Liquid Crystal Aligning Agent Polymer Structure for Low-Temperature Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing liquid crystal alignment films face challenges with high-temperature processing, limiting substrate materials and dye stability, and require solvents with high solubility and low boiling points, which are scarce, leading to coating irregularities and poor display performance.
Innovation Solution
A liquid crystal aligning agent incorporating a polymer with a specific partial structure and photoalignable group, which improves solubility and coating properties, even with low boiling point solvents, ensuring excellent liquid crystal alignment and voltage holding ratios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high temperature heating is used to form liquid crystal alignment film, then liquid crystal alignment properties are improved, but substrate material selection is limited and dye stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical structure of the polymer component by introducing specific functional groups (carboxyl, hydroxyl, amino, or carbonyl groups) that enable effective liquid crystal alignment at lower temperatures. This parameter change in molecular structure allows the alignment film to function reliably without requiring high-temperature processing, thus expanding substrate material options and protecting heat-sensitive dyes.
2Temperature
If low boiling point solvent is used in liquid crystal aligning agent, then processing temperature is reduced, but solubility with polymer component deteriorates leading to coating irregularities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the polymer's chemical parameters by incorporating polar functional groups that enhance intermolecular interactions and improve solubility in low boiling point solvents. This allows the polymer to remain uniformly dissolved even at lower temperatures, preventing coating irregularities while maintaining the benefits of low-temperature processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite aligning agent system combining the specially structured polymer with selected low boiling point solvents. The composite formulation leverages the complementary properties of the polymer's functional groups and the solvent's low boiling point, achieving both good solubility and low processing temperature without coating defects.
3Manufacturing precision
If polymer is not uniformly dissolved in solvent, then coating irregularities and pinholes occur, but manufacturing complexity increases to ensure uniform dissolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the polymer's molecular parameters by introducing functional groups that naturally enhance solubility and uniform distribution in the solvent. This intrinsic parameter change eliminates the need for complex processing steps to achieve uniform dissolution, as the polymer-solvent system becomes thermodynamically favorable for uniform mixing, thereby reducing process complexity while ensuring film uniformity.
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 proposed solution achieves favorable coating properties, secure linearity, and flatness, enhancing liquid crystal alignment and electrical characteristics, thus improving the quality and yield of liquid crystal elements.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid crystal aligning agent in which a polymer component is dissolved in an organic solvent
Implementation Method 2
polarized or non-polarized radiation light is emitted to a radiation-sensitive organic thin film formed on a substrate to impart anisotropy to the film
Data Source
AI summary
According to the present invention, a liquid crystal aligning agent is configured to contain a polymer [P] which has a partial structure represented by formula (1) and comprises a photo-alignment group. In formula (1), each of R1 and R2 independently represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a monovalent organic group having one or more carbon atoms; and each of X1 and X2 independently represents —OH, —NH2 or a monovalent organic group having one or more carbon atoms, provided that at least one of X1 and X2 represents “—OR3” or “—NR3R4” (wherein each of R3 and R4 independently represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group having one or more carbon atoms).