, from the viewpoint of manufacturability and the like. A transition temperature of 10°C or higher is preferable because it does not require a cooling process or the like to lower the temperature to a temperature range in which the liquid crystal phase is exhibited. Furthermore, a transition temperature of 250°C or lower is preferable because it does not require a high temperature even when heating until the isotropic phase is achieved in order to suppress alignment defects, thereby reducing waste of thermal energy and deformation and deterioration of the substrate.

[0065] The orientation step preferably includes a heat treatment. This allows the liquid crystalline component contained in the coating film to be oriented, and the heat-treated coating film can be suitably used as a light absorption anisotropic layer. From the viewpoint of manufacturability, the heat treatment is preferably performed at a temperature of 10 to 250°C, more preferably 25 to 190°C. The heating time is preferably 1 to 300 seconds, more preferably 1 to 60 seconds.

[0066] The alignment step may include a cooling treatment carried out after the heating treatment. The cooling treatment is a treatment in which the coated film after heating is cooled to about room temperature (20 to 25°C). This makes it possible to fix the alignment of the liquid crystalline component contained in the coated film. The cooling method is not particularly limited and can be carried out by a known method.

[0067] Other Steps The method for forming a planar optically absorptive anisotropic layer may include a step of curing the optically absorptive anisotropic layer (hereinafter also referred to as a "curing step") after the above-described alignment step. For example, when the compound contained in the optically absorptive anisotropic layer has a polymerizable group, the curing step is performed by heating and / or light irradiation (exposure). Among these, light irradiation is preferred from the viewpoint of productivity. Various light sources, such as infrared, visible light, and ultraviolet light, can be used as the light source for curing, but ultraviolet light is preferred. Furthermore, ultraviolet light may be irradiated while heating during curing, or ultraviolet light may be irradiated through a filter that transmits only specific wavelengths. When exposure is performed while heating, the heating temperature during exposure is preferably 25 to 140°C, although this depends on the transition temperature of the liquid crystal component contained in the liquid crystal film. Furthermore, exposure may be performed under a nitrogen atmosphere. When curing of the liquid crystal film proceeds by radical polymerization, exposure under a nitrogen atmosphere is preferred because inhibition of polymerization by oxygen is reduced.

[0068] <Method for producing precursor film> The method for producing the planar precursor film is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a method in which an adhesive layer is disposed on the planar optically absorptive anisotropic layer produced by the above-mentioned method directly or via another layer. More specifically, examples thereof include a method in which an adhesive layer is disposed on the surface of a laminate including a support and a planar optically absorptive anisotropic layer. Examples of a method for disposing the adhesive layer include a method in which an adhesive layer disposed on a temporary support is transferred.

[0069] <Method 1> Method 1 is a method in which a planar precursor film is molded in two stages. First, the phenomenon that occurs when a film is molded using a mold having a typical concave molding surface will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. FIGS. 5 and 6 show the procedure for molding a film using a mold having a concave molding surface, and FIG. 7 shows the film used for molding. As shown in FIG. 5, a circular film 22 is placed on a mold 20 having a concave molding surface. As shown in FIG. 6, the film 22 is deformed to conform to the molding surface of the mold 20, thereby obtaining a film 24 with the concave shape transferred thereto. Typically, in such concave molding, differences in the stretching ratio occur between the central portion 22C of the film 22 and the peripheral portion 22R surrounding the central portion 22C, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. More specifically, the central portion 22C of the film 22 is more easily stretched than the peripheral portion 22R of the film 22. As a result, in the film 24 to which the concave shape has been transferred, the intermolecular spacing tends to be wider in the central portion 24C than in the peripheral portion 24R.

[0070] Next, a phenomenon that occurs when a film is molded using a mold having a convex molding surface will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9 . FIGS. 8 and 9 show the procedure for molding a film using a mold having a convex molding surface, and FIG. 7 shows the film used for molding. As shown in FIG. 8 , a circular film 22 is placed on a mold 26 having a convex molding surface, and as shown in FIG. 9 , the film 22 is deformed to conform to the molding surface of the mold 26, thereby obtaining a film 28 with a convex shape transferred thereto. Typically, in such convex molding, differences in the stretching ratio occur between the central portion 22C and the peripheral portion 22R of the film 22, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 . More specifically, the peripheral portion 22R of the film 22 is more easily stretched than the central portion 22C of the film 22. As a result, in the film 28 with the convex shape transferred thereto, the intermolecular spacing tends to be wider in the peripheral portion 28R than in the central portion 28C.

[0071] As described above, in the case of concave molding, the central portion of the obtained film is more easily stretched than the peripheral portion, which makes the intermolecular spacing in the central portion more likely to widen, resulting in a difference in the density of the molecular arrangement between the central portion and the peripheral portion. Also, in the case of convex molding, the peripheral portion of the obtained film is more easily stretched than the central portion, which makes the intermolecular spacing in the peripheral portion more likely to widen, resulting in a difference in the density of the molecular arrangement between the central portion and the peripheral portion. As described above, in general molding methods, the intermolecular spacing in the central portion of the molded film is likely to differ from the intermolecular spacing in the peripheral portion, which makes scattering and other problems more likely to occur at the interface between these regions with different states, resulting in a larger difference between the polarization degree P1 and the polarization degree P2 described above.

[0072] Therefore, as a first aspect of Method 1, there can be mentioned a production method comprising: Step 1A, in which a mold having a convex-shaped molding surface is used to deform a planar precursor film comprising an optically absorbing anisotropic layer and an adhesive layer along the convex-shaped molding surface, with the surface facing the optically absorbing anisotropic layer facing the convex-shaped molding surface; and Step 2A, in which a substrate having a concave-shaped molding surface with a radius of curvature smaller than that of the convex-shaped molding surface is used to deform the precursor film to which the convex shape obtained in Step 1A has been transferred along the concave-shaped molding surface, with the surface of the precursor film to which the convex shape has been transferred facing the molding surface of the substrate, with the surface opposite to the surface that was in contact with the mold in Step 1A facing the molding surface of the substrate, to produce a laminate. Furthermore, a second embodiment of Method 1 includes a manufacturing method including: Step 1B, in which a planar precursor film comprising an optically absorbing anisotropic layer and an adhesive layer is deformed along the concave molding surface using a mold having a concave molding surface, with the surface facing the optically absorbing anisotropic layer facing the concave molding surface; and Step 2B, in which a substrate having a convex molding surface with a smaller radius of curvature than the radius of curvature of the concave molding surface is used, with the surface of the precursor film to which the concave shape obtained in Step 1B has been transferred facing the molding surface of the substrate, with the surface opposite to the surface that was in contact with the mold in Step 1B facing the molding surface of the substrate, and the precursor film to which the concave shape has been transferred is deformed along the convex molding surface. In other words, the method for manufacturing a laminate includes step 1 of using a mold having a first molding surface to deform a planar precursor film comprising an optically absorbing anisotropic layer and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer or an adhesive layer along the first molding surface, with the surface on the optically absorbing anisotropic layer side facing the first molding surface; and step 2 of using a substrate having a second molding surface with a radius of curvature smaller than that of the first molding surface to deform the precursor film to which the shape of the first molding surface has been transferred, obtained in step 1, along the second molding surface, with the surface opposite to the surface that was in contact with the mold in step 1 facing the second molding surface, to produce a laminate, in which the first molding surface has a concave shape and the second molding surface has a convex shape, or the first molding surface has a convex shape and the second molding surface has a concave shape.

[0073] A first embodiment of Method 1 will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the first embodiment of Method 1, step 1A is first performed, in which a mold having a convex molding surface is used to deform a planar precursor film along the molding surface of the mold. By performing this step, as shown in FIG. 10 , a precursor film 32 having a convex shape transferred onto a mold 30 having a convex molding surface is obtained. As described above with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 , the peripheral portion 32R of this precursor film 32 is more likely to stretch than the central portion 32C. During the molding process, the surface of the planar precursor film facing the optically absorptive anisotropic layer faces the molding surface of the mold. Next, a substrate having a concave molding surface with a radius of curvature smaller than the radius of curvature of the convex molding surface is used, and the precursor film to which the convex shape has been transferred in step 1A is deformed along the concave molding surface, with the surface opposite to the surface of the precursor film to which the convex shape has been transferred in step 1A facing the molding surface of the substrate. The radius of curvature of the molding surface of the substrate 34 having a concave molding surface used in step 2A is smaller than the radius of curvature of the molding surface of the mold 30 having a convex molding surface used in step 1A. In step 2A, first, as shown in FIG. 11 , the precursor film 32 obtained in step 1A is placed on a substrate 34 having a molding surface with a smaller radius of curvature than the mold 30 used in step 1A. When the precursor film 32 is placed on the substrate 34, the surface of the precursor film 32 opposite the surface that contacted the mold 30 faces the molding surface of the substrate 34. Next, as shown in Fig. 12, the precursor film 32 is deformed to conform to the molding surface of the substrate 34, thereby obtaining a laminate 36 having a curved surface. In the laminate 36, an adhesive layer is disposed between the substrate and the optically absorptive anisotropic layer. As explained above with reference to Figs. 5 and 6, when forming a concave surface, the central portion of the film is usually more easily stretched than the peripheral portion.In other words, in step 1A, the peripheral portion of the precursor film is more easily stretched than the central portion, and in step 2A, the central portion of the precursor film is more easily stretched than the peripheral portion. Therefore, when steps 1A and 2A are performed, the central portion and the peripheral portion are stretched to the same extent, and as a result, there is less variation in the intermolecular spacing within the plane of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer in the resulting laminate 36, and as a result, a laminate that satisfies requirement X is obtained.

[0074] Even when steps 1B and 2B are performed, the central portion of the precursor film is more easily stretched than the peripheral portion in step 1B, and the peripheral portion of the precursor film is more easily stretched than the central portion in step 2B, thereby suppressing the occurrence of variations in intermolecular spacing within the plane of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer in the resulting laminate.

[0075] In steps 1A, 2A, 1B, and 2B, when the precursor film is deformed along the molding surface, the precursor film may be heated as needed. The heating temperature during the heat treatment is appropriately selected depending on the material and film thickness of the precursor film used. In particular, the heating temperature is preferably equal to or higher than the glass transition temperature of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer in the precursor film. The upper limit of the heating temperature is not particularly limited, but it is preferably within (the glass transition temperature of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer + 100°C).

[0076] In steps 1A, 2A, 1B, and 2B, the method of deforming the precursor film along the molding surface is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a method of deforming the precursor film by vacuum drawing and a method of deforming the precursor film by applying pressure. Furthermore, when an adhesive layer is used as the adhesion layer, a treatment (e.g., an exposure treatment) for curing the adhesive layer may be performed after step 2A or step 2B depending on the type of the adhesive layer.

[0077] As described above, the radius of curvature of the molding surface of the mold used in step 2A is smaller than the radius of curvature of the molding surface of the substrate used in step 1A. The ratio (CA2 / CA1) of the radius of curvature (CA2) of the molding surface of the substrate used in step 2A to the radius of curvature (CA1) of the molding surface of the mold used in step 1A is selected to be an optimal value depending on the laminate to be produced, and is preferably 0.6 to 0.9, more preferably 0.7 to 0.85. Note that if the radius of curvature varies depending on the position of the molding surface of the mold used in step 1A, the smallest radius of curvature is referred to as the "radius of curvature of the molding surface of the mold used in step 1A." Furthermore, if the radius of curvature varies depending on the position of the molding surface of the substrate used in step 2A, the smallest radius of curvature is referred to as the "radius of curvature of the molding surface of the substrate used in step 2A."

[0078] The radius of curvature of the molding surface of the substrate used in step 2B is smaller than the radius of curvature of the molding surface of the mold used in step 1B. The ratio (CB2 / CB1) of the radius of curvature (CB1) of the molding surface of the mold used in step 1B to the radius of curvature (CB2) of the molding surface of the substrate used in step 2B is selected optimally depending on the optically absorptive anisotropic layer to be produced, and is preferably 0.6 to 0.9, more preferably 0.7 to 0.85. If the radius of curvature varies depending on the position of the molding surface of the mold used in step 1B, the smallest radius of curvature is referred to as the "radius of curvature of the molding surface of the mold used in step 1B." If the radius of curvature varies depending on the position of the molding surface of the substrate used in step 2B, the smallest radius of curvature is referred to as the "radius of curvature of the molding surface of the substrate used in step 2B."

[0079] <Method 2> Method 2 is a method of heating and molding a planar precursor film with a heating temperature distribution in the in-plane direction during molding. A first aspect of Method 2 is a manufacturing method that includes the steps of heating a planar precursor film so that the heating temperature of the peripheral portion surrounding the central portion of the planar precursor film is higher than the heating temperature of the central portion of the planar precursor film, using a substrate with a concave molding surface, and positioning the surface (the surface of the adhesive layer or the bonding layer) of the heated planar precursor film opposite to the optical absorption anisotropy layer side of the substrate with a concave molding surface, and deforming the heated planar precursor film along the molding surface to produce a laminate. A second aspect of Method 2 includes a manufacturing method that includes the steps of heating a planar precursor film so that the heating temperature of the peripheral portion surrounding the central portion of the planar precursor film is lower than the heating temperature of the central portion of the planar precursor film, using a substrate having a convex molding surface, positioning the surface of the heated planar precursor film opposite the optical absorption anisotropy layer side (the surface of the adhesive layer or bonding layer) on the molding surface side of the substrate having a convex molding surface, and deforming the heated planar precursor film along the molding surface to produce a laminate. That is, an example of a manufacturing method for a laminate includes the steps of providing a temperature distribution in the in-plane direction of a planar precursor film including an optical absorption anisotropy layer and an adhesive layer or bonding layer, positioning the surface of the precursor film opposite the optical absorption anisotropy layer side (the surface of the adhesive layer or bonding layer) on the molding surface side of the substrate having a curved molding surface, and deforming the precursor film along the molding surface of the substrate to produce a laminate.

[0080] The following representatively describes the first embodiment of Method 2 with reference to the drawings. As described above, when a substrate having a concave molding surface is used, the central portion of the film is more likely to stretch than the peripheral portion, and the intermolecular spacing is more likely to increase. Therefore, in the first embodiment of Method 2, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 , the heating temperature of the peripheral portion 42R of a planar precursor film 42 disposed on a substrate 40 having a concave molding surface is set higher than the heating temperature of the central portion 42C, thereby making the peripheral portion 42R more likely to stretch when the precursor film 42 is deformed along the molding surface. In other words, as described above, while the central portion is usually more likely to stretch than the peripheral portion when molding using a substrate having a concave molding surface, by changing the heating conditions for the central portion and the peripheral portion, the central portion is made less likely to stretch and the peripheral portion is made more likely to stretch. In the second aspect of Method 2, while the peripheral portion is usually more easily stretched than the central portion when molding using a substrate having a convex molding surface, by changing the heating conditions for the central portion and the peripheral portion, the peripheral portion is made less likely to stretch and the central portion is made more likely to stretch.

[0081] The heating conditions for the precursor film in Method 2 are appropriately selected based on the type of precursor film material and the shape of the curved surface. The heating temperature is preferably equal to or higher than the glass transition temperature of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer in the precursor film. The upper limit of the heating temperature is not particularly limited, but is preferably within (the glass transition temperature of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer + 100°C).

[0082] The heating method in Method 2 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include heating by contact with a heated solid, heating by contact with a heated liquid, heating by contact with a heated gas, heating by infrared radiation, heating by microwave radiation, etc. Among these, heating by infrared radiation, which allows heating remotely just before molding, is preferred.

[0083] The wavelength of the infrared radiation used for heating is preferably 1.0 to 30.0 μm, more preferably 1.5 to 5 μm. Examples of IR (infrared) light sources include near-infrared lamp heaters with a tungsten filament sealed in a quartz tube, and wavelength-controlled heaters with multiple quartz tubes and a mechanism for cooling a portion of the space between the quartz tubes with air. Methods for creating an intensity distribution of infrared radiation include varying the density of IR light sources and placing a filter with a patterned infrared transmittance between the IR light source and the planar precursor film. Examples of transmittance-patterned filters include glass with metal vapor deposition, filters with an infrared reflection band of a cholesteric liquid crystal layer, filters with an infrared reflection band using a dielectric multilayer film, and infrared-absorbing ink. The temperature of the planar precursor film is controlled by the intensity of the infrared radiation, and by the infrared radiation duration and irradiance. The temperature of the planar precursor film can be monitored using a non-contact radiation thermometer, a thermocouple, or the like, and molded at the desired temperature. Furthermore, when an adhesive layer is used as the adhesive layer, depending on the type of adhesive layer, a treatment for hardening the adhesive layer (for example, exposure treatment) may be carried out after deformation.

[0084] [Other Embodiments of the Laminate] The laminate of the present invention may include layers other than the above-described substrate, adhesive layer, bonding layer, and optically absorptive anisotropic layer. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, a laminate 50A includes, in this order, a half mirror 52, a substrate 54, an adhesive layer 56, a cholesteric liquid crystal layer 58, a positive C plate 60, a retardation layer 62 having the function of converting linearly polarized light into circularly polarized light, and an optically absorptive anisotropic layer 64. The laminate 50A corresponds to an embodiment having a cholesteric liquid crystal layer. As shown in FIG. 16, a laminate 50B includes, in this order, a half mirror 52, a substrate 54, an adhesive layer 56, a positive C plate 60, a retardation layer 62 having the function of converting linearly polarized light into circularly polarized light, a reflective linear polarizer 66, and an optically absorptive anisotropic layer 64. The laminate 50B corresponds to an embodiment having a retardation layer and a reflective linear polarizer. As shown in Figures 15 and 16, all components included in the laminates 50A and 50B have curved surfaces. When the retardation layer 62 in the laminates 50A and 50B is a λ / 4 plate, the angle between the slow axis of the retardation layer 62 and the transmission axis of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer 64 is preferably within the range of 45°±10°. The laminates 50A and 50B each include two retardation layers: the retardation layer 62 and the positive C plate 60. The retardation layer is not limited to a retardation layer and a positive C plate having the function of converting linearly polarized light into circularly polarized light, and other configurations are also possible. A retardation layer having the function of converting linearly polarized light into circularly polarized light may be disposed on the side of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer 64 of the laminate 50A opposite the side of the retardation layer 62. Furthermore, a retardation layer having the function of converting linearly polarized light into circularly polarized light may be disposed on the side of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer 64 of the laminate 50B opposite the side of the reflective linear polarizer 66. A surface antireflection layer may be further disposed on the side of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer 64 of the laminate 50A opposite to the side of the retardation layer 62. Furthermore, a surface antireflection layer may be further disposed on the side of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer 64 of the laminate 50B opposite to the side of the reflective linear polarizer 66. Furthermore, the laminates 50A and 50B may further include an alignment film disposed adjacent to the optically absorptive anisotropic layer 64. The laminates 50A and 50B are suitably used in virtual reality display devices described below.The structures of the substrate 54, adhesive layer 56, and optically absorptive anisotropic layer 64 are as described above. Other members included in the laminate will be described in detail below.

[0085] <Half Mirror> The half mirror may be, for example, a conventionally known half mirror that transmits approximately half of the incident light and reflects the remaining approximately half. The transmittance of the half mirror is preferably 50±30%, more preferably 50±10%. The type of half mirror is not particularly limited, but examples include a reflective layer made of a metal. Examples of metals include silver and aluminum. The thickness of the half mirror is preferably 1 to 20 nm, more preferably 2 to 10 nm, and even more preferably 3 to 6 nm.

[0086] <Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Layer> A cholesteric liquid crystal layer is an optical component that separates incident light into right-handed circularly polarized light and left-handed circularly polarized light, specularly reflecting one circularly polarized light and transmitting the other circularly polarized light. Examples of cholesteric liquid crystal layers include cholesteric liquid crystal layers formed by fixing a cholesteric liquid crystal phase. Cholesteric liquid crystal layers are preferred as optical films used in curved surface molding because they suppress a decrease in the degree of polarization and distortion of the polarization axis when stretched or molded into a three-dimensional shape. Furthermore, they are less likely to experience a decrease in the degree of polarization due to distortion of the polarization axis.

[0087] The cholesteric liquid crystal layer preferably includes a blue light-reflecting layer having a reflectance of 40% or more at a wavelength of 460 nm, a green light-reflecting layer having a reflectance of 40% or more at a wavelength of 550 nm, a yellow light-reflecting layer having a reflectance of 40% or more at a wavelength of 600 nm, and a red light-reflecting layer having a reflectance of 40% or more at a wavelength of 650 nm. This configuration is preferable because it can exhibit high reflection characteristics over a wide wavelength range in the visible range. The reflectances mentioned above are those when unpolarized light is incident on the cholesteric liquid crystal layer at each wavelength. The cholesteric liquid crystal layer may also have a pitch gradient structure in which the helical pitch of the cholesteric liquid crystal phase is continuously varied in the thickness direction.

[0088] It is also preferable to use, as the cholesteric liquid crystal layer, a cholesteric liquid crystal layer formed by fixing a cholesteric liquid crystal phase containing a rod-shaped liquid crystal compound and a cholesteric liquid crystal layer formed by fixing a cholesteric liquid crystal phase containing a discotic liquid crystal compound in combination. In such a configuration, the cholesteric liquid crystal phase containing the rod-shaped liquid crystal compound has a positive Rth, while the cholesteric liquid crystal phase containing the discotic liquid crystal compound has a negative Rth, so that the Rths of the two phases are offset, thereby suppressing the occurrence of ghosts even when light is incident from an oblique direction, which is preferable.

[0089] The thickness of the cholesteric liquid crystal layer is not particularly limited, but is preferably 30 μm or less, more preferably 15 μm or less, from the viewpoint of thinning. There is no particular lower limit, and it is often 1 μm or more.

[0090] <Positive C Plate> A positive C plate is a type of retardation layer. A positive C plate is a retardation layer having an in-plane retardation of substantially zero and a negative retardation in the thickness direction. The positive C plate functions as an optical compensation layer for increasing the degree of polarization of transmitted light with respect to obliquely incident light. The in-plane retardation of the positive C plate at a wavelength of 550 nm is preferably 10 nm or less. The retardation of the positive C plate in the thickness direction at a wavelength of 550 nm is preferably −600 to −40 nm.

[0091] The material for forming the positive C plate is not particularly limited, but it is preferably formed from a composition containing a liquid crystal compound. Such a positive C plate can typically be obtained by vertically aligning a rod-shaped polymerizable liquid crystal compound contained in a polymerizable liquid crystal composition and fixing the alignment state by polymerization. Alternatively, the positive C plate can be formed from a composition containing a side-chain polymer liquid crystal compound as the liquid crystal compound.

[0092] The thickness of the positive C plate is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of thinning, it is preferably 0.5 to 10 μm, and more preferably 0.5 to 5 μm.

[0093] <Retardation Layer Having the Function of Converting Linearly Polarized Light into Circularly Polarized Light> A retardation layer having the function of converting linearly polarized light into circularly polarized light (hereinafter also simply referred to as a "specific retardation layer") is a type of retardation layer. The specific retardation layer is not particularly limited as long as it has the function of converting linearly polarized light into circularly polarized light, and examples thereof include a λ / 4 plate. A λ / 4 plate is a plate having a λ / 4 function, specifically, a plate having the function of converting linearly polarized light of a certain wavelength (preferably visible light) into circularly polarized light (or circularly polarized light into linearly polarized light). The in-plane retardation of the λ / 4 plate at a wavelength of 550 nm is not particularly limited, but is preferably 120 to 150 nm, more preferably 125 to 145 nm, and even more preferably 135 to 140 nm. In addition to the λ / 4 plate, a retardation layer whose in-plane retardation at a wavelength of 550 nm is 3 / 4 or 5 / 4 of the wavelength of any light in visible light is also preferred.

[0094] The specific retardation layer may have reverse wavelength dispersion. The term "reverse wavelength dispersion" means that the retardation value at the wavelength increases as the wavelength increases. The specific retardation layer may also have a multi-layer structure, and a specific example of such a structure is a broadband λ / 4 plate formed by laminating a λ / 4 plate and a λ / 2 plate. The angle between the slow axis of the specific retardation layer and the absorption axis of the light absorption anisotropic layer is not particularly limited, but is preferably within the range of 45°±10°.

[0095] The specific retardation layer can be the layer that is made by fixing the liquid crystal compound that is twisted and aligned with the helical axis of thickness direction.For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 5753922 and Japanese Patent No. 5960743, the retardation layer can be made by fixing the rod-shaped liquid crystal compound or discotic liquid crystal compound that is twisted and aligned with the helical axis of thickness direction.

[0096] The thickness of the specific retardation layer is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.1 to 8 μm, more preferably 0.3 to 5 μm.

[0097] <Reflective Linear Polarizer> A reflective linear polarizer is a polarizer that has the function of reflecting one of mutually orthogonal linearly polarized light beams and transmitting the other linearly polarized light beam. The angle between the transmission axis of the reflective linear polarizer and the transmission axis of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer is preferably within a range of 0 to 10°. Examples of reflective linear polarizers include films obtained by stretching a dielectric multilayer film and wire grid polarizers. Commercially available products include a reflective polarizer (product name APF) manufactured by 3M and a wire grid polarizer (product name WGF) manufactured by Asahi Kasei Corporation.

[0098] <Surface Antireflection Layer> The laminate of the present invention may have a surface antireflection layer. In the laminate of the present invention, the surface antireflection layer is preferably disposed on the surface-most side. The surface antireflection layer may be disposed on only one surface side of the laminate, or on both surfaces. The type of surface antireflection layer is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of further reducing the reflectance, a moth-eye film and an AR (anti-reflection) film are preferred. Furthermore, a moth-eye film is preferred because it can maintain high antireflection performance even if the film thickness varies due to stretching and molding.

[0099] <Alignment Film> The laminate of the present invention may have an alignment film. As described above, it is preferable that the alignment film be adjacent to the light absorption anisotropic layer in the laminate. The type of alignment film is not particularly limited, and it can be formed by, for example, rubbing an organic compound (preferably a polymer), oblique vapor deposition of an inorganic compound, forming a layer with microgrooves, or accumulating an organic compound (e.g., ω-tricosanoic acid, dioctadecylmethylammonium chloride, methyl stearate) using the Langmuir-Blodgett method (LB film). Examples include rubbed alignment films. Furthermore, alignment films that exhibit alignment function upon application of an electric field, a magnetic field, or light irradiation (preferably polarized light) are also known. Photoalignment films are also preferred as alignment films.

[0100] The alignment film is preferably a layer formed from a composition (alignment film-forming composition) containing a compound having an active hydrogen reactive group. Examples of the active hydrogen reactive group include the groups described above. The compound preferably further contains an active hydrogen-containing group in addition to the active hydrogen reactive group. In this specification, the term "active hydrogen-containing group" refers to a functional group containing active hydrogen. Examples of the active hydrogen-containing group include a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, an amino group, a mercapto group, a primary amide group, a secondary amide group, and a hydrazide group.

[0101] Examples of the compound having an active hydrogen reactive group include silane coupling agents, such as those described in paragraphs 0050 and 0051 of JP-A-2022-120660.

[0102] The alignment film-forming composition preferably contains a polymer containing a structural unit having a photoreactive group and a structural unit having a polymerizable group. The structural unit having a photoreactive group is derived from a monomer having at least one photoreactive group. The photoreactive group refers to a group that exhibits liquid crystal alignment ability upon light irradiation. Specifically, it refers to a group that induces alignment of polymer molecules by undergoing a photoreaction that is the origin of liquid crystal alignment ability upon light irradiation, such as a dimerization reaction, an isomerization reaction, or a photodecomposition reaction. The structural unit having a polymerizable group is derived from a monomer having at least one polymerizable group. The polymerizable group refers to a group that participates in a polymerization reaction, and includes a thermally polymerizable group and a photopolymerizable group. However, the polymerizable group contained in the structural unit having a polymerizable group is preferably a photopolymerizable group. Examples of the above polymer include those described in paragraphs 0020 to 0041 of JP 2021-196514 A.

[0103] [Virtual reality display device] The virtual reality display device of the present invention has the laminate described above. FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a virtual reality display device. The virtual reality display device 80 shown in FIG. 17 has, from the right side of the figure, an image display panel 82, a circular polarizer 84, and a laminate 50A of the present invention. As described above, the laminate 50A used in FIG. 17 has, in this order, a half mirror 52, a substrate 54, an adhesive layer 56, a cholesteric liquid crystal layer 58, a positive C plate 60, a retardation layer 62 that converts linearly polarized light into circularly polarized light, and a light absorption anisotropic layer 64. In the virtual reality display device 80 shown in FIG. 17, a light ray 92 emitted from the image display panel 82 passes through the circular polarizer 84 to become circularly polarized light and then passes through the half mirror 52. The light then passes through the substrate 54, enters the cholesteric liquid crystal layer 58, is reflected, passes through the substrate 54 again, is reflected again by the half mirror 52, passes through the substrate 54 again, and enters the cholesteric liquid crystal layer 58. At this time, the circular polarization state of the light does not change when reflected by the cholesteric liquid crystal layer 58, but when reflected by the half mirror 52, it changes to circular polarization with a direction of rotation opposite to that of the circular polarization when it entered the cholesteric liquid crystal layer 58. Therefore, the light passes through the cholesteric liquid crystal layer 58 and is visually recognized by the user. Furthermore, when the light is reflected by the half mirror 52, the image is magnified because the half mirror 52 is shaped like a concave mirror, allowing the user to view the magnified virtual image. The above-mentioned mechanism is called a reciprocating optical system or a folded optical system. The optically absorptive anisotropic layer 64 included in the laminate 50A functions as a so-called linear polarizer, blocking light that has unnecessarily passed through the cholesteric liquid crystal layer 58 and preventing it from becoming leaked light (ghost) and being observed by a user of the virtual reality display device. Although the above describes an embodiment in which the laminate 50A is used, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and the laminate 50B may be used instead of the laminate 50A.

[0104] The image display panel 82 is a known image display panel (display panel) such as an organic electroluminescence display panel. In the illustrated example, the image display panel 82 emits an unpolarized image (image light). The unpolarized image emitted by the image display panel 82 passes through the circular polarizer 84 and is converted into circularly polarized light.

[0105] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples. The materials, amounts used, ratios, treatment details, treatment procedures, etc. shown in the following examples can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited by the examples shown below.

[0106] [Example 1] <Preparation of Absorptive Polarizer Film 1> (Preparation of Support) The following composition was charged into a mixing tank, stirred, and further heated at 90°C for 10 minutes. The resulting composition was then filtered through filter paper with an average pore size of 34 μm and a sintered metal filter with an average pore size of 10 μm to prepare a dope. The solid content concentration of the dope was 23.5 mass%, the amount of plasticizer added was the ratio relative to cellulose acylate, and the solvent for the dope was methylene chloride / methanol / butanol = 81 / 18 / 1 (mass ratio).

[0107] ------------------------------------------------ Cellulose acylate dope -------------------------------------------------- Cellulose acylate (acetyl substitution degree 2.86, viscosity average degree of polymerization 310) 100 parts by mass Sugar ester compound 1 (formula (S4) below) 6.0 parts by mass Sugar ester compound 2 (formula (S5) below) 2.0 parts by mass Silica particle dispersion (AEROSIL R972, manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) 0.1 part by mass Solvent (methylene chloride / methanol / butanol) 351.9 parts by mass --------------------------------------------------

[0108]

[0109]

[0110] The dope prepared above was cast using a drum film-forming machine. The dope was cast from a die onto a metal support cooled to 0°C, and the resulting web (film) was then peeled off from the drum. The drum was made of SUS (stainless steel).

[0111] The web (film) obtained by casting was peeled from the drum and then dried for 20 minutes in a tenter apparatus, in which both ends of the web were clipped with clips while the film was being transported at 30 to 40°C. Subsequently, the web was post-dried by zone heating while being transported with a roll. The obtained web was knurled and then wound up to give cellulose acylate film A1. The obtained cellulose acylate film A1 had a thickness of 60 μm, an in-plane retardation Re(550) of 1 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm, and a thickness direction retardation Rth(550) of 35 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm.

[0112] (Formation of Photo-Alignment Film B1) A composition for forming a photo-alignment film B1, which will be described later, was continuously applied onto the cellulose acylate film A1 using a wire bar. The cellulose acylate film A1 on which the coating film was formed was dried with hot air at 140°C for 120 seconds, and then the coating film was irradiated with polarized ultraviolet light (10 mJ / cm ２ A photo-alignment film B1 was formed by irradiating the substrate with a TAC (triacetyl cellulose) film having a photo-alignment film B1. The photo-alignment film B1 had a thickness of 1.5 μm.

[0113] 1.06 parts by mass of the stabilizer DIPEA, described below. 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (trade name: KBE-903, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 1.0 part by mass. 4.5 parts by mass of the stabilizer DIPEA, described below. 5.0 parts by mass of the stabilizer DIPEA, described below. 6.0 parts by mass of the stabilizer DIPEA, described below. 7.5 parts by mass of the stabilizer DIPEA, described below. 8.01 parts by mass of the stabilizer DIPEA, described below. 9.01 parts by mass of the stabilizer DIPEA, described below. 1.06 parts by mass of the stabilizer DIPEA, described below. 1.0 part by mass of the stabilizer DIPEA, described below. 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (trade name: KBE-903, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 1.0 part by mass. 4.5 parts by mass of the stabilizer DIPEA, described below.

[0114] Photoalignment compound PA-1 (weight average molecular weight: 32,000) (wherein the numerical value for each repeating unit represents the content (mass%) of each repeating unit relative to all repeating units.)

[0115]

[0116] Polymerizable polymer PA-2 (weight average molecular weight: 18,000) (wherein the numerical values ​​a, b, and c represent the content (mass%) of each repeating unit relative to all repeating units.)

[0117]

[0118] Thermal cationic polymerization initiator PAG-1

[0119]

[0120] Stabilizer DIPEA

[0121]

[0122] (Formation of Optically Absorbent Anisotropic Layer C1) On the obtained photo-alignment film B1, the composition C1 for forming an optically absorbent anisotropic layer having the following composition was continuously applied with a wire bar to form a coating film. Next, the coating film was heated at 110°C for 120 seconds and then rapidly cooled to room temperature (23°C). Thereafter, the coating film was exposed to light at an exposure dose of 1000 mJ / cm using a high-pressure mercury lamp. ２ The optically absorptive anisotropic layer C1 was formed to a thickness of 1.7 μm by irradiating the film with ultraviolet light of wavelength 365 nm (reference wavelength). The content of the dichroic material in the optically absorptive anisotropic layer C1 was 80 mg / cm ３ It was.

[0123] The following composition C1 for forming an optically absorptive anisotropic layer was prepared by heating and dissolving the components described below at 80° C. for 2 hours while stirring, and filtering the mixture through a 0.45 μm filter. ------------------------------------------------ Composition C1 for forming optically absorptive anisotropic layer ------------------------------------------------ 75 parts by mass of liquid crystal compound L1 shown below 25 parts by mass of liquid crystal compound L2 shown below 3 parts by mass of dichroic substance A1 shown below 3 parts by mass of dichroic substance A2 shown below 1 part by mass of dichroic substance A3 shown below 1 part by mass of dichroic substance A4 shown below 6 parts by mass of 2-dimethylamino-2-benzyl-1-(4-morpholinophenyl)butan-1-one (Irgacure 369, manufactured by BASF) 1.2 parts by mass of polyacrylate compound (BYK-361N, manufactured by BYK-Chemie) Laromer (registered trademark) LR-9000 2 parts by mass o-xylene 250 parts by mass ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[0124] Liquid crystal compound L1

[0125]

[0126] Liquid crystal compound L2

[0127]

[0128] Dichroic substance A1 (maximum absorption wavelength 385 nm)

[0129]

[0130] Dichroic substance A2 (maximum absorption wavelength 507 nm)

[0131]

[0132] Dichroic substance A3 (maximum absorption wavelength 590 nm)

[0133]

[0134] Dichroic substance A4 (maximum absorption wavelength 590 nm)

[0135]

[0136] Laromer (registered trademark) LR-9000 (hereinafter referred to as structural formula)

[0137]

[0138] (Formation of Protective Layer D1) A protective layer-forming coating solution D1 having the following composition was continuously applied onto the optically absorptive anisotropic layer C1 using a wire bar. The coating was then dried with hot air at 80°C for 5 minutes and irradiated with 300 mJ using an LED (light emitting diode) lamp (center wavelength 365 nm) to obtain a laminate having a 0.6 μm-thick protective layer D1 made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), i.e., an absorptive polarizer film 1 having a cellulose acylate film A1 (support), a photo-alignment film B1, an optically absorptive anisotropic layer C1, and a protective layer D1 adjacent to each other in this order. -------------------------------------------------- Composition of coating liquid D1 for forming protective layer -------------------------------------------------- 3.31 parts by mass of modified polyvinyl alcohol shown below 0.17 parts by mass of initiator IRGACURE 2959 (manufactured by BASF) 0.07 parts by mass of glutaraldehyde 0.07 parts by mass of pyridinium paratoluenesulfonate 0.05 parts by mass of surfactant F-9 shown below 74.0 parts by mass of water 22.4 parts by mass of ethanol --------------------------------------------------

[0139] Modified polyvinyl alcohol (weight average molecular weight: 28,000) (In the formula below, the numerical value for each repeating unit represents the content (% by mass) of each repeating unit relative to all repeating units.)

[0140]

[0141] Surfactant F-9

[0142]

[0143] <Preparation of Retardation Layer Film 1 Having Positive A Plate> A coating solution E1 for forming a photo-alignment layer having the following composition was continuously coated on the above-mentioned cellulose acylate film A1 using a wire bar. The cellulose acylate film A1 on which the coating film was formed was dried with hot air at 140°C for 120 seconds, and then the coating film was irradiated with polarized ultraviolet light (10 mJ / cm ２ , using an ultra-high pressure mercury lamp) to form a photo-alignment film E1 with a thickness of 0.2 μm, thereby obtaining a TAC film with a photo-alignment film.

[0144] -------------------------------------------------- Coating liquid E1 for forming photoalignment film -------------------------------------------------- - 100.00 parts by mass of polymer PA-2 described below - 5.00 parts by mass of thermal cationic polymerization initiator PAG-1 described above - 0.005 parts by mass of acid generator CPI-110TF described below - 16.50 parts by mass of isopropyl alcohol - 1072.00 parts by mass of butyl acetate - 268.00 parts by mass of methyl ethyl ketone --------------------------------------------------

[0145] Polymer PA-2 (weight average molecular weight: 45,000) (In the formula below, the numerical value for each repeating unit represents the content (% by mass) of each repeating unit relative to all repeating units.)

[0146]

[0147] Acid generator CPI-110TF

[0148]

[0149] Composition F1 having the following composition was applied onto the photo-alignment film E1 using a bar coater. The coating film formed on the photo-alignment film E1 was heated to 120°C with hot air, then cooled to 60°C, and then irradiated with 100 mJ / cm2 at a wavelength of 365 nm using a high-pressure mercury lamp under a nitrogen atmosphere. ２ The coating film was irradiated with ultraviolet light of 500 mJ / cm 2 while being heated to 120°C. ２The coating film was irradiated with ultraviolet light of 1000 nm, thereby fixing the alignment of the liquid crystal compound, and a retardation layer film 1 having a positive A plate F1 was produced. The thickness of the positive A plate F1 was 2.5 μm, and Re(550) was 144 nm. The positive A plate also satisfied the relationship Re(450)≦Re(550)≦Re(650). Re(450) / Re(550) was 0.82. The positive A plate corresponds to a so-called λ / 4 plate.

[0150] ------------------------------------------------- Composition F1 ------------------------------------------------- 43.50 parts by mass of polymerizable liquid crystal compound LA-1 described below 43.50 parts by mass of polymerizable liquid crystal compound LA-2 described below 8.00 parts by mass of polymerizable liquid crystal compound LA-3 described below 5.00 parts by mass of polymerizable liquid crystal compound LA-4 described below 0.55 parts by mass of polymerization initiator PI-1 described below 0.20 parts by mass of leveling agent T-1 described below 235.00 parts by mass of cyclopentanone ------------------------------------------------

[0151] Polymerizable liquid crystal compound LA-1 (tBu represents a tertiary butyl group)

[0152]

[0153] Polymerizable liquid crystal compound LA-2

[0154]

[0155] Polymerizable liquid crystal compound LA-3

[0156]

[0157] Polymerizable liquid crystal compound LA-4 (Me represents a methyl group)

[0158]

[0159] Polymerization initiator PI-1

[0160]

[0161] Leveling agent T-1 (weight average molecular weight: 25,000) (In the formula below, the numerical value for each repeating unit represents the content (mass%) of each repeating unit relative to all repeating units.)

[0162]

[0163] <Preparation of Retardation Layer Film 2 Having Positive C Plate> The above-described cellulose acylate film A1 was used as a temporary support. The cellulose acylate film A1 was passed through a dielectric heating roll at a temperature of 60°C to raise the surface temperature of the film to 40°C, and then an alkaline solution having the composition shown below was applied to one side of the film using a bar coater in an amount of 14 ml / m. ２ The film was heated to 110°C and transported for 10 seconds under a steam-type far-infrared heater manufactured by Noritake Co., Ltd. Next, pure water was applied to the film at a rate of 3 ml / m using the same bar coater. ２ Next, after repeating washing with water using a fountain coater and draining with an air knife three times, the film was transported to a drying zone at 70° C. for 10 seconds and dried to prepare an alkali-saponified cellulose acylate film A1.

[0164] ---------------------------------------------------------------- (Alkaline solution) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Potassium hydroxide 4.7 parts by mass Water 15.8 parts by mass Isopropanol 63.7 parts by mass Fluorine-containing surfactant SF-1 (C １４ H ２９ O (CH ２ CH ２ O) ２０ H) 1.0 part by mass Propylene glycol 14.8 parts by mass

[0165] An alignment film-forming coating solution G1 having the following composition was continuously applied onto the above-mentioned alkali-saponified cellulose acylate film A1 using a #8 wire bar, and the resulting film was dried with hot air at 60°C for 60 seconds and then with hot air at 100°C for 120 seconds to form an alignment film G1.

[0166] ------------------------------------------------------------------ Coating liquid G1 for forming alignment film -------------------------------------------------- Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA103, manufactured by Kuraray) 2.4 parts by mass Isopropyl alcohol 1.6 parts by mass Methanol 36 parts by mass Water 60 parts by mass ------------------------------------------------------------------

[0167] A coating solution H1 for forming a positive C plate having the following composition was applied onto the alignment film G1, and the resulting coating film was aged at 60° C. for 60 seconds, and then irradiated with 70 mW / cm 2 ２ An air-cooled metal halide lamp (manufactured by Eye Graphics Co., Ltd.) was used, and the light output was 1000 mJ / cm ２ The liquid crystal compound was vertically aligned by irradiating the film with ultraviolet light of 1000 W at 1000 W to fix the alignment state, thereby producing a retardation layer film 2 having a positive C plate H1 with a thickness of 0.5 μm. The Rth(550) of the obtained positive C plate was −60 nm.

[0168] -------------------------------- Coating liquid H1 for forming positive C-plate -------------------------------- 80 parts by mass of the following liquid crystal compound LC-1 20 parts by mass of the following liquid crystal compound LC-2 1 part by mass of the following vertical alignment liquid crystal compound promoter S01 8 parts by mass of ethylene oxide-modified trimethylolpropane triacrylate (V#360, manufactured by Osaka Organic Chemical Co., Ltd.) 3 parts by mass of Irgacure 907 (manufactured by BASF) 1 part by mass of Kayacure DETX (manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.) 0.4 parts by mass of the following compound B03 170 parts by mass of methyl ethyl ketone 30 parts by mass of cyclohexanone --------------------------------

[0169] Liquid crystal compound LC-1

[0170]

[0171] Liquid crystal compound LC-2

[0172]

[0173] Vertical alignment liquid crystal compound promoter S01

[0174]

[0175] Compound B03 (weight average molecular weight: 15,000) (In the formula below, the numerical value for each repeating unit represents the content (% by mass) of each repeating unit relative to all repeating units.)

[0176]

[0177] <Preparation of retardation layer film 3 having positive C plate / positive A plate> (Formation of second optically anisotropic layer) The following rod-shaped liquid crystal compound A (83 parts by mass), the following rod-shaped liquid crystal compound B (15 parts by mass), the following rod-shaped liquid crystal compound C (2 parts by mass), acrylate monomer (A-400, manufactured by Shin-Nakamura Chemical Co., Ltd.) (4.2 parts by mass), the following polymer A (2 parts by mass), the following vertical alignment agent A (1.9 parts by mass), the following photopolymerization initiator A (5.1 parts by mass), the following photoacid generator A (3 parts by mass), and the following photoalignment polymer B (0.8 parts by mass) were dissolved in methyl isobutyl ketone (567 parts by mass) to prepare a second optically anisotropic layer-forming composition 1. The prepared second optically anisotropic layer-forming composition 1 was applied to the above-mentioned cellulose acylate film A1 with a #3.0 wire bar, heated at 70 ° C. for 2 minutes, and the oxygen concentration was 150 mJ / cm at less than 100 ppm. ２ The film was then irradiated with ultraviolet light at 120° C. for 1 minute to form a second optically anisotropic layer. The second optically anisotropic layer was a positive C plate that satisfied the formula (C1) nz > nx ≈ ny, and had a film thickness of approximately 0.5 μm.

[0178] Rod-shaped liquid crystal compound A

[0179]

[0180] Rod-shaped liquid crystal compound B

[0181]

[0182] Rod-shaped liquid crystal compound C

[0183]

[0184] Polymer A (weight average molecular weight: 57,000) (In the following formula, the numerical value for each repeating unit represents the content (% by mass) of each repeating unit relative to all repeating units.)

[0185]

[0186] Vertical alignment agent A

[0187]

[0188] Photopolymerization initiator A

[0189]

[0190] Photoacid generator A

[0191]

[0192] Photoalignable polymer B (weight average molecular weight: 78,000) (In the following formula, a to c represent the content (mass%) of each repeating unit relative to the total repeating units in the polymer, where a:b:c=17:64:19.)

[0193]

[0194] (Irradiation Step (Providing Alignment Function)) The obtained second optically anisotropic layer was irradiated with UV light (ultraviolet light) (ultra-high pressure mercury lamp; UL750; manufactured by HOYA) at room temperature through a wire grid polarizer at a dose of 7.9 mJ / cm. ２ (wavelength: 313 nm) to impart an alignment function.

[0195] (Formation of First Optically Anisotropic Layer (Upper Layer)) The rod-shaped liquid crystal compound A (7.0 parts by mass), the rod-shaped liquid crystal compound B (1.3 parts by mass), the rod-shaped liquid crystal compound C (0.2 parts by mass), the rod-shaped liquid crystal compound D (21.2 parts by mass) below, the rod-shaped liquid crystal compound E (26.1 parts by mass) below, the rod-shaped liquid crystal compound F (29.0 parts by mass) below, the compound G (15.3 parts by mass) below, the polymerizable compound M1 (5 parts by mass) below, the photopolymerization initiator A (0.5 parts by mass), and the polymer C (0.1 parts by mass) below were dissolved in cyclopentanone (175 parts by mass), methyl ethyl ketone (50 parts by mass), and ethyl laurate (10 parts by mass) as solvents to prepare a first optically anisotropic layer-forming composition 1. The first optically anisotropic layer-forming composition 1 was applied onto the previously formed second optically anisotropic layer using a wire bar coater #7 to form a composition layer. The formed composition layer was heated to 120°C on a hot plate and then cooled to 60°C to stabilize the orientation. Thereafter, the film temperature was maintained at 60°C using an ultra-high pressure mercury lamp in a nitrogen atmosphere (oxygen concentration less than 100 ppm) and the first ultraviolet irradiation (80 mJ / cm ２ ), the film temperature was kept at 100°C and the second ultraviolet irradiation (300 mJ / cm ２) to fix the orientation, thereby forming a first optically anisotropic layer having a thickness of 2.8 μm, thereby producing a retardation layer film 3. The first optically anisotropic layer is a positive A plate that satisfies the formula (A1) nx>ny≈nz, and corresponds to a so-called λ / 4 plate.

[0196] Rod-shaped liquid crystal compound D

[0197]

[0198] Rod-shaped liquid crystal compound E

[0199]

[0200] Rod-shaped liquid crystal compound F

[0201]

[0202] Compound G

[0203]

[0204] Polymerizable compound M1

[0205]

[0206] Polymer C (weight average molecular weight: 25,000) (In the following formula, the numerical value for each repeating unit represents the content (% by mass) of each repeating unit relative to all repeating units.)

[0207]

[0208] <Preparation of Reflective Circular Polarizer Film 1> (Reflective Layer Coating Solution R-1) The composition shown below was stirred in a container kept at 70° C. to prepare a reflective layer coating solution R-1, where R represents a coating solution using a rod-like liquid crystal compound.

[0209] -------------------------------------------------- Coating liquid R-1 for reflective layer -------------------------------------------------- Methyl ethyl ketone 120.9 parts by mass Cyclohexanone 21.3 parts by mass Mixture X of rod-shaped liquid crystal compounds shown below 100.0 parts by mass Photopolymerization initiator B shown below 1.00 part by mass Chiral agent A shown below 4.18 parts by mass Surfactant F1 shown below 0.1 part by mass

[0210] Mixture X of rod-shaped liquid crystal compounds

[0211]

[0212] In the above mixture X, the numerical values ​​are in mass %. R is a group bonded via an oxygen atom. Furthermore, the average molar absorption coefficient of the above rod-shaped liquid crystal in the wavelength range of 300 to 400 nm was 140 / mol cm.

[0213] Photopolymerization initiator B

[0214]

[0215] Chiral agent A

[0216]

[0217] Surfactant F1 (weight average molecular weight: 25,000) (The content ratio (mass ratio) of the repeating unit shown on the top side to the repeating unit shown on the bottom side in the formula below was 76:24.)

[0218]

[0219] Chiral agent A is a chiral agent whose helical twisting power (HTP) is reduced by light.

[0220] (Reflective Layer Coating Solution R-2) A reflective layer coating solution was prepared in the same manner as the reflective layer coating solution R-1, except that the amount of chiral agent A added was changed as shown in Table 1 below.

[0221] Table 1. Amount of chiral agent in coating solution containing rod-shaped liquid crystal compound

[0222]

[0223] (Reflective layer coating solution D-1) The composition shown below was stirred in a container kept at 50° C. to prepare a reflective layer coating solution D-1, where D represents a coating solution using a discotic liquid crystal.

[0224] -------------------------------- Coating liquid D-1 for reflective layer ---------------------------------- 80 parts by mass of discotic liquid crystal compound (A) below 20 parts by mass of discotic liquid crystal compound (B) below 10 parts by mass of polymerizable monomer E1 below 0.3 parts by mass of surfactant F2 below 3 parts by mass of photopolymerization initiator (Irgacure 907, manufactured by BASF) 5.45 parts by mass of the above chiral agent A 290 parts by mass of methyl ethyl ketone 50 parts by mass of cyclohexanone --------------------------------

[0225] Discotic Liquid Crystal Compound (A)

[0226]

[0227] Discotic Liquid Crystal Compound (B)

[0228]

[0229] Polymerizable Monomer E1

[0230]

[0231] Surfactant F2

[0232]

[0233] (Reflective Layer Coating Solutions D-2 and D-3) These were prepared in the same manner as Reflective Layer Coating Solution D-1, except that the amount of chiral agent A added was changed as shown in Table 2 below.

[0234] Table 2. Amount of chiral agent in coating solution containing discotic liquid crystal compound

[0235]

[0236] (Coating Solution PA-1 for Light Interference Layer) The composition shown below was stirred in a container kept at 60° C. to prepare Coating Solution PA-1 for light interference layer.

[0237] -------------------------------- Coating liquid for light interference layer PA-1 -------------------------------------------------- Methyl isobutyl ketone 3011.0 parts by mass Mixture X of the above rod-shaped liquid crystal compound 100.0 parts by mass Photopolymerization initiator C described below 5.1 parts by mass Photoacid generator described below 3.0 parts by mass Hydrophilic polymer described below 2.0 parts by mass Vertical alignment agent described below 1.9 parts by mass Viscosity reducer described below 4.2 parts by mass Photoaligning polymer B described above 8.0 parts by mass Stabilizer described below 0.2 parts by mass --------------------------------------------------

[0238] Photopolymerization initiator C

[0239]

[0240] Photoacid generator

[0241]

[0242] Hydrophilic polymer (weight average molecular weight: 57,000) (In the formula below, the numerical value for each repeating unit represents the content (% by mass) of each repeating unit relative to all repeating units.)

[0243]

[0244] Vertical alignment agent

[0245]

[0246] Viscosity reducer

[0247]

[0248] stabilizers

[0249]

[0250] <Preparation of Reflective Circular Polarizer> A 60 μm thick tack (triacetyl cellulose) film (TG60, manufactured by Fujifilm Corporation) was prepared as a temporary support. The above-prepared coating solution for optical interference layer PA-1 was applied to the tack film using a wire bar coater, and then dried at 80° C. for 60 seconds. Thereafter, the reflective circular polarizer was exposed to light at an irradiation dose of 300 mJ / cm at 78° C. in a low-oxygen atmosphere (100 ppm). ２ The liquid crystal compound was cured by irradiating it with light from a UV LED lamp (wavelength 365 nm), and at the same time, the cleavage group of the photoalignable polymer B was cleaved. The substrate was then heated at 115°C for 25 seconds to remove the fluorine-containing substituents. This resulted in the formation of a positive C plate with cinnamoyl groups on the outermost surface and a film thickness of 90 nm. The refractive index nI measured using an interference film thickness meter OPTM (manufactured by Otsuka Electronics, analyzed using the least squares method) was 1.57. The Rth measured at a wavelength of 550 nm using an Axoscan (manufactured by Axometrics) was -9 nm.

[0251] Next, the illuminance was 7 mW / cm ２ , irradiation amount 7.9mJ / cm ２ The film was irradiated from the positive C-plate side with polarized UV (wavelength 313 nm). The polarized UV with a wavelength of 313 nm was obtained by passing ultraviolet light emitted from a mercury lamp through a bandpass filter having a transmission band at wavelength 313 nm and a wire grid polarizer. The reflective layer coating solution R-1 prepared above was applied using a wire bar coater and then dried at 110°C for 72 seconds. Thereafter, the film was irradiated with polarized UV light at an illuminance of 80 mW / cm at 100°C in a low-oxygen atmosphere (100 ppm or less). ２ , irradiation amount 500mJ / cm ２The coating was cured by irradiating it with light from a metal halide lamp (1000 W / L, ...

[0252] Next, the first blue light reflecting layer surface was subjected to a discharge of 150 W·min / m ２ After corona treatment, the reflective layer coating solution D-1 was applied to the corona-treated surface using a wire bar coater. Subsequently, the coating film was dried at 70°C for 2 minutes, and after the solvent was evaporated, it was heat-aged at 115°C for 3 minutes to obtain a uniform alignment state. Thereafter, this coating film was kept at 45°C and irradiated with ultraviolet light (300 mJ / cm) using a metal halide lamp under a nitrogen atmosphere. ２ ) and curing to form a second blue light reflective layer on the first blue light reflective layer. Light irradiation was performed from the cholesteric liquid crystal layer side in all cases. At this time, the coating thickness was adjusted so that the film thickness of the second blue light reflective layer after curing was 2.0 μm.

[0253] Next, the reflective layer coating solution D-2 was applied onto the second blue light reflective layer using a wire bar coater. Subsequently, the coating film was dried at 70°C for 2 minutes, and after the solvent was evaporated, it was heat-aged at 115°C for 3 minutes to obtain a uniformly oriented state. Thereafter, this coating film was kept at 45°C and irradiated with ultraviolet light (300 mJ / cm) using a metal halide lamp under a nitrogen atmosphere. ２ ) and cured to form a green light reflective layer on the second blue light reflective layer. Light irradiation was performed from the cholesteric liquid crystal layer side in all cases. At this time, the coating thickness was adjusted so that the film thickness of the cured green light reflective layer would be 2.7 μm.

[0254] Next, the reflective layer coating solution R-2 was applied onto the green light reflective layer using a wire bar coater, and then dried at 110°C for 72 seconds. Thereafter, the coating solution was dried in a low-oxygen atmosphere (100 ppm or less) at 100°C with an illuminance of 80 mW and an irradiation dose of 500 mJ / cm. ２The red light reflective layer was formed on the green light reflective layer by irradiating the green light reflective layer with light from a metal halide lamp at 1000 kJ / s to cure the layer. The light irradiation was carried out from the cholesteric liquid crystal layer side. The coating thickness was adjusted so that the red light reflective layer after curing had a thickness of 3.4 μm.

[0255] Next, the red light reflecting layer surface was subjected to a discharge of 150 W·min / m ２ After corona treatment at 70°C, the reflective layer coating solution D-3 was applied to the corona-treated surface using a wire bar coater. Subsequently, the coating film was dried at 70°C for 2 minutes, and after the solvent was evaporated, it was heat-aged at 115°C for 3 minutes to obtain a uniform alignment state. Thereafter, this coating film was kept at 45°C and irradiated with ultraviolet light (300 mJ / cm) using a metal halide lamp under a nitrogen atmosphere. ２ ) and curing to form a yellow light reflective layer on the red light reflective layer. Light irradiation was performed from the cholesteric liquid crystal layer side in all cases. At this time, the coating thickness was adjusted so that the film thickness of the yellow light reflective layer after curing was 3.4 μm.

[0256] Table 3 shows the central reflection wavelength and film thickness for each reflective layer of the prepared reflective circular polarizer. Here, the central reflection wavelength is used to define the characteristics of a light-reflecting film having a reflection band using cholesteric liquid crystal, and refers to the midpoint of the spectral band reflected by the film. Specifically, it was obtained by calculating the average value of the wavelengths on the short wavelength side and the long wavelength side that show half-value of the peak reflectance. The central reflection wavelength (the central wavelength of reflected light) was confirmed by preparing a film coated with only a single layer. The film thickness was confirmed using an SEM.

[0257] Table 3. Properties of the light-reflecting layer of the reflective circular polarizer

[0258]

[0259] <Preparation of Moth-Eye Film 1> In accordance with the description in paragraphs

[0177] to

[0210] of WO 2018 / 180003, the hard-coated substrate HC-1 was replaced with a PMMA film, and the film was attached using a UV adhesive. This resulted in Moth-Eye Film 1, which had a structure of moth-eye layer / adhesive layer / PMMA film.

[0260] <Preparation of Optical Laminate A0> The optical laminate A0 was prepared by the following procedure. The yellow light-reflecting layer side of the obtained reflective circular polarizer film 1 was bonded to a PMMA film (50 μm) with an adhesive, and the temporary support (TG60) was peeled off. Furthermore, the positive C plate side of the obtained retardation layer film 2 was bonded to the surface of the PMMA film bonded to the reflective circular polarizer film 1 with an adhesive, and the support and alignment film were peeled off. Furthermore, the alignment film was peeled off, and the positive A plate side of the obtained retardation layer film 1 was bonded to the exposed liquid crystal surface with an adhesive, and the alignment film and support were peeled off. In this way, an optical laminate A0 including a reflective circular polarizer / adhesive layer / PMMA film / adhesive layer / positive C plate / adhesive layer / positive A plate was prepared.

[0261] <Preparation of Optical Laminate B0> The optical laminate B0 was prepared by the following procedure. A broadband dielectric multilayer film (trademark APF, manufactured by 3M) was used as a reflective linear polarizer. The liquid crystal layer side of the retardation layer film 3 was attached to one surface of the APF with an adhesive, and the support was peeled off. In this way, an optical laminate B0 including a reflective linear polarizer / adhesive layer / positive A plate / positive C plate was prepared.

[0262] <Formation of Half Mirror Lens> Aluminum was vapor-deposited on the convex side of a lens (a convex meniscus lens LE1076-A (diameter 2 inches) manufactured by Thorlab) so that the reflectance was 40%, forming a half mirror.

[0263] <Preparation of Composite Lens (1)> The positive A plate side of the optical laminate A0 obtained above and the protective layer side of the absorptive polarizer film 1 were bonded together with an adhesive, and only the support of the absorptive polarizer film 1 was peeled off. The lamination was performed so that the slow axis of the positive A plate and the absorption axis of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer formed a 45° angle. Next, an adhesive layer was applied to the reflective circular polarizer side using an adhesive sheet. This resulted in an optical laminate C1 including, in this order, adhesive layer / reflective circular polarizer / adhesive layer / PMMA film / adhesive layer / positive C plate / adhesive layer / positive A plate / adhesive layer / protective layer D1 / optically absorptive anisotropic layer C1. Next, this optical laminate C1 was placed in a molding device. At this time, it was arranged so that the optically absorptive anisotropic layer C1 side was facing downward. The molding space in the molding device consisted of box 1 and box 2, separated by the optical laminate C1. Mold 1 (a convex lens with a diameter of 50 mm and a radius of curvature of 60 mm) was placed in box 1 below the optical laminate C1, with the convex surface facing up. A transparent window was installed at the top of box 2 above the optical laminate C1, and an IR light source for heating the optical laminate C1 was installed outside this window. Next, a vacuum pump was used to evacuate box 1 and box 2 to a pressure of 0.1 atmospheres or less. Next, as a process for heating the optical laminate C1, infrared rays were irradiated and the optical laminate C1 was heated until its temperature reached 108°C. Next, as a process for pressing the optical laminate C1 against mold 1 and deforming it according to the shape of mold 1, gas was flowed into box 2 from a gas cylinder, pressurizing it to 300 kPa, and the optical laminate C1 was pressure-bonded to mold 1. Finally, the optical laminate C1 was removed from the lens, which was mold 1. This resulted in an optical laminate C1 molded into a convex shape. Next, the optical laminate C1 molded into a convex shape was set in a molding device, upside down from the initial molding, with the optically absorbing anisotropic layer C1 side facing up. At this time, the convexly molded region in the optical laminate C1 by the initial molding protruded downward. A meniscus lens (diameter 50 mm, radius of curvature on the concave side 50 mm) with aluminum vapor deposition on the convex side was placed as mold 2 directly below the convexly molded region in the optically absorbing anisotropic layer C1, with the concave side facing up.Next, a vacuum pump was used to evacuate the interiors of boxes 1 and 2 to a pressure of 0.1 atmospheres or less. Next, in a step of heating the optical laminate C1, infrared rays were irradiated and the optical laminate C1 was heated until its temperature reached 108°C. Next, in a step of pressing the optical laminate C1 against the mold 2 and deforming it to conform to the shape of the mold 2, gas was flowed into box 2 from a gas cylinder to pressurize it to 300 kPa, and the optical laminate C1 was pressure-bonded to the mold 2. In this way, a laminate molded into a curved surface (hereinafter also referred to as a "composite lens") was obtained as Example 1.

[0264] Example 2 A composite lens was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the liquid crystal compounds L1 and L2 in the optically absorptive anisotropic layer-forming composition C1 were changed to liquid crystal compounds L3 and L4, respectively. The composition obtained by changing the liquid crystal compounds L1 and L2 in the optically absorptive anisotropic layer-forming composition C1 to liquid crystal compounds L3 and L4, respectively, was designated as optically absorptive anisotropic layer-forming composition C2.

[0265] Liquid crystal compound L3

[0266]

[0267] Liquid crystal compound L4

[0268]

[0269] Example 3 A composite lens was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the composition for forming an optically absorptive anisotropic layer C1 was changed to the composition for forming an optically absorptive anisotropic layer C3.

[0270] ------------------------------------------------ Composition C3 for forming optically absorptive anisotropic layer ------------------------------------------------ 73.5 parts by mass of the above liquid crystal compound L1 24.5 parts by mass of the above liquid crystal compound L2 3 parts by mass of the above dichroic material A1 3 parts by mass of the above dichroic material A2 1 part by mass of the above dichroic material A3 1 part by mass of the above dichroic material A4 1.8 parts by mass of the following thiol compound T1 6 parts by mass of 2-dimethylamino-2-benzyl-1-(4-morpholinophenyl)butan-1-one (Irgacure 369, manufactured by BASF) 1.2 parts by mass of polyacrylate compound (BYK-361N, manufactured by BYK-Chemie) Laromer (registered trademark) LR-9000 2 parts by mass ・o-xylene 250 parts by mass -------------------------------------------------------------------

[0271] Thiol Compound T1

[0272]

[0273] Example 4 A complex lens was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1, except that <Preparation of a complex lens (1)> was changed to the following <Preparation of a complex lens (2)>.

[0274] <Preparation of a Composite Lens (2)> An optical laminate C1 was prepared according to the same procedure as in <Preparation of a Composite Lens (1)> above. Next, this optical laminate C1 was set in a molding device. At this time, the optically absorptive anisotropic layer C1 was positioned on the upper side. The molding space in the molding device consisted of boxes 1 and 2, separated by the optical laminate C1. A meniscus lens (40 mm diameter, 38 mm radius of curvature on the concave side) with aluminum vapor deposition on the convex side was placed as a mold in box 1 below the optical laminate C1, with the concave side facing up. Furthermore, a transparent window was installed on the top of box 2 above the optically absorptive anisotropic layer C1, and an IR light source for heating the optical laminate C1 was installed outside this window. A circular pattern infrared reflection filter was placed between the IR light source and the optical laminate C1, obtained by cutting a cholesteric liquid crystal layer, which reflects infrared light with wavelengths of 2.2 μm to 3.0 μm at a reflectance of approximately 50%, into a circle with a diameter of 1 inch. At this time, the patterned infrared reflective filter was positioned so that its center was at the center of the mold when viewed from directly above. Next, a vacuum pump was used to evacuate the interiors of boxes 1 and 2 to 0.1 atmospheres or less. Next, as a step of heating the optical laminate C1, infrared rays were irradiated and the optical laminate C1 was heated until the center reached 99°C and the edges reached 108°C. Next, as a step of pressing the optical laminate C1 against the mold and deforming it to conform to the shape of the mold, gas was flowed into box 2 from a gas cylinder to pressurize it to 300 kPa, and the optical laminate C1 was pressure-bonded to the mold. As a result, a laminate (composite lens) molded into a curved surface was obtained as Example 4.

[0275] Example 5 A composite lens was obtained in the same manner as in Example 4, except that the composition for forming an optically absorptive anisotropic layer C1 was changed to the composition for forming an optically absorptive anisotropic layer C3.

[0276] Example 6 A complex lens was obtained in the same manner as in Example 4, except that the meniscus lens (diameter 40 mm, radius of curvature on the concave surface side 38 mm) was changed to a meniscus lens (diameter 50 mm, radius of curvature on the concave surface side 70 mm).

[0277] Example 7 A composite lens was obtained in the same manner as in Example 6, except that the optical laminate D1 obtained in the latter step was used instead of the optical laminate C1.

[0278] (Preparation of optical laminate D1) The APF side of the optical laminate B0 obtained above and the protective layer side of the absorptive polarizer film 1 were bonded together with an adhesive, and only the support of the absorptive polarizer film 1 was peeled off. The layers were laminated so that the transmission axis of the APF and the transmission axis of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer were aligned. Next, an adhesive layer was applied to the positive C plate side using an adhesive sheet. This resulted in an optical laminate D1 including adhesive layer / positive C plate / positive A plate / adhesive layer / reflective linear polarizer / adhesive layer / protective layer D1 / optically absorptive anisotropic layer C1.

[0279] Example 8 A complex lens was obtained in the same manner as in Example 7, except that the meniscus lens (diameter 50 mm, radius of curvature on the concave surface side 70 mm) was changed to a meniscus lens (diameter 50 mm, radius of curvature on the concave surface side 78 mm).

[0280] Example 9 A composite lens was obtained in the same manner as in Example 8, except that the optical laminate C2 obtained in the latter step was used instead of the optical laminate D1.

[0281] (Preparation of Optical Laminate C2) The positive A plate side of the retardation layer film 3 was bonded to the optical absorption anisotropic layer C1 side of the optical laminate C1 with an adhesive, and only the support of the retardation layer film 3 was peeled off. The lamination was performed so that the slow axis of the positive A plate and the absorption axis of the optical absorption anisotropic layer C1 formed a 45° angle. Furthermore, the PMMA film side of the moth-eye film 1 was bonded to the peeled surface with an adhesive. This resulted in an optical laminate C2 including adhesive layer / reflective circular polarizer / adhesive layer / PMMA film / adhesive layer / positive C plate / adhesive layer / positive A plate / adhesive layer / protective layer D1 / optical absorption anisotropic layer C1 / adhesive layer / positive A plate / positive C plate / adhesive layer / PMMA film / UV adhesive layer / moth-eye layer.

[0282] Example 10 A complex lens was obtained in the same manner as in Example 8, except that the optical laminate D2 obtained in the latter step was used instead of the optical laminate D1.

[0283] (Preparation of Optical Laminate D2) The positive A plate side of the retardation layer film 3 was attached to the optically absorptive anisotropic layer C1 side of the optical laminate D1 with an adhesive, and only the support of the retardation layer film 3 was peeled off. The lamination was performed so that the slow axis of the positive A plate and the absorption axis of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer C1 formed a 45° angle. Furthermore, the PMMA film side of the moth-eye film 1 was attached to the peeled surface with an adhesive. This resulted in an optical laminate D2 including adhesive layer / positive C plate / positive A plate / adhesive layer / reflective linear polarizer / adhesive layer / protective layer D1 / optically absorptive anisotropic layer C1 / adhesive layer / positive A plate / positive C plate / adhesive layer / PMMA film / UV adhesive layer / moth-eye layer.

[0284] Comparative Example 1 The optical laminate C1 was set in a molding device. The optically absorptive anisotropic layer C1 was positioned on top. The molding space in the molding device consisted of boxes 1 and 2, separated by the optical laminate C1. A meniscus lens (diameter 50 mm, radius of curvature of the concave side 50 mm) with aluminum vapor deposition on the concave side was placed as mold 2 in box 1 below the optical laminate C1, with the concave side facing up. A transparent window was installed on top of box 2 above the optical laminate C1, and an IR light source for heating the optical laminate C1 was installed outside this window. Next, a vacuum pump was used to evacuate boxes 1 and 2 to a pressure of 0.1 atmospheres or less. Next, as a heating step for the optical laminate C1, infrared light was irradiated and the optical laminate C1 was heated to a temperature of 108°C. Next, as a step of pressing the optical laminate C1 against the mold 2 and deforming it to conform to the shape of the mold 2, gas was flowed into the box 2 from a gas cylinder to pressurize it to 300 kPa, and the optical laminate C1 was pressure-bonded to the mold 2. In this way, a laminate (composite lens) molded into a non-planar shape was obtained as Comparative Example 1.

[0285] [Comparative Example 2] A substrate (lens) in which the concave surface of a meniscus lens was subjected to corona treatment was used as a curved substrate. The corona-treated surface was coated with composition B1 for forming a photo-alignment film using a spin coater, and then dried with hot air at 140°C for 120 seconds. Subsequently, the coating was irradiated with polarized ultraviolet light (10 mJ / cm ２ A photo-alignment film B1 was formed by using a high-pressure mercury lamp (using a high-pressure mercury lamp). The composition C1 for forming an optically absorptive anisotropic layer was continuously applied onto the obtained photo-alignment film B1 using a spin coater to form a coating film. The coating film was heated at 110°C for 120 seconds and then rapidly cooled to room temperature (23°C). Then, a high-pressure mercury lamp was used to apply an exposure dose of 1000 mJ / cm. ２ An optically absorbing anisotropic layer C1 was formed by irradiating the optically absorbing anisotropic layer C1 with ultraviolet light (365 nm standard). A protective layer-forming coating solution D1 was continuously applied onto the optically absorbing anisotropic layer C1 using a spin coater. The coating was then dried with warm air at 80°C for 5 minutes, and irradiated with 300 mJ of light using an LED (light emitting diode) lamp (center wavelength 365 nm) to obtain a laminate with a protective layer D1 formed thereon, i.e., a laminate (composite lens) comprising a curved substrate, a photo-alignment film B1, an optically absorbing anisotropic layer C1, and a protective layer D1 adjacent to each other in this order. The laminate contained:

[0286] [Evaluation of Molded Absorptive Polarizer Films] <Polarization Degree Measurement Method> (Polarization Degree Evaluation) The protective layer side of the absorptive polarizer film used in Examples 1 to 10 and Comparative Example 1 was attached to a PMMA film by UV adhesion, and only the support of the absorptive polarizer film was peeled off to prepare a sample (polarization degree measurement sample). This was molded under the same conditions as the curved surface molding conditions used in each Example and Comparative Example to obtain a curved surface molded polarization degree measurement sample X, and the polarization degree was measured using the obtained curved surface molded polarization degree measurement sample. Note that the obtained curved surface molded polarization degree measurement sample X contained a photo-alignment film, a light-absorption anisotropic layer, a protective layer, and a PMMA film, but it was confirmed that the photo-alignment film, the protective layer, and the PMMA film did not affect the polarization degree. To measure the polarization performance of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer in the obtained curved polarization measurement sample X, a 2 cm square piece was cut out from the center of the polarization measurement sample X and attached to a Fujitack TD80UL (manufactured by Fujifilm Corporation) using a Lintec adhesive sheet "NCF-D692(5)." The luminosity-corrected polarization degree was then calculated using an automatic polarizing film measuring device VAP-7070 manufactured by JASCO Corporation. The results are shown in Table 4 below. Here, the "luminosity-corrected polarization degree" refers to a measurement in which a light source, a linear polarizer, and a curved absorption polarizer film for measurement were placed in this order, and the transmittance in the wavelength range of 380 to 780 nm incident from the Fujitack TD80UL side was measured. The transmittance values ​​at 5 nm intervals between 380 and 780 nm were weighted and averaged using the Y value of the XYZ color matching functions (color matching functions of the CIE 1931 standard observer) standardized by the CIE (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage). More specifically, a calculated value A was calculated for each measurement wavelength, which was the product of the transmittance measured every 5 nm between 380 and 780 nm and the Y value corresponding to the wavelength at which the transmittance was measured. The calculated values ​​A obtained at each measurement wavelength were summed to calculate a total value B, and the resulting total value B was divided by the total value C of the Y values ​​used above (total value B / total value C), thereby measuring the transmittance.In measuring the transmittance, linearly polarized light parallel to the transmission axis of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer was irradiated from the normal direction of the surface of the measurement sample, and the transmittance T1 was measured. Furthermore, linearly polarized light parallel to the absorption axis of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer was irradiated, and the transmittance T2 was measured. The degree of polarization P1 was calculated using the following formula: Degree of polarization [%] = [(T1 - T2) / (T1 + T2)] × 100, where T1 is the transmittance for polarized light in the transmission axis direction of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer, and T2 is the transmittance for polarized light in the absorption axis direction of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer. In the above measurement, the degree of polarization calculated without using an integrating sphere (detector) (manufactured by JASCO Corporation) was defined as the degree of polarization P1, and the degree of polarization calculated with an integrating sphere (detector) (manufactured by JASCO Corporation) was defined as the degree of polarization P2. When an integrating sphere was used, the distance between the integrating sphere and the measurement sample fixed to the stage was 5 mm.

[0287] [Thickness Measurement] The in-plane variation in film thickness of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer in the composite lenses manufactured according to the procedures described in Examples 1 to 10 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 above was measured and evaluated according to the following criteria. A: In-plane variation in film thickness less than 4% B: In-plane variation in film thickness 4% or more but less than 7% C: In-plane variation in film thickness 7% or more The in-plane variation in film thickness was measured and calculated using the method described above. More specifically, the film thicknesses of 16 points on the optically absorptive anisotropic layer were calculated according to the procedures described above, and the in-plane variation was calculated using these values ​​(see FIG. 4).

[0288] [Adhesion Evaluation] Six vertical and six horizontal cuts (1 mm wide) were made in a checkerboard pattern with a cutter knife in the center of the surface of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer side of each composite lens produced according to the procedures described above in Examples 1 to 10 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2, resulting in a total of 25 squares. CT-18 tape (manufactured by Nichiban Co., Ltd.) was then applied to the checkerboard surface, and the tape was quickly peeled off in the vertical direction to evaluate the adhesion of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer. The number of peeled squares was counted and evaluated according to the following criteria. A: Peeling was observed in 0 to 12 squares out of 25 squares. B: Peeling was observed in 13 or more squares.

[0289] [Fabrication of Virtual Reality Display Device] A virtual reality display device "Huawei VR Glass" manufactured by Huawei, which is a virtual reality display device employing a reciprocating optical system, was disassembled, and all of the composite lenses were removed. Instead, the composite lenses fabricated in each of the Examples and Comparative Examples were incorporated into the main body, and the laminated optical body was placed between the composite lenses and the eye with the light-absorbing anisotropic layer side facing the eye, thereby fabricating the virtual reality display device of the Examples.

[0290] (Evaluation method) In the manufactured virtual reality display device (Fr product), a gray image was displayed in the center of the image display panel, and the color of the center was visually observed under the same conditions as for a virtual reality display device (aged product) manufactured using the method described below in [Method for evaluating over time], and visually evaluated using the following three levels: <Evaluation of color> A: The color is gray B: A faint color is visible, but it is mostly gray C: A color that deviates from gray is visible.

[0291] [Method of Evaluation Over Time] The manufactured virtual reality display device (Fr product) was set in a high-temperature, high-humidity chamber and stored under conditions of 45° C. and 40% humidity for 1000 hours.

[0292] In the optically absorptive anisotropic layers produced in the respective Examples, a Bragg peak (a peak derived from Bragg reflection) was observed in the vicinity of 2θ=18 to 22° by X-ray diffraction measurement.

[0293] In Table 4, the "Composition Formulation" column indicates the type of liquid crystal composition used, "Composition 1" refers to Composition C1 for forming an optically absorptive anisotropic layer, "Composition 2" refers to Composition C2 for forming an optically absorptive anisotropic layer, and "Composition 3" refers to Composition C3 for forming an optically absorptive anisotropic layer. In Table 4, the "Radius of Curvature" column indicates the radius of curvature of a laminate having a curved shape. In Table 4, the "P1" column indicates the value of the polarization degree P1. In Table 4, the "ΔP" column indicates the polarization degree P1 - the polarization degree P2, with "A" meaning that the polarization degree P1 - the polarization degree P2 is 0.15% or less, "B" meaning that the polarization degree P1 - the polarization degree P2 is greater than 0.15% and less than 0.27%, and "C" meaning that the polarization degree P1 - the polarization degree P2 is greater than 0.27%. In Table 4, the "In-Plane Film Thickness Variation" column indicates the results of the thickness measurement. In Table 4, "A1" in the "Configuration" column indicates that the laminate has an optically absorbing anisotropic layer / positive A plate / positive C plate / cholesteric liquid crystal layer, "B1" indicates that the laminate has an optically absorbing anisotropic layer / reflective linear polarizer / positive A plate / positive C plate, "B2" indicates that the laminate has a moth eye / positive A plate / optically absorbing anisotropic layer / reflective linear polarizer / positive A plate / positive C plate, and "A2" indicates that the laminate has a moth eye / QWP layer / optically absorbing anisotropic layer / polymer A plate / positive C plate / cholesteric liquid crystal layer. In Table 4, "Molding Condition 1" in the "Molding Condition" column indicates that the optically absorbing anisotropic layer was produced by the above-mentioned Method 1, and "Molding Condition 2" indicates that the optically absorbing anisotropic layer was produced by the above-mentioned Method 2.

[0294]

[0295] As shown in Table 4 above, it was confirmed that the present invention exhibits the desired effects. In particular, it was confirmed that a more excellent effect was obtained when the ΔP was 0.15% (when the ΔP was "A").

[0296] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Laminate 12 Substrate 14 Adhesive layer 16 Light-absorbing anisotropic layer 20 Mold having a concave molding surface 22 Film 24 Film to which a concave shape has been transferred 26, 30 Mold having a convex molding surface 28 Film to which a convex shape has been transferred 32 Precursor film to which a convex shape has been transferred 34, 40 Substrate having a concave molding surface 36 Laminate 42 Planar precursor film 50A, 50B Laminate 52 Half mirror 54 Substrate 56 Adhesive layer 58 Cholesteric liquid crystal layer 60 Positive C plate 62 Retardation layer having the function of converting linearly polarized light into circularly polarized light 64 Light-absorbing anisotropic layer 66 Reflective linear polarizer 80 Virtual reality display device 82 Image display panel 84 Circular polarizer

Claims

1. A laminate having, in this order, a substrate, an adhesive layer or bonding layer, and an optically absorptive anisotropic layer, wherein the optically absorptive anisotropic layer contains a liquid crystal compound having smectic liquid crystallinity, the laminate has a curved surface portion, and the optically absorptive anisotropic layer in the curved surface portion satisfies requirement X. Requirement X: When the degree of polarization of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer measured without using an integrating sphere is taken as P1, and the degree of polarization of the optically absorptive anisotropic layer measured with an integrating sphere is taken as P2, the degree of polarization P1 and the degree of polarization P2 satisfy the relationship of formula (1). Formula (1) Polarization degree P1 - polarization degree P2 ≦ 0.27% 2. The laminate according to claim 1, wherein the optically absorptive anisotropic layer in the curved portion satisfies requirement Y. Requirement Y: the degree of polarization P1 and the degree of polarization P2 satisfy the relationship of formula (2). Formula (2) Degree of polarization P1-degree of polarization P2≦0.15% 3. The laminate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light absorbing anisotropic layer contains a dichroic material.

4. The concentration of the dichroic material in the light absorption anisotropic layer is 180 mg / cm ３ 4. The laminate of claim 3, wherein:

5. The laminate according to claim 3, wherein the dichroic material contains at least two kinds of dichroic dyes having a maximum absorption wavelength of 550 nm or more.

6. The laminate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the optically absorptive anisotropic layer exhibits a Bragg peak in X-ray diffraction measurement.

7. The laminate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the in-plane variation in thickness of said optically absorptive anisotropic layer in said curved portion is less than 7%.

8. The laminate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the optically absorptive anisotropic layer is a layer formed from a composition containing a dichroic substance and the liquid crystal compound.

9. The laminate according to claim 8, wherein the composition comprises a thiol compound.

10. The laminate of claim 8, wherein the composition comprises a compound having an active hydrogen reactive group.

11. The laminate according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an alignment film adjacent to said light absorbing anisotropic layer.

12. The laminate according to claim 11, wherein the alignment film is a layer formed from a composition containing a compound having an active hydrogen reactive group.

13. The laminate according to claim 12, wherein the composition comprises a polymer including a structural unit having a photoreactive group and a structural unit having a polymerizable group.

14. The laminate according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a retardation layer and a reflective linear polarizer.

15. The laminate according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a cholesteric liquid crystal layer.

16. The laminate according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a half mirror.

17. A virtual reality display device comprising a laminate according to claim 1 or 2.

18. A method for producing a laminate as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising: step 1, using a mold having a first molding surface, deforming a planar precursor film comprising an optically absorptive anisotropic layer and an adhesive layer or bonding layer along the first molding surface, with the surface of the planar precursor film on the optically absorptive anisotropic layer side facing the first molding surface; and step 2, using a substrate having a second molding surface having a radius of curvature smaller than that of the first molding surface, with the surface of the precursor film to which the shape of the first molding surface obtained in step 1 has been transferred facing the second molding surface, to deform the precursor film to which the shape of the first molding surface has been transferred along the second molding surface, to produce the laminate; wherein the first molding surface has a concave shape and the second molding surface has a convex shape, or the first molding surface has a convex shape and the second molding surface has a concave shape.

19. A method for producing a laminate according to claim 1 or 2, comprising the steps of: imparting a temperature distribution in the in-plane direction of a planar precursor film comprising an optically absorbing anisotropic layer and an adhesive or bonding layer; making the surface of the precursor film opposite the optically absorbing anisotropic layer side the molding surface side of a substrate having a curved molding surface; and deforming the precursor film along the molding surface of the substrate to produce the laminate.

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