Thermosetting Photo-Alignment Copolymer for Reduced Irradiation Dose
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermosetting compositions with photo-alignment properties face challenges in achieving high sensitivity to light, leading to increased irradiation doses and times for alignment layer formation, which affects energy efficiency and throughput, particularly when using acrylic copolymers with both photo-dimerization and thermal cross-linking sites.
Innovation Solution
A thermosetting composition incorporating a copolymer with a photo-alignment constitutional unit that enhances photo-dimerization or photo-isomerization reactivity, featuring a styrene skeleton and a short chain length linking group, allowing for improved alignment layer formation at reduced light exposure and increased thermal stability and solvent resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a thermosetting composition with photo-alignment property is used, then thermal stability and solvent resistance are improved, but photoreactivity decreases and irradiation dose/time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical structure parameters of the copolymer by introducing a styrene skeleton and controlling the chain length of linking groups (n=1-4) to optimize the balance between thermal stability and photoreactivity. This structural parameter adjustment allows the material to maintain cross-linking capability while improving light sensitivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite molecular structure combining photo-alignment groups (cinnamoyl, chalcone, coumarin, anthracene, quinoline, or azobenzene) with styrene skeleton and thermal cross-linking sites in a single copolymer chain. This composite structure enables simultaneous achievement of photo-reactivity, thermal stability, and solvent resistance
2Reliability
If acrylic copolymer with both photo-dimerization site and thermal cross-linking site is used, then thermal stability is improved, but photo-dimerization reactivity decreases due to separated photo-dimerization sites
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating photo-alignment groups at specific intervals along the copolymer chain with controlled chain lengths (n=1-4), ensuring sufficient local density for effective photo-dimerization while maintaining overall thermal stability through the styrene skeleton structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces flexibility dynamics through the controllable chain length (n=1-4) of the linking groups, allowing the copolymer chains to adjust their conformation to facilitate photo-dimerization reactions while maintaining structural integrity for thermal stability
3Manufacturing precision
If higher irradiation dose is applied to improve alignment layer formation, then alignment ability is improved, but energy consumption and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the photo-alignment group concentration and chain length parameters to maximize photoreactivity, enabling effective alignment at lower irradiation doses and shorter times, thus improving both alignment quality and production throughput
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 composition achieves high-sensitive photo-alignment with reduced light exposure and irradiation time, enhancing liquid crystal alignment ability, thermal stability, and solvent resistance, while maintaining energy efficiency and productivity for mass production.
Implementation Method 1
a copolymer containing a photo-alignment constitutional unit represented by the following formula (1) and a thermal cross-linking constitutional unit... X represents a photo-alignment group causing a photo-isomerization reaction or a photo-dimerization reaction
Implementation Method 2
X represents a photo-alignment group causing a photo-isomerization reaction or a photo-dimerization reaction
Implementation Method 3
a copolymer containing a photo-alignment constitutional unit represented by the following formula (1) and a thermal cross-linking constitutional unit... the thermosetting composition with a photo-alignment property is cured by heating to form a cured film
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of the present invention provides a thermosetting composition with a photo-alignment property, including a copolymer containing a photo-alignment constitutional unit represented by the following formula (1) and a thermal cross-linking constitutional unit. In the formula (1), X represents a photo-alignment group causing a photo-isomerization reaction or a photo-dimerization reaction, L1 represents a single bond, —O—, —S—, —COO—, —COS—, —CO—, —OCO—, —OCO(CH2)nCOO—, —OCOCH2CH2OCH2CH2COO—, —OCOC6H4O—, —OCOC6H10O—, —COO(CH2)nO—, —COOC6H4O—, —COOC6H10O—, —O(CH2)nO—, —OC6H4O—, —OC6H10O—, or —(CH2)nO—, n represents 1 to 4, R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group, and k represents 1 to 5.