Anthraquinone Liquid Crystal Light Control Film

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current light-control films using liquid crystals and polymers fail to achieve optimal light-blocking performance, contrast, lightfastness, and heat tolerance during current supply, particularly in outdoor applications where glare reduction and visibility are crucial.

Innovation Solution

A liquid crystal composition incorporating an anthraquinone compound with specific structural characteristics, combined with a photocurable compound and a photopolymerization initiator, is used to create a photocured product that enhances light-blocking performance, contrast, and heat tolerance when applied between transparent substrates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a dichroic dye is used to block light, then light-blocking performance is improved, but contrast and lightfastness during current supply deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight-blocking performanceVSAvoidlightfastness and heat tolerance during current supply

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the molecular structure of the anthraquinone compound by changing parameters such as the type of substituents (alkyl, alkoxy groups), their positions, and carbon atom counts to optimize both light-blocking performance and stability during current supply

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite system combining the anthraquinone compound (dichroic dye), liquid crystal material, photocurable compound, and photopolymerization initiator to achieve synergistic effects that simultaneously provide light-blocking performance, contrast, and lightfastness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Illumination intensity

If a light-control film is used to control light transmission, then visibility is improved, but glare reduction is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidglare

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The anthraquinone compound exhibits dichroic properties, changing its optical characteristics (absorption spectrum) in response to electric field application, enabling the film to transition between transparent and light-blocking states with different color properties to reduce glare while maintaining visibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If a polymer and liquid crystal composition is used, then light control functionality is achieved, but light-blocking performance and contrast are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight control functionalityVSAvoidlight-blocking performance and contrast

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent formulates a composite composition containing polymer, liquid crystal, anthraquinone compound, and photocurable components that work together to achieve both light control functionality and superior light-blocking performance with high contrast

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The resulting light-controlling element exhibits excellent contrast, lightfastness, and heat tolerance during current supply, effectively reducing glare and maintaining visibility, making it suitable for outdoor applications such as in-vehicle and building materials.

Implementation Method 1

a photocurable compound; and a photopolymerization initiator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotopolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 2

a compound represented by the formula (A)... as a dichroic dye

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 3

When an electric field is applied, the liquid crystal is aligned in the direction of the electric field

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectric Field effect on liquid crystal: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentUS12139656B2Anthraquinone compound-containing liquid crystal composition for controlling light, photocured product thereof, and light-controlling element

Publication Date: 2024.11.12 NIPPON KAYAKU CO LTD

AI summary

The present invention pertains to: a liquid crystal composition for controlling light that contains, as a dichroic dye, an anthraquinone compound having a specific structure; and a light-controlling element that contains a cured product of said liquid crystal composition for controlling light and exhibits excellent contrast, light-blocking performance, lightfastness, and heat tolerance during current supply. More specifically, the present invention pertains to: a liquid crystal composition for controlling light that contains a compound represented by formula (A) (in the formula, R1 represents a C4-12 alkyl group or a C4-12 alkoxy group, and each R2 independently represents a C6-12 alkyl group), a liquid crystal material, a photocurable compound, and a photoinitiator; and a light-controlling element that is formed by sandwiching a photocured product of said composition between a pair of substrates.