Solvent-Free Polymerizable Liquid Crystal Powder Mixture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing polymerizable liquid crystal compositions used in optically anisotropic bodies face issues with flammability due to organic solvents, solvent evaporation, and viscosity, leading to handling difficulties and composition changes during storage and transportation.
Innovation Solution
A powder mixture comprising 70% or more polymerizable liquid crystal compounds without organic solvents, represented by specific general formulas, which are solid at 30°C or less and have polymerizable functional groups, allowing for fluid handling and reduced risk of fire.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a solution composition containing polymerizable liquid crystal composition dissolved in organic solvent is used, then the composition can be applied to substrate and cured to form optically anisotropic bodies, but the organic solvent creates fire hazards and requires strict compliance with transport and storage regulations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the organic solvent component from the liquid crystal composition, transforming it from a solution state to a powder state. This eliminates the fire hazard associated with organic solvents while preserving the essential polymerizable liquid crystal compounds that provide the desired optical anisotropy when cured.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state parameter of the composition from liquid solution to solid powder by removing the solvent. This parameter change fundamentally alters the safety profile (eliminating fire hazard) and storage characteristics while maintaining the functional integrity of the polymerizable liquid crystal compounds.
2Ease of operation
If solution composition is used for transport and storage, then the composition can be maintained in liquid state for application, but precipitation of solute, leakage, or evaporation makes it difficult to maintain composition stability
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting the solvent from the solution composition, the invention eliminates the instability issues associated with solution storage such as precipitation, evaporation, and leakage. The powder form provides inherent stability while the composition can be converted to liquid state only when needed for application.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs the solvent removal action in advance during manufacturing, creating a stable powder formulation that can be stored and transported without degradation. The liquid state is achieved only at the point of application through dissolution or dispersion, ensuring composition stability throughout storage and transport periods.
3Reliability
If polymerizable liquid crystal compound with higher viscosity is used, then the compound provides necessary optical properties, but the compound is not easily taken out from containers and is difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the viscosity parameter by removing the solvent and working with the pure polymerizable liquid crystal compound in powder form. This dramatically improves handleability during storage and transport, while the compound maintains its essential optical properties when dissolved or dispersed for application.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the composition into separate components (polymerizable liquid crystal compounds in powder form) that can be easily handled, stored, and transported. The compound is dissolved or dispersed in the application medium only when needed, providing both ease of handling and necessary optical properties.
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide a powder mixture containing a polymerizable liquid crystal compound, the powder mixture having a low risk of occurrence of fire due to the flammability of solvent, causing no changes in the appearance due to, for example, precipitation or crystallization of the solute during storage at low temperatures, causing no changes in the composition due to evaporation of solvent during long-term storage or leakage of solvent during long-term storage or transportation, being not viscous and having fluidity unlike nematic liquid crystal compositions, and being easily handled. Another object is to provide a nematic liquid crystal composition, a solution composition, cured products, optical films, and display devices that employ the above-described powder mixture.