Polymerizable Liquid Crystal Compound for Thin Optically Anisotropic Films
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid crystal compounds with high birefringence face limitations in industrial applications due to orientation issues when coated on films, particularly those soluble in specific solvents, restricting the types of films that can be used and their applications.
Innovation Solution
A polymerizable liquid crystal compound with a specific chemical structure (Chemical Formula 1) exhibiting high birefringence and solubility in various solvents, allowing for excellent orientation and coating, enabling the creation of thin optically anisotropic bodies with superior optical properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If liquid crystal compounds with high birefringence are used, then the necessary retardation value can be realized with small quantity of liquid crystal compounds and thinner film can be prepared, but orientation problem occurs when the compound is coated on a film
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical structure parameters of the liquid crystal compound by introducing specific substituents (aldehyde, nitro, or C1-C5 alkyl sulfone group at position A, and naphthalene ring at least one of E1 and E2) to change the molecular properties. This structural parameter change enables the compound to achieve both high birefringence and excellent coating orientation simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between using small quantities of high-birefringence compounds and achieving proper membrane orientation.
2Ease of manufacture
If liquid crystal compounds soluble in specific solvents are used, then the compound can be dissolved in that solvent, but the kind of films on which the composition is coated is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a liquid crystal compound with a universal solubility characteristic that allows it to be dissolved in multiple types of solvents (commonly used solvents include toluene, xylene, cyclopentanone, etc.). This multi-solvent compatibility enables the compound to be applied to various types of films (polyester film, polyacrylic film, polyolefin film, etc.), thereby achieving both ease of manufacture and broad adaptability across different film substrates.
3Length of stationary object
If liquid crystal compounds with high birefringence are used, then thinner film can be prepared, but the optical properties and orientation performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite liquid crystal composition by combining the specifically structured liquid crystal compound (with high birefringence groups) with appropriate solvents and additives. This composite approach allows the system to achieve thin film thickness while maintaining high optical properties and excellent orientation performance, as the composite formulation optimizes both the high-birefringence characteristics and the coating performance.
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 polymerizable liquid crystal compound achieves large solubility in multiple solvents and excellent orientation during coating, resulting in thin optically anisotropic bodies with enhanced optical properties and broader application potential.
Implementation Method 1
a polymerizable liquid crystal compound represented by Chemical Formula 1 is provided
Implementation Method 2
A phase retarder is a type of optical element changing the polarization state of light passing through the same, and equally said a wave plate. When a light passes through an electromagnetic phase retarder, the polarization direction (direction of electric field vector) becomes a sum of two elements (an ordinary ray and an extraordinary ray) parallel or perpendicular to the optic axis
Implementation Method 3
an optically anisotropic body comprising the same
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a polymerizable liquid crystal compound, a liquid crystal composition including the same, and an optically anisotropic body. The polymerizable liquid crystal compound according to the present invention has not only large solubility in various solvents but also high birefringence and excellent coating orientation, and thus it can provide an optically anisotropic body which is thin but superior in optical properties.