Antireflection Substrate with Composite Binder for Film Insert Molding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing antireflection substrates face challenges in achieving excellent elongation characteristics and stable mass production, particularly in film insert molding, due to cracks and peeling issues caused by bending stress and the inability to incorporate silica particles in low refractive index layers without compromising antireflection performance.

Innovation Solution

An antireflection substrate with a layered structure comprising a resin substrate, an underlying layer, a hard coat layer, an antireflection layer, and a cover layer, where the antireflection layer includes an intermediate, high, and low refractive index layers with an organic/inorganic composite compound binder, allowing for the incorporation of silica particles and enhanced elongation properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If silica particles are not contained in the low refractive index layer to secure excellent elongation characteristics, then elongation characteristics are improved, but refractive index is not sufficiently reduced, sacrificing antireflection performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelongation characteristicsVSAvoidantireflection performance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an organic/inorganic composite compound as the binder material in the low refractive index layer. This composite material combines the flexibility and elongation characteristics of organic polymers with the light-scattering and refractive index control capabilities of inorganic silica particles. The composite structure enables simultaneous achievement of excellent elongation characteristics (120-160%) and sufficient refractive index reduction (1.25-1.40), resolving the contradiction between elongation and antireflection performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If a three-layered structure including high refractive index layer is used, then antireflection performance is improved, but it is difficult to set manufacturing conditions and achieve stable mass production

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantireflection performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes specific parameter ranges for the organic/inorganic composite compound binder (content of 1-50 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of resin substrate), silica particle content (1-100 parts by mass), and layer thicknesses. By controlling these parameters within defined ranges, the patent achieves both excellent antireflection performance through the three-layered structure and stable mass production with consistent elongation characteristics of 120-160%, resolving the contradiction between performance and manufacturing stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the antireflection film is formed into a predetermined shape while applying heat to achieve complex shapes, then adaptability to complex shapes is improved, but cracks occur at corners and curves where bending stress and tensile stress are concentrated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to complex shapesVSAvoidcrack resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a flexible thin film structure by using an organic/inorganic composite compound binder that provides exceptional elongation characteristics (120-160%). This flexible film structure can be stretched and deformed to conform to complex three-dimensional shapes during film insert molding while the composite material's inherent flexibility prevents crack formation at stress-concentrating features like corners and curves, resolving the contradiction between shape adaptability and crack resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 solution effectively prevents cracks and peeling, improves antireflection performance, and enables stable mass production by ensuring the antireflection substrate can deform with the resin substrate during molding, maintaining chemical resistance and appearance integrity.

Implementation Method 1

an alkoxysilane-modified resin compound (organic/inorganic composite compound) that functions as a binder is used in each refractive index layer, a low refractive index layer can thus contain silica particles to achieve a low refractive index

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectComposite materials: Composite Materials

Implementation Method 2

an intermediate refractive index layer having a refractive index of 1.50 to 1.75, a high refractive index layer having a refractive index of 1.60 to 2.00, and a low refractive index layer having a refractive index of 1.25 to 1.40

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS20240052121A1Antireflection substrate
Publication Date: 2024.02.15 FUKUBI KAGAKU IND

AI summary

An antireflection substrate includes a resin substrate, and an underlying layer, a hard coat layer, an antireflection layer, and a cover layer which are provided on the resin substrate in this order. The underlying layer is formed of a cured material of a hexafunctional or higher functional urethane (meth)acrylate compound (A1), the hard coat layer contains a cured material of a urethane (meth)acrylate compound (A) containing a trifunctional or less functional urethane (meth)acrylate compound (A2), the antireflection layer includes an intermediate refractive index layer having a refractive index of 1.50 to 1.75, a high refractive index layer having a refractive index of 1.60 to 2.00, and a low refractive index layer having a refractive index of 1.25 to 1.40 in this order from the hard coat layer side, the refractive index of the high refractive index layer being higher than that of the intermediate refractive index layer, and the intermediate refractive index layer, the high refractive index layer, and the low refractive index layer all containing a cured material of an organic/inorganic composite compound (B), and the cover layer includes a cured material of an organic/inorganic composite compound (B). The antireflection substrate having high antireflection performance and excellent elongation characteristics is suitable as a film for film insert molding.