Optical Sheet Functional Layer with Metal Oxide Reinforcement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical sheets with hollow silica particles suffer from inadequate abrasion resistance due to the fragility and detachment of these particles, leading to surface damage during use.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating metal oxide particles into the functional layer of the optical sheet, along with a controlled arithmetical mean roughness of 5.2 nm or less, enhances the abrasion resistance by improving the strength and hardness of the surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If hollow silica particles are used in the functional layer to reduce refractive index, then the reflection-reducing function is improved, but the abrasion resistance deteriorates due to particle breakage and detachment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereflection-reducing functionVSAvoidabrasion resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines hollow silica particles with metal oxide particles (such as alumina, silica, or titania) to form a composite functional layer. The metal oxide particles act as a protective matrix that embeds the hollow silica particles, preventing their breakage and detachment while maintaining the low refractive index property. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by providing both the optical function and mechanical durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The metal oxide particles serve as an intermediary protective layer between the hollow silica particles and the external environment. This intermediary structure protects the fragile hollow silica particles from mechanical stress and abrasion, allowing them to maintain their reflective properties without detaching or breaking during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If inorganic oxide particles are added to form projections on the surface to protect hollow silica particles, then abrasion resistance is improved, but surface roughness increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabrasion resistanceVSAvoidsurface roughness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent carefully controls the particle size parameters of the metal oxide particles, specifying that they range from 1 nm to 100 nm with an average particle diameter of 10 nm to 50 nm. By optimizing these size parameters, the metal oxide particles provide protective function without creating large surface projections, thus maintaining smooth surface finish while improving abrasion resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The metal oxide particles are distributed throughout the functional layer at a specific concentration (1 wt% to 50 wt%), providing localized protection to hollow silica particles throughout the layer thickness. This distributed local protection approach prevents surface projections while maintaining overall abrasion resistance through uniform reinforcement of the functional layer structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4632442A1Optical sheet, sheet article, polarizing plate, display device, panel, optical sheet selection method, and optical sheet manufacturing method
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO LTD
  • EP4632442A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4632442A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4632442A1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

An optical sheet is an optical sheet having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The optical sheet includes a substrate and a functional layer in order from the second surface toward the first surface. The functional layer contains a binder resin, hollow silica particles, and metal oxide particles other than silica particles. The arithmetical mean roughness Sa on the first surface is 5.2 nm or less.