JP2005062749A - Optical element - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily provide an optical element nearly free from granular feeling and having satisfactory visibility without spoiling dimmer function characteristics. <P>SOLUTION: The optical element is provided with a dimmer function composition having at least a polymer gel which generates volume change by reversibly absorbing/releasing a liquid on receiving external stimulus and the liquid which is absorbed into/ released from the polymer gel between a pair of substrates. The area of the polymer gel existing between the substrates in the liquid absorbing state of the polymer gel, when viewed from the normal direction of the substrates, is specified to be ≥85% to total area of the area of the polymer gel and the area where the polymer gel does not exist. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical element using a polymer gel that reversibly absorbs and releases liquid by an external stimulus and generates a volume change. The optical element of the present invention is suitable for application to light control glass, light control element, display element and the like.

  In recent years, a window glass considering energy saving is required from the viewpoint of environmental protection. Regarding such glass, heat ray reflection glass, heat ray absorption glass, and the like have been put to practical use as existing technologies. However, these do not require the suppression of sunlight, such as cloudy, rainy and winter, and conversely, in the case where positive incidence is required, the incidence of sunlight is suppressed, and the feeling of opening by the window glass is impaired, There was a problem that the use of solar energy was hindered.

In response to such a problem, the present inventors have proposed a novel coloring material (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this patent, a composition and a coloring material are proposed in which a polymer gel that swells and contracts by absorption and release of a liquid by applying a stimulus contains a pigment having a saturated absorption concentration or more. In the composition, when the polymer gel containing the pigment having a saturation absorption concentration or more is shrunk, the light absorption efficiency is lowered due to local aggregation of the pigment, and the entire composition becomes light transmissive. On the other hand, when the polymer gel containing the pigment having a saturation absorption concentration or higher swells, the light is diffused throughout the composition, so that the light absorption efficiency is improved and the composition is in a colored state.
However, in order to improve the visibility of the scenery in the colored state of the light control device using this composition, the graininess of the light control device must be reduced.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-236559

  However, in order to reduce the graininess of this light control element, the particle diameter of the polymer gel must be made very small, and at the same color material concentration, the light control characteristic is reduced due to the decrease in the optical path length. Problems arise. On the other hand, increasing the colorant concentration dispersed in the polymer gel particles to compensate for the decrease in the optical path length makes it very difficult to uniformly disperse the colorant in the production of the polymer gel particles. For this reason, the light absorption efficiency is lowered due to uneven color material dispersion, resulting in a problem that the light control characteristics are lowered.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a light-modulating element that is easily visible with little graininess without impairing the light-modulating characteristics.

That is, the present invention
<1> A light control comprising at least a polymer gel that reversibly absorbs and releases liquid by an external stimulus to cause a volume change between the pair of substrates, and a liquid that can be absorbed and released by the polymer gel. An optical element comprising a composition, the area of the polymer gel existing between the substrates in a state where the liquid of the polymer gel is absorbed when viewed from the normal direction of the substrate, It is an optical element characterized in that it is 85% or more of the total area of the area of the polymer gel and the area of the portion where the polymer gel does not exist.

  <2> The polymer gel contains a color material in an amount that is equal to or higher than a saturated absorption concentration or a light scattering material in an amount that is equal to or higher than a saturated light scattering concentration in a state where the liquid is released. It is an optical element as described in <1>.

  <3> The optical element according to <1> or <2>, wherein a distance between the pair of substrates is smaller than four times an average particle diameter of the polymer gel in a liquid-absorbing state. is there.

  <4> The optical element according to any one of <1> to <3>, wherein the polymer gel is uniformly fixed on the substrate.

  An optical element with good visibility with little graininess can be obtained.

Hereinafter, the optical element of the present invention will be described in detail.
[Configuration and Action of Optical Element of the Present Invention]
The optical element of the present invention includes a polymer gel that causes a volume change by reversibly absorbing and releasing a liquid by external stimulation between a pair of substrates, and a liquid that can be absorbed and released by the polymer gel; An optical element comprising the light control composition having the liquid crystal composition, wherein when viewed from the normal direction of the substrate, the polymer gel is present between the substrates in a state where the liquid of the polymer gel is absorbed. The area, that is, the projected area of the polymer gel in a state of absorbing the liquid, is 85% or more of the total area of the area of the polymer gel and the area of the portion where the polymer gel does not exist. It is characterized by that.
In the present invention, the polymer gel in a state of absorbing liquid refers to a polymer gel that has absorbed the liquid and has become swollen, and the polymer gel in a state of releasing liquid refers to releasing the liquid. A polymer gel that is in a contracted state. Hereinafter, in the present invention, a polymer gel that has absorbed a liquid may be referred to as a swollen polymer gel, and a polymer gel that has released a liquid may be referred to as a contracted polymer gel. In the present invention, the normal direction of the substrate refers to the thickness direction of the substrate.

As a result of earnest research on the granular feeling when humans recognize transmitted light, the present inventors directly enter the granular feeling from a light source (sun or electric light) without passing through a dimming (shading) material. It has been found that it depends on the area ratio occupied by light and the ratio of the area ratio occupied by light incident through the dimming (light-shielding) material.
Specifically, by forming a nearly uniform halftone dot on a transparent substrate such as glass by screen printing, etc., and by observing the halftone dot in a transparent state, the graininess and the area ratio of the halftone dot are determined by sensory evaluation. Related. Here, the area ratio of halftone dots refers to the ratio of the area of halftone dots to the area of the transparent substrate.

  Graininess is evaluated as 10 (no graininess), 9 (slightly grainy but no discomfort), 8 (grainy but no discomfort), 7 (grainy feel) There is a sense of incongruity but is acceptable as a light control glass), 6 (graininess is felt and there is a sense of discomfort, rather acceptable as light control glass), 5 (graininess is felt and there is a sense of discomfort, rather For example, it is not acceptable as a light control glass), 4 (granular feeling is felt and uncomfortable and unacceptable as light control glass), 3 (granular feeling is felt, very uncomfortable and unacceptable as light control glass), 2 ( Graininess and discomfort are both very large and unacceptable as a light control glass), and 1 (both graininess and discomfort are very large and unacceptable as light control glass) are set in a total of 10 stages.

  As a result, the graininess increased as the area ratio of the halftone dots decreased from 100%, and the evaluation value became the lowest at an area ratio of 50%. And when the area ratio of the halftone dots was about 85% or less, the evaluation value decreased rapidly and became an unacceptable level (level 5 or less) as the light control glass. The results of this sensory evaluation are shown in FIG.

  In addition, the evaluation number is 100 people, and it is extracted at random regardless of age and sex from a general person who has no expertise in glass. Further, the substantially uniform halftone dot means that when the area ratio of halftone dots in a 1 cm square region is measured at any 10 points on the substrate, the variation in the value is 2% or less with respect to the average value. Stipulated. That is, when the average halftone dot area ratio is 80%, it means that the 10-point measurement value is within 78.4% to 81.6%. Further, the visible light transmittance of the halftone dot portion is set to 5% or less, the shape is circular, and the diameter is about 50 μm.

From the result of such sensory evaluation, when viewed from the normal direction of the substrate, in the swollen state of the polymer gel, the area of the polymer gel existing between the substrates, that is, the state in which the liquid is absorbed The projected area of the polymer gel is 85% or more of the total area of the area of the polymer gel and the area where the polymer gel does not exist. Necessary for providing optical elements. In the present invention, the ratio of the area of the polymer gel existing between the substrates is sometimes referred to as the area ratio of the element.
In the present invention, the area ratio of a preferable element is 85% or more, and particularly preferably 90% or more.

In the present invention, the area ratio of the element means a value measured by the following method.
First, after adjusting the polymer gel to a desired swollen state, an observation image from the normal direction of the substrate is taken using an optical microscope. The microscope magnification is 40 to 400 times, and it is desirable that about tens to hundreds of particles are included in the observation region. Next, the microscope observation image is taken into a PC, and the area ratio is calculated using image processing software Win ROOF (Mitani Corporation). Specifically, if the captured image is a color image, a gray image forming process is performed. Next, using a discriminant analysis method, threshold values of a portion where the polymer gel exists and a portion where the polymer gel does not exist are obtained, binarization processing is performed, and a dark portion (portion where the polymer gel exists) is extracted. Finally, the area of the extracted portion is obtained, and the area ratio is calculated from the ratio with the area of the entire captured image.
The area ratio of the halftone dots and the area ratio of the substrate to be described later are values obtained by the same method as the above-described method for measuring the area ratio of the element.

In order to realize an area ratio of the element of 85% or more, in the optical element of the present invention, the polymer gel may be fixed on one of the pair of substrates, or the pair of substrates An embodiment in which a polymer gel is fixed to each of the substrates may be employed. A polymer gel layer is formed on the substrate by fixing the polymer gel on the substrate. However, the close-packed packing ratio of the circular monodisperse particles is about 91%, which not only realizes a high-density device area ratio, but also uses a polymer gel with a constant particle size distribution to reduce the device area ratio to 85%. Setting above is not always easy.
Therefore, in the present invention, it is preferable that the area ratio of the element is 85% or more by fixing the polymer gel to each of the pair of substrates.
Assuming that the polymer gel on the substrate is uniformly distributed, if the area ratio of each substrate is about 61% or more, the area ratio of the element is increased to 85% or more by superimposing two polymer gel layers. Therefore, a light control element having good visibility can be obtained. The area ratio of the substrate is the one substrate of the projected area of the polymer gel fixed on one substrate in the swollen state of the polymer gel when viewed from the normal direction of the substrate. The ratio of the projected area of the polymer gel fixed above and the area of the portion where the polymer gel does not exist to the total area.

For example, the area ratio (%) (S ₁ and S ₂ ) of each of the two substrates is not necessarily the same, and the area ratio of the element when the two are superposed is 85% or more. Good.
The area ratio S (%) of the element when both are overlaid is represented by the following formula (I).

_{S = (1- (1-S} 1/100) × (1-S 2/100)) × 100 (%) (I)

Note that the case of S ₁ = S ₂ is about 61%, which is a case where it can be configured by only the substrate having the lowest substrate area ratio. For example, when the area ratio of one substrate is 40%, the area ratio of the other substrate needs to be 75% or more.
For example, if the area ratio of each substrate is set to 80%, the area ratio of the element of 96% can be obtained by overlapping the two polymer gel layers, and the effect is high only on one substrate. A high element area ratio, which is difficult to realize in the embodiment in which the molecular gel is fixed, is easily realized.

  In addition, it is preferable that the distance (namely, thickness of the light control composition layer comprised by a light control composition) between said pair of board | substrates is smaller than 4 times the average particle diameter of the said polymer gel of a swelling state. . This is because when the distance between the substrates increases, the distance between the polymer gel layer on one substrate and the polymer gel layer on the other substrate increases, and light that has passed through the polymer gel layer on one substrate However, since the incident light is diffracted and scattered on the surface of the polymer gel before reaching the polymer gel layer on the other substrate, it is sufficiently shielded by the polymer gel layer on the other substrate. This is because the amount of light that does not pass through the polymer gel is considered to increase. The distance between the pair of substrates is more preferably 3 times or less of the average particle diameter of the swollen polymer gel.

The polymer gel is preferably fixed uniformly on the substrate. This is because the presence of a nonuniform and large direct light incident area in a single polymer gel layer not only leads to an increase in graininess, but also due to the superposition of two polymer gel layers. This is because the area ratio also decreases from an ideal (uniform) distribution state.
In order to improve visibility, the area ratio of the direct light incident region (when viewed from the normal direction of the substrate, the polymer gel existing between the substrates in the swollen state of the polymer gel) The ratio of the area of the portion where the polymer gel does not exist to the total area of the area and the area of the portion where the polymer gel does not exist) and the size are problems, but the swelling state of the polymer gel used here The average particle size at 1 is preferably 1 mm or less, more preferably 500 μm or less, because it affects the size of the direct light incident region. However, the average particle size depends on the distance from the observer to the device surface when the light control device is actually used, and the longer the observation distance, the higher the average particle size of the polymer gel and the direct light incidence. The size of the area can be large. Therefore, even if the average particle size in the swollen state of the polymer gel is 1 mm or more, the visibility may not be deteriorated depending on the use conditions.

In order to give excellent visibility to the optical element, the optical element of the present invention is not fixed to the region where the polymer gel is fixed to the substrate (light control region) when viewed from the normal direction of the substrate. It may have a region (transparent region). The size of the transparent region is set such that the light diffraction and scattering at the boundary between the transparent region and the light control region does not impair visibility by inhibiting the incidence of straight light. For example, the length of the minimum portion of the transparent region is preferably 1 mm or more, and more preferably 5 mm or more. Specific examples of the shape of the transparent region include independent geometric patterns such as a circle, an ellipse, a triangle, a polygon, a rectangle, a square, an indeterminate shape, and a stripe shape, and a continuous geometric pattern such as a lattice. . Moreover, you may apply images, such as a character and an illustration.
Here, the light control region refers to a region that is in a light shielding (coloring) state when the polymer gel swells. Therefore, a portion where the polymer gel exists and a portion where the polymer gel does not exist are generated in the light control region. When the optical element of the present invention has a light control region and a transparent region, the area ratio of the element refers to the area ratio of the light control region.

[Optical element]
Next, the configuration of the optical element of the present invention will be described in detail.
The optical element of the present invention includes a polymer gel that causes a volume change by reversibly absorbing and releasing a liquid at least by an external stimulus between a pair of substrates, and a liquid that can be absorbed and released by the polymer gel (hereinafter, referred to as a liquid gel) And a light-controlling composition. Further, the optical element of the present invention includes other members such as a sealing layer for preventing the outflow and evaporation of the internal absorption / desorption liquid, a stimulating means, and a spacer for keeping the distance between the substrates constant. It may be.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of an optical element of the present invention.
The optical element 1 shown in FIG. 1 is filled with polymer gel particles 6 and an absorbing / desorbing liquid 8 between two substrates 2 and 4 arranged in parallel and at least one of which is transparent. The polymer gel 6 and the adsorption / desorption liquid 8 are sealed by a sealing material 16 such as UV curable resin or thermosetting resin. Stimulus imparting members 10 and 12 serving as stimulus imparting means are provided on the surfaces of the substrates 2 and 4, respectively. The polymer gel 6 is fixed on the surface of the stimulus imparting member 10.
In the optical element 1, the stimulus imparting members 10 and 12 are not essential components, but are provided on at least one or both of the substrates 2 and 4 as necessary. When the optical element 1 does not include a stimulus imparting member, the polymer gel 6 is fixed on the substrate 2. However, the polymer gel 6 needs to be fixed so that the area ratio of the element is 85% or more.

  In order to make the area ratio of the element 85% or more, the polymer gel 6 may be fixed on both surfaces of the substrates 2 and 4. In this case, the polymer gel 6 is laminated on both surfaces of the two substrates 2 and 4 such that the area ratio of each substrate is, for example, 61% or more, or a combination of 40% or more and 75% or more. The area ratio of the element in the combined state is fixed to be 85% or more.

Regarding the adjustment of the area ratio of the element in the fixing process of the polymer gel, for example, the pretreatment of the entire surface of the substrate with an adhesive material, and then the expansion state of the polymer gel to be fixed is controlled by the composition of the processing liquid A method for adjustment is proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-350163, and this method can also be applied to the present invention.
Another method is to pre-treat only the portion of the substrate surface to be fixed, which corresponds to the required area ratio of the substrate, with an adhesive material. It is conceivable to fix the polymer gel so that By using this method, it is possible to artificially fix the polymer gel particles uniformly. This specific method will be described next.

  In order to fix the polymer gel 6 to the substrate 2 (when the stimulus imparting member 10 is provided on the surface of the substrate 2, the adhesive property between the substrate 2 and the polymer gel 6 is fixed). Is preferably increased. For this purpose, it is desirable to perform surface treatment of the substrate 2 with a material that forms a chemical bond (hydrogen bond, ionic bond, covalent bond, etc.) with the polymer gel 6. For example, it is preferably treated with an adhesive having a group capable of reacting with the functional group in the polymer gel 6, a polyfunctional compound, a silane coupling agent, a thiol compound, a selenium compound, an inorganic substance, a polymer compound, or the like. Furthermore, even a material that does not involve such a chemical reaction can be used as long as it is a material to which the polymer gel 6 can adhere.

  In order to form the portion treated with these materials in a fixed pattern on the surface of the substrate 2, the material is formed in a pattern by various printing methods, lithography methods, soft lithography methods, or the like by masking or the like. And a method of forming the material in a pattern by sputtering, vapor deposition, coating, or dipping can be applied. It is also possible to form a pattern by spraying a solution containing the material by an ink jet method. On the other hand, even if such a treatment is not performed, the substrate 2 itself can be used as it is when it is made of a material having a high adhesive property with the polymer gel 6. It is necessary to perform a surface treatment with low adhesion other than the portion where the molecular gel 6 is fixed, or to use a material to which the polymer gel is not fixed.

  The shape of the pattern partially formed on the surface of the substrate 2 is not particularly limited. For example, an independent geometric pattern such as a circle, an ellipse, a triangle, a polygon, a rectangle, a square, an indeterminate shape, a stripe shape, a lattice, etc. The continuous geometric pattern is preferred. The arrangement of the patterns on the surface of the substrate 2 is preferably regular and periodic, but may be random.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the substrate 2 in which a portion to which the polymer gel 6 is fixed (adhesion fixing portion 18) and a portion to which the polymer gel 6 is not fixed (non-adhesion fixing portion 20) are formed. The polymer gel 6 is selectively fixed to the adhesive fixing portion 18. The polymer gel 6 is not fixed to the non-adhesive fixing portion 20, and as a result, the polymer gel 6 is fixed at a desired position on the substrate 2. An optical element with less graininess can be produced.
At this time, the non-adhesive fixing portion 20 does not arrange the polymer gel in the polymer gel fixing process, uses a material that cannot fix the polymer gel, or cannot fix the polymer gel. It is formed by a method that is not particularly limited, such as surface treatment.

Below, the various requirements which comprise the optical element of this invention are demonstrated.
(Substrate processing)
In the optical element of the present invention, the polymer gel is fixed on the substrate at a ratio of a predetermined area ratio or more.
The adhesion fixing portion 18 on the surface of the substrate 2 is preferably a portion having high adhesion to the polymer gel 6, and the polymer gel 6 can be selectively fixed to this portion. Such an adhesive fixing portion 18 is preferably formed of a material that forms a chemical bond (hydrogen bond, ionic bond, covalent bond) with the polymer gel 6 to be used, and among them, it is shared from the viewpoint of stability. Binding is most preferable, and immobilization is performed by a reaction using various immobilizing agents.

Examples of the immobilizing agent include compounds having two or more polymerizable unsaturated groups, reactive functional groups, and the like.
Examples of the compound having two or more polymerizable unsaturated groups include di- or tri (meth) acrylic polyols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, trimethylolpropane, glycerin polyoxyethylene glycol, polyoxypropylene glycol, and polyglycerin. Acid esters, unsaturated polyesters obtained by reacting the polyols with unsaturated acids such as maleic acid and fumaric acid, bis (meth) acrylamides such as N, N′-methylenebis (meth) acrylamide, Di (meth) acrylic acid carbamic acid esters obtained by reacting polyisocyanates such as resin isocyanate and hexamethylene diisocyanate with hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate, allylated starch, allylated cellulose, diallyl Examples thereof include polyvalent allylic compounds such as tarate, other tetraallyloxyethanes, pentane erythritol triallyl ether, trimethylolpropane triallyl ether, diethylene glycol diallyl ether, and triallyl trimethyl ether.

  Among these, the present invention includes ethylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, propylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, polyethylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, polypropylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, N, N′-methylenebis (meth) acrylamide. Etc. are preferably used.

  In addition, examples of the compound having two or more reactive functional groups include diglycidyl ether compounds, haloepoxy compounds, di- and triisocyanate compounds, and the like. Specific examples of the diglycidyl ether compound include ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether, polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether, propylene glycol diglycidyl ether, polypropylene glycol diglycidyl ether, glycerin diglycidyl ether, and polyglycerin diglycidyl ether. . Other specific examples of the haloepoxy compound include epichlorohydrin, epibromohydrin, β-methylepichlorohydrin, and the like. Specific examples of the diisocyanate compound include 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate and hexamethylene diisocyanate.

Further, vinyl silane coupling agents such as vinyltrimethoxysilane and vinyltriethoxysilane, N- (2-aminoethyl) 3-aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, N- (2-aminoethyl) 3-aminopropyltrimethoxy Silane, amino-based silane coupling agents such as 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropylmethyldimethoxysilane, 2- (3,4-epoxycyclohexyl) ethyltri Various reactive silane coupling agents such as epoxy silane coupling agents such as methoxysilane can also be applied.
Among these, the present invention particularly includes N- (2-aminoethyl) 3-aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, N- (2-aminoethyl) 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, and the like. An amino silane coupling agent is preferably used.

  In addition, even if such a process is not performed, when the material itself of the substrate 2 has a property of high adhesion to the polymer gel 6, it can be used as it is.

On the other hand, the non-adhesive fixing portion 20 is not particularly limited, but is preferably made of a material having a low adhesive property with the polymer gel 6 and is not able to fix the polymer gel 6. For example, it is a portion formed of a material that does not form a chemical bond (hydrogen bond, ionic bond, covalent bond) with the polymer gel 6 or has a low interaction or affinity between materials.
Specifically, a portion where a polymer layer having a fluorinated alkyl group or a siloxane group is formed, an alkyl silane coupling agent, a fluorinated alkyl silane coupling agent, an alkyl thiol, a fluorinated alkyl thiol, etc. It is desirable that the portion has been processed using.

Examples of the polymer having a fluoroalkyl group include fluorine such as polyvinyl fluoride, polyvinylidene fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, and tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer. Based resins. Examples of the fluorinated alkyl silane coupling agent include undecafluoropentyltrimethoxysilane, tridecafluorohexyltrimethoxysilane, undecafluoropentyltriethoxysilane, perfluorododecyltrimethoxysilane, heptafluoroisopropyltrimethoxysilane. And so on.
Examples of other silane coupling agents having a hydrophobic group include vinyltrichlorosilane, vinyltriethoxysilane, and vinyltris (β-methoxy) silane.
Examples of the polymer having a siloxane group include silicone resins such as dimethylsilicone, methylphenylsilicone, amino-modified silicone, epoxy-modified, carboxyl-modified, methacryl-modified, phenol-modified, and alkyl-modified. .

  Among these various coupling agents, those having a fluoroalkyl group are particularly preferred. Specifically, KP-801M (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.), TSL8233 (manufactured by Toshiba Silicone), X-24-7868 (Shin-etsu) Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), Cytop CTX-100 (Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.), Florad FC-725 (Sumitomo 3M Co.), Florad FX-3325 (Sumitomo 3M Co., Ltd.) and the like. In addition, various fluorine-based water-repellent treatment agents and silicone-based water-repellent treatment agents are also applicable. The surface of the substrate can be treated by dissolving or dispersing these polymers in a solvent and immersing the substrate.

  On the other hand, even if such treatment is not performed, the substrate material itself can be used as it is when it is a material having a property of low adhesion to the polymer gel. Materials that have low adhesive properties with polymer gels include urea resin, epoxy resin, polyvinyl chloride, polyethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl acetate, nylon, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl alcohol, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene Etc.

Next, a specific substrate surface treatment method will be described with reference to FIG.
In order to partially form the adhesive fixing portion 18 on the surface of the substrate 2, the material is formed into a pattern by various printing methods, lithography methods, soft lithography methods, or a desired pattern is set by masking or the like. A method of forming the material in a pattern by a sputtering method, a vapor deposition method, a coating method, or a dipping method can be applied to this. Alternatively, a method may be used in which a pattern is formed by jetting a solution containing the material directly onto the surface of the substrate 2 using an ink jet method.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, a mask with holes corresponding to a desired pattern (not shown) is placed on the surface of the substrate 2 on which a desired stimulus applying member such as a current-carrying substrate or a heating resistor may be provided. The adhesive fixing part 18 can be created by applying the various fixing agents described above. Alternatively, a method of forming a pattern necessary for the immobilization process directly on the surface of the substrate 2 using an ink jet method may be used.

  In the case where the surface treatment is performed using the lithography method, first, a photoresist 22 is applied to the surface of the substrate 2 (FIG. 3B), and a mask 24 corresponding to the adhesive fixing portion 18 is applied for exposure. (FIG. 3C), and then developing and removing the photoresist 22 to expose the surface of the substrate 2 corresponding to the adhesive fixing portion 18 (FIG. 3D), and then the exposed substrate 2 A substrate that has been surface-treated in a desired pattern by applying the above-described fixing agent to the surface (FIG. 3 (e)) and removing the photoresist film (FIG. 3 (a)). Can be obtained.

Next, the member which comprises the optical element 1 is demonstrated using FIG. Stimulation applying members 10 and 12 as stimulation applying means are provided on one or both sides of the two opposing surfaces of the two substrates 2 and 4 as necessary. As the stimulus imparting members 10 and 12, those capable of imparting a stimulus suitable for the polymer gel constituting the light control composition filled in the interior are selected. Therefore, for example, for an electrically responsive polymer gel, an electrode is selected as the stimulus imparting member, and for a thermally responsive polymer gel, a heating resistor is selected as the stimulus imparting member.
The stimulus applying means preferably used in the present invention are mainly an electrode for applying an electrical stimulus and a heating resistor. As the configuration of the electrodes and the heating resistors, a simple matrix type or a pixel-by-pixel division type can be applied. In the case of the pixel-by-pixel division type, the stimulus imparting member may be provided only on one substrate surface.

  In addition, the stimulus used to cause the volume change in the polymer gel gives a stimulus in nature, heat provided outside the element (radiant heat), light such as LED and laser light, electrical stimulus and magnetic stimulus. When given from the means, the stimulus imparting means may not be provided inside the optical element.

Examples of the stimulus applying means include an electrical stimulus applying means, a heat generating means, a light stimulus applying means, an electromagnetic wave applying means, or a magnetic field applying means. In the present invention, electrical stimulus applying means and heat generating means are particularly preferably used.
In the case of means for applying electrical stimulation, electrodes made of metal films typified by copper, aluminum, silver, platinum, etc., metal oxides typified by tin oxide-indium oxide (ITO), polypyrroles, polythiophenes, polyaniline In particular, an electrode made of a conductive polymer such as polyphenylene vinylenes, polyacenes and polyacetylenes, and an electrode made of a composite material of the polymer and the aforementioned metal or metal oxide particles are preferably used.
These electrode configurations may be wired for simple matrix driving, but a switching element such as a thin film transistor (TFT) element or a two-terminal element such as an MIM element or a varistor can also be provided.

Further, as the heat generating means, the electrode such as copper and copper compound and the metal typified by the Ni-Cr compound, or the metal oxide such as tantalum oxide and ITO, hafnium boride, tantalum nitride, carbon, etc. A resistor is preferably used.
In addition, when providing light stimulation, light emitting element layers, such as a laser, LED, and EL, can be used, and provision of a magnetic field and electromagnetic waves can be implement | achieved by providing an electromagnetic coil or an electrode.

In addition, the materials of the substrates 2 and 4 include polymers such as polyester, polyimide, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polysulfone, polycarbonate, polyether, and cellulose derivatives. A film, a plate-like body, or an inorganic substrate such as glass, metal, or ceramic can be used. Further, the size and thickness of these substrates are not particularly limited.
In order to function as an optical element, at least one of the two substrates facing each other needs to be optically transparent. In the case of a transmissive optical element, it is preferable that both the substrates are transparent.
Further, other constituent layers such as a protective layer, an antifouling layer, an ultraviolet shielding layer, and an antistatic layer may be formed.

  When configuring an optical element, the preferable range of the distance between the pair of substrates is 1 μm to 4 mm, more preferably 2 μm to 2 mm. This is because when the thickness of the dimming composition layer is smaller than 1 μm, the dimming performance is lowered and a desired dimming effect cannot be obtained, and when the thickness is 4 mm or more, it is visually recognized when the distance from the observer is short. It is because there is a possibility that the sex may decrease.

  As shown in FIG. 1, it is preferable that the two substrates 2 and 4 have a uniform gap necessary for sandwiching the light control composition. As a method for ensuring a uniform gap between two substrates, (1) spacer particles 14 having such a size as to form a desired gap are dispersed on the substrate 2 and / or the substrate 4, and (2) a film A spacer is sandwiched between two substrates 2 and 4. (3) A three-dimensional shape in which a desired gap is produced when two substrates 2 and 4 are bonded to the surface of one and / or both substrates. For example, a preferable structure is formed.

  The spacer member 14 and the gap holding member such as the three-dimensional structure used in this case are not particularly limited as long as the gap can be stably maintained. For example, independent spacers such as a sphere, a cube, and a columnar one can be used. Those having the shape are preferably used. In addition, a gap holding member having a continuous shape can be used. In this case, those shapes are not particularly limited as long as the gap can be stably maintained, and various shapes such as a polygonal shape such as a lattice shape and a honeycomb shape can be mainly applied. These gap holding members are not particularly limited as long as they are materials that are stable to the adsorption / desorption liquid 8. For example, resins, metals, metal oxides, glass, and the like can be applied.

Further, the sealing material 16 has the ability to suppress evaporation of the adsorbed / desorbed liquid 8, has adhesiveness to the substrates 2 and 4, does not adversely affect the properties of the polymer gel 6, and is used under actual use conditions. Any material may be used as long as these conditions are satisfied for a long time. It is also possible to combine a plurality of sealing materials.
The sealing material and the sealing method are preferably single-layer sealing in consideration of securing the opening area of the optical element and processing costs due to process simplification. Examples of the sealing material for sealing with one layer include use of a thermosetting elastic sealing material mainly composed of an isobutylene oligomer having a reactive group at the terminal. Moreover, when sealing with two layers, a polyisobutylene-type sealant etc. can be illustrated for the primary sealing which contacts a light control composition, and an acrylic resin etc. can be illustrated as a secondary sealing. Other inorganic materials such as glass and ceramics, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene isophthalate, polyethylene-2,6-naphthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, and copolymers thereof, polycarbonate, polyethersulfone, polysulfone, polyimide, Polyarylate is also applicable. In addition, the sealing material and sealing method of this invention are not limited to the said illustration, A wide variety can be selected and you may use them in combination. As these sealing materials, those having particularly high gas barrier properties are preferably used.

[Light control composition]
The optical element of the present invention has a polymer gel that reversibly absorbs and releases liquid by an external stimulus and causes a volume change, and a liquid that can be absorbed and released by the polymer gel (absorption / desorption liquid). A dimming composition is used. The polymer gel preferably contains a light control material such as a colorant or a light scattering agent.

  Polymer gels that can be used in the light control composition according to the present invention include pH change, ion concentration change, chemical adsorption / desorption, solvent composition change, and application of energy such as light, heat, electricity, and magnetic field. For example, a polymer gel that absorbs and releases a liquid by various stimuli and reversibly changes its volume (swells and contracts) and responds to the stimulus is preferable. However, even if it is referred to as “reversible”, there is no problem even if it has a so-called hysteresis property in which the volume change amount corresponding to the same stimulus amount is different between the swollen state and the contracted state. Such properties are also included in the concept of “reversible”. Specific examples of such a polymer gel are as follows.

  First, as a polymer gel that stimulates and responds by a pH change due to an electrode reaction or the like, an electrolyte polymer gel is preferable, and a cross-linked poly (meth) acrylic acid or a salt thereof; (meth) acrylic acid and (meth) acrylamide, One or more selected from alkyl-substituted (meth) acrylamide, hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate, (meth) acrylic acid alkyl ester, dialkylaminoalkyl (meth) acrylamide, dialkylaminoalkyl (meth) acrylate and the like Copolymer cross-linked products and quaternized products and salts thereof; maleic acid and (meth) acrylamide, alkyl-substituted (meth) acrylamide, hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate, (meth) acrylic acid alkyl ester, dialkylaminoalkyl (meth) Acrylamide, dialkyl Crosslinked body or a salt thereof polyvinyl sulfonic acid; aminoalkyl (meth) one or crosslinked product or its salt of a copolymer of two or more selected from such acrylates. Selected from vinyl sulfonic acid and (meth) acrylamide, alkyl-substituted (meth) acrylamide, hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate, (meth) acrylic acid alkyl ester, dialkylaminoalkyl (meth) acrylamide, dialkylaminoalkyl (meth) acrylate, etc. A crosslinked product of a copolymer with one or more of them, a quaternized product thereof and a salt thereof; a crosslinked product of polyvinylbenzene sulfonic acid and a salt thereof;

  Select from vinylbenzene sulfonic acid and (meth) acrylamide, alkyl-substituted (meth) acrylamide, hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate, (meth) acrylic acid alkyl ester, dialkylaminoalkyl (meth) acrylamide, dialkylaminoalkyl (meth) acrylate, etc. 1 type or 2 types of cross-linked copolymers or quaternized products or salts thereof; cross-linked poly (meth) acrylamide alkyl sulfonic acids or salts thereof; (meth) acrylamide alkyl sulfonic acids and (meta ) Copolymerization with one or more selected from acrylamide, hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate, alkyl (meth) acrylate, dialkylaminoalkyl (meth) acrylamide, dialkylaminoalkyl (meth) acrylate, etc. Cross-linked products and quaternized products and salts thereof; cross-linked polydimethylaminopropyl (meth) acrylamide and quaternized products thereof; dimethylaminopropyl (meth) acrylamide and (meth) acrylic acid, (meth) acrylamide, hydroxy Cross-linked copolymer or salt or quaternized product of one or more selected from ethyl (meth) acrylate, (meth) acrylic acid alkyl ester, etc .; cross-linked polydimethylaminoethyl (meth) acrylamide Or quaternized product thereof: one or two selected from dimethylaminoethyl (meth) acrylamide and (meth) acrylic acid, (meth) acrylamide, hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate, (meth) acrylic acid alkyl ester, etc. Cross-linked copolymers of the above and their salts and quaternized products;

  Cross-linked polydimethylaminoethyl (meth) acrylate and its quaternized products; dimethylaminoethyl (meth) acrylate and (meth) acrylic acid, (meth) acrylamide, hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate, (meth) acrylic acid alkyl ester A crosslinked product of a copolymer with one or more selected from the above or a salt or quaternized product thereof; a crosslinked product of polydiethylaminoethyl (meth) acrylate or a quaternized product thereof; diethylaminoethyl (meth) acrylate and A cross-linked product of one or more kinds selected from (meth) acrylic acid, (meth) acrylamide, hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate, (meth) acrylic acid alkyl ester and the like, a salt thereof, and a quaternary class Compound: Polydimethylaminopropyl (meth) acrylamide and polyvinyl alcohol Cross-linked product of lanthanide complex and its quaternized product; Cross-linked product of poly (meth) acrylic acid and its salt; Partial hydrolyzate of cross-linked product of poly (meth) acrylonitrile and its salt Etc.

  As a polymer gel that stimulates and responds by adsorption and desorption of a chemical substance such as a surfactant by an electric field, a strong ionic polymer gel is preferable, and a crosslinked product of polyvinyl sulfonic acid, vinyl sulfonic acid and (meth) acrylamide, hydroxyethyl (meta ) Cross-linked products of copolymers with acrylates, alkyl (meth) acrylates, etc .; Cross-linked products of polyvinyl benzene sulfonic acid, vinyl benzene sulfonic acid and (meth) acrylamide, hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate, (meth) acrylic acid A crosslinked product of a copolymer with one or more compounds selected from alkyl esters, etc .; a crosslinked product of polyacrylamide alkylsulfonic acid, acrylamide alkylsulfonic acid and (meth) acrylamide, hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate, (Meth) acrylic acid Examples include crosslinked products of copolymers with one or more compounds selected from alkyl esters, etc., and alkylpyridine salts such as n-dodecylpyridinium chloride; alkylammonium salts; phenylammonium salts; tetra Used in combination with a cationic surfactant such as a phosphonium salt such as phenylphosphonium chloride.

  Examples of the polymer gel that stimulates and responds by oxidation / reduction by electricity include cationic polymer gels, which are preferably used as a CT complex (charge transfer complex) in combination with an electron-accepting compound. For example, crosslinked polyamino-substituted (meth) acrylamides such as polydimethylaminopropyl acrylamide as cationic polymer gel; polydimethylaminoethyl (meth) acrylate, polydiethylaminoethyl (meth) acrylate, polydimethylaminopropyl (meth) acrylate, etc. A crosslinked product of an amino-substituted alkyl ester of poly (meth) acrylic acid; a crosslinked product of polystyrene; a crosslinked product of polyvinylpyridine; a crosslinked product of polyvinylcarbazole; a crosslinked product of polydimethylaminostyrene. Moreover, as an electron-accepting compound, benzoquinone, 7,7,8,8, -tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ), tetrabutylammonium perchlorate, tetracyanoethylene, chloranil, trinitrobenzene, maleic anhydride, iodine and the like. Can be mentioned.

  Polymer gels that respond to stimuli by the application of heat include crosslinked polymers of LCST (lower critical solution temperature) and UCST (upper critical solution temperature) (the former is “LCST gel” and the latter is “UCST gel”. ), A two-component polymer gel IPN body (interpenetrating network structure) and a polymer gel having cohesive side chains such as crystallinity (the former is “IPN gel” and the latter is “ It is referred to as “crystalline gel”). The LCST gel contracts at high temperature, and the UCST gel, IPN gel, and crystalline gel have the characteristic of swelling at high temperature.

  Specific examples of LCST gel include cross-linked poly [N-alkyl-substituted (meth) acrylamide] such as poly [N-isopropylacrylamide]; N-alkyl-substituted (meth) acrylamide and (meth) acrylic acid, (meth) A crosslinked product of a copolymer with one or more selected from acrylamide, (meth) acrylic acid alkyl ester, (meth) acrylic acid hydroxyalkyl ester, or a salt thereof; a crosslinked product of polyvinyl methyl ether; methyl cellulose; And cross-linked products of alkyl-substituted cellulose derivatives such as ethyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl cellulose.

  A specific example of the UCST gel includes a zwitterionic polymer cross-linked product having both anion and cation components in the molecule, such as poly [3-dimethyl (methacryloyloxyethyl) ammoniumpropanesulfonate].

  On the other hand, as a typical example of IPN gel, an IPN body composed of a cross-linked body of poly (meth) acrylamide and a cross-linked body of poly (meth) acrylic acid and a partially neutralized product thereof (a part of carboxyl groups of acrylic acid units) Is neutralized with a cation such as a metal ion). In addition, (meth) acrylamide or a crosslinked product of a copolymer mainly composed of (meth) acrylamide derivatives such as N, N-dimethyl (meth) acrylamide and (meth) acrylic acid or maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, IPNs composed of a cross-linked copolymer of an unsaturated carboxylic acid such as crotonic acid as a main component and a partially neutralized product thereof; at least (meth) acrylamide or N, N-dimethyl (meth) acrylamide (meta ) Crosslinked product of copolymer containing acrylamide derivative and unsaturated carboxylic acid such as (meth) acrylic acid or maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, crotonic acid, and partially neutralized product thereof; 2-hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate Cross-linked copolymer of a main component; at least stearyl (meth) acrylate A crosslinked product of a copolymer containing an alkyl ester of (meth) acrylic acid such as (meth) acrylic acid or an unsaturated carboxylic acid such as maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, and crotonic acid, and a partially neutralized product thereof; Cross-linked copolymer of (meth) acrylic acid and (meth) acrylic acid or unsaturated carboxylic acid such as maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, crotonic acid, etc. with nucleobase introduced into the side chain such as acryloxymethyluracil And a partially neutralized product thereof.

  In addition, as a crystalline gel, a cross-linked product of a copolymer of (meth) acrylic acid ester and (meth) acrylic acid having a long-chain alkyl group such as octyl group, decyl group, lauryl group, stearyl group or a salt thereof; Examples thereof include a crosslinked product of a copolymer of cholesteryl monomer or aromatic monomer and (meth) acrylic acid and a salt thereof.

  Furthermore, a polymer gel exhibiting a plurality of phase transition temperatures in accordance with a temperature change can be preferably used. As such a polymer gel, for example, an IPN form of a crosslinked product of poly [N-alkyl-substituted (meth) acrylamide] such as poly [N-isopropylacrylamide] and a crosslinked product of poly (meth) acrylic acid, etc. Can be mentioned. Such a polymer gel is known to exhibit two phase transition temperatures of swelling-shrinking-swelling with increasing temperature.

  The polymer gel that responds to stimulation by the application of light is preferably a cross-linked product of a hydrophilic polymer compound having a group that is ionically dissociated by light, such as a triarylmethane derivative or a spirobenzopyran derivative, and a vinyl-substituted triarylmethane leuco derivative And a crosslinked product of a copolymer of acrylamide and acrylamide. More preferably, a cross-linked product of a copolymer of a vinyl-substituted triarylmethane leuco derivative and acrylamide is used.

  Examples of the polymer gel that stimulates and responds by application of a magnetic field include cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol containing ferromagnetic particles and magnetic fluid. However, the polymer gel contained can be applied without limitation as long as it is in the category of polymer gel.

  Examples of the polymer that responds to a change in the composition of the solution or a change in the ionic strength preferably include the above-described electrolyte-based polymer gel that can obtain a large volume change.

The polymer gel particularly preferably used in the present invention is a polymer gel that responds to a stimulus by applying electricity and heat.
Note that the description using parentheses above indicates both the compound not including the prefix in the parentheses and the compound including the compound. For example, the description “(meth) acryl” refers to any of “acryl” and “methacryl”. Is also meant.

  The volume change of the polymer gel used in the present invention is desirably at least a volume ratio of 3 or more, preferably 5 or more, more preferably 7 or more. If the volume ratio is 5 or more, it is possible to obtain a sufficient light control contrast.

The polymer gel used in the present invention itself has a dimming ability in which the light scattering property changes with a volume change, but in order to express a larger dimming characteristic and color change, the dimming material is used. It is preferable that it is contained inside the polymer gel.
Examples of the dimming material that can be used include coloring materials such as pigments and dyes, and light scattering materials.

  Examples of the pigment include black pigments such as carbon black, benzidine-based yellow pigments, quinacridone-based, rhodamine-based magenta pigments, and phthalocyanine-based cyan pigments.

  More specifically, examples of the black pigment include carbon black such as channel black and furnace black, and titanium black.

  As yellow pigments, compounds represented by condensed azo compounds, isoindolinone compounds, anthraquinone compounds, azo metal complexes, methine compounds, and allylamide compounds are used. Specifically, as the pigment, for example, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 62, 74, 83, 93, 94, 95, 109, 110, 111, 128, 129, 147, 168, etc. are preferably used.

  As the magenta pigment, condensed azo compounds, diketopyrrolopyrrole compounds, anthraquinones, quinacridone compounds, basic dye lake compounds, naphthol compounds, benzimidazolone compounds, thioindigo compounds, and perylene compounds are used. Specifically, as the pigment, for example, C.I. I. Pigment Red 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 23, 48; 2, 48; 3, 48; 4, 57; 1, 81; 1, 144, 146, 166, 169, 177, 184, 185, 202, 206, 220, 221, 254 are particularly preferred.

  As the cyan pigment, copper phthalocyanine compounds and derivatives thereof, anthraquinone compounds, basic dye lake compounds, and the like can be used. Specifically, as the pigment, for example, C.I. I. Pigment Blue 1, 7, 15, 15: 1, 15: 2, 15; 3, 15: 4, 60, 62, 66 and the like can be used particularly preferably.

  The dyes include black dye nigrosine dyes and various color dyes azo dyes, other anthraquinone dyes, indigo dyes, phthalocyanine dyes, carbonium dyes, quinoneimine dyes, methine dyes, quinoline dyes, nitro dyes. Benzoquinone dyes, naphthoquinone dyes, naphthalimide dyes, berinone dyes and the like, and those having a particularly high light absorption coefficient are preferred.

  Preferable specific examples of the dye include C.I. I. Direct Yellow 1, 8, 11, 12, 24, 26, 27, 28, 33, 39, 44, 50, 58, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 98, 157, C.I. I. Acid Yellow 1, 3, 7, 11, 17, 19, 23, 25, 29, 38, 44, 79, 127, 144, 245, C.I. I. Basic Yellow 1, 2, 11, 34, C.I. I. Food Yellow 4, C.I. I. Reactive Yellow 37, C.I. I. Solvent Yellow 6, 9, 17, 31, 35, 100, 102, 103, 105, C.I. I. Direct Red 1, 2, 4, 9, 11, 13, 17, 20, 23, 24, 28, 31, 33, 37, 39, 44, 46, 62, 63, 75, 79, 80, 81, 83, 84, 89, 95, 99, 113, 197, 201, 218, 220, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, C.I. I. Acid Red 1, 6, 8, 9, 13, 14, 18, 26, 27, 35, 37, 42, 52, 82, 85, 87, 89, 92, 97, 106, 111, 114, 115, 118, 134, 158, 186, 249, 254, 289, C.I. I. Basic Red 1, 2, 9, 12, 14, 17, 18, 37,

  C. I. Food red 14, C.I. I. Reactive Red 23, 180, C.I. I. Solvent Red 5, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 143, 145, 146, 149, 150, 151, 157, 158, C.I. I. Direct Blue 1, 2, 6, 15, 22, 25, 41, 71, 76, 78, 86, 87, 90, 98, 163, 165, 199, 202, C.I. I. Acid Blue 1, 7, 9, 22, 23, 25, 29, 40, 41, 43, 45, 78, 80, 82, 92, 93, 127, 249, C.I. I. Basic Blue 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, C.I. I. Food Blue 2, C.I. I. Solvent Blue 22, 63, 78, 83-86, 191, 194, 195, 104, C.I. I. Direct Black 2, 7, 19, 22, 24, 32, 38, 51, 56, 63, 71, 74, 75, 77, 108, 154, 168, 171, C.I. I. Acid Black 1, 2, 7, 24, 26, 29, 31, 44, 48, 50, 52, 94, C.I. I. Basic Black 2, 8, C.I. I. Food Black 1, 2, C.I. I. Reactive Black 31, C.I. I. Food violet 2, C.I. I. Solvent Violet 31, 33, 37, C.I. I. Solvent Green 24, 25, C.I. I. Solvent brown 3, 9, etc. are mentioned.

  These pigments and dyes may be used alone, or may be mixed and used to obtain a desired color. However, it is more preferable to use a pigment than a dye from the viewpoint of weather resistance.

  The light scattering material is preferably a material having a refractive index different from the refractive index of the liquid used for the volume change of the polymer gel, but there is no particular limitation, and various inorganic materials and organic materials are applicable. it can.

  Specific examples of inorganic materials include zinc oxide, basic lead carbonate, basic lead sulfate, lead sulfate, ritbon, muscovite, zinc sulfide, titanium oxide, antimony oxide, lead white, zirconium oxide, alumina, micanite, mica Rex, quartz, calcium carbonate, gypsum, clay, silica, silicic acid, silicon earth, talc, basic magnesium carbonate, alumina white, gloss white, satin white and other inorganic oxides, zinc, alumel, antimony, aluminum, aluminum Alloy, Iridium, Indium, Osmium, Chromium, Chromel, Cobalt, Zirconium, Stainless steel, Gold, Silver, Western silver, Copper, Bronze, Tin, Tungsten, Tungsten steel, Iron, Lead, Nickel, Nickel alloy, Nickelin, Platinum, Platinum Rhodium, Tantalum, Duralumin, Nichrome, Titanium, Kuru Austenitic steel, Constantan, Brass, Platinum iridium, Palladium, Palladium alloy, Molybdenum, Molybdenum steel, Manganese, Manganese alloy, Rhodium, Rhodium gold, and other metal materials, Inorganic conductive materials such as ITO (indium tin oxide) Etc.

  Specific examples of the organic material include phenol resin, furan resin, xylene / formaldehyde resin, urea resin, melamine resin, aniline resin, alkyd resin, unsaturated polyester, epoxy resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, poly-p-xylylene, Polyvinyl acetate, acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, fluorine plastic, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl ether, polyvinyl ketone, polyether, polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyester, polyamide, diene plastic, polyurethane plastic, Polyphenylene, polyphenylene oxide, polysulfone, aromatic heterocyclic polymer, silicone, natural rubber plastic, cellulosic plastic, etc. Polymeric materials such as a mixture of two or more materials of the polymer material (polymer blend) and the like.

  The preferred size of the pigment or light scattering material used is in the range of 0.001 μm to 1 μm, more preferably in the range of 0.01 μm to 0.5 μm, in terms of the volume average particle diameter of the primary particles. When the volume average particle diameter is in the range of 0.01 μm to 0.5 μm, the coloring and light scattering effects required for the pigment and the light scattering material can be made sufficient. Further, when the volume average particle diameter is 0.01 μm or more, the outflow from the inside of the polymer gel does not easily occur.

  In order to prevent the outflow of the pigment and the light scattering material, the cross-linking density of the polymer gel to be used is optimized, and the pigment or the light scattering material is physically confined within the network of the polymer gel, or the polymer gel Use of pigments and light scattering materials that have high electrical, ionic, and other physical interactions, and use of pigments and light scattering materials whose surfaces are chemically modified.

  For example, pigments and light scattering materials that have been chemically modified on the surface, for example, those in which a group that is chemically bonded to a polymer gel such as an unsaturated group such as a vinyl group or an unpaired electron (radical) is introduced on the surface, or a polymer Examples include those obtained by grafting materials.

  The concentration of the pigment and light scattering material contained in the polymer gel should reach a concentration higher than the saturated absorption concentration (or more than the saturated light scattering concentration) in at least a part of the polymer gel in a contracted state. Is desirable. Here, the saturated absorption density or more (or the saturated light scattering density or more) means that the average distance between each pigment and light scattering material is sufficiently short as an index, so that visible light absorption of the pigment and light scattering material is achieved. Further, the concentration is such that the scattering function changes from primary particles to aggregates, and the efficiency of absorption and scattering of visible light decreases. Such a state in which the pigment and the light scattering material exhibit aggregated visible light absorption and scattering characteristics is referred to as a state in which the concentration of the pigment and the light scattering material is equal to or higher than the saturated absorption concentration (or higher than the saturated light scattering concentration).

  If the definition of saturated absorption density or higher (or saturated light scattering density or higher) is expressed by another characteristic, the relationship between the pigment and light scattering material concentration and the visible light absorption and scattering amount under a specific optical path length is 1. The pigment and light scattering material concentrations greatly deviate from the relationship of the next straight line. That is, when the pigment and the light scattering material concentration are equal to or higher than the saturated absorption concentration (or higher than the saturated light scattering concentration), the visible light absorption and scattering efficiency per particle of the pigment and the light scattering material is reduced, so that the visible light absorption and scattering are performed. The amounts are not proportional to the pigment and light scattering material concentrations, respectively, and are lower than the visible light absorption and scattering amounts expected from the linear relationship. On the other hand, below the saturated absorption concentration (or below the saturated light scattering concentration), the visible light absorption and scattering amounts are proportional to the pigment and light scattering material concentrations, respectively, and the visible light absorption and scattering per particle of the pigment and light scattering material. Efficiency is almost constant.

The reason why the pigment and the light scattering material are contained in the polymer gel at a saturated absorption concentration or higher (or a saturated light scattering concentration or higher) is as follows.
That is, when the pigment and the light scattering material are contained in the polymer gel at a saturated absorption concentration or higher (or higher than the saturated light scattering concentration), visible light can be efficiently absorbed and scattered in a swollen state, In comparison, the amount of visible light absorption and scattering can be increased. In other words, in this case, since the pigment and the light scattering material can be contained at a saturation absorption concentration or more in a state where the polymer gel is contracted, the concentration of the pigment and the light scattering material decreases when the polymer gel swells, and the pigment and the light scattering material The absorption and scattering efficiency of visible light per particle can be increased more than in the contracted state. As a result, the amount of visible light absorption and scattering can be greatly increased in the swollen state, and the amount of visible light absorption and scattering can be greatly decreased in the contracted state.

On the other hand, when the concentration of the pigment and the light scattering material to be contained is lower than the saturated absorption concentration (or lower than the saturated light scattering concentration), the visible light and infrared absorption efficiency and scattering efficiency per particle of the pigment and light scattering material in the contracted state. Becomes comparable to the efficiency in the swollen state. As a result, the amount of absorption and scattering of visible light in the swollen state cannot be greatly increased, and the amount of absorption and scattering of visible light in the contracted state cannot be greatly decreased.
Based on the above, the saturated absorption concentration (or saturated light scattering concentration) is the concentration necessary to increase the change in the amount of visible light absorption and scattering caused by swelling and shrinkage, and the concentration of pigment and light scattering material is saturated. It is preferable to set the absorption density or higher (or the saturated light scattering density or higher).

  In the state where the polymer gel is contracted, the concentration of these light control materials contained in the polymer gel becomes a concentration at which the saturated concentration (saturated absorption concentration and saturated light scattering concentration) or more is reached. What is necessary is just to be at least one part among this polymer gel. Here, “at least a part of the polymer gel” means that the portion where the light-modulating material is concentrated to a saturation concentration or more inside the polymer gel is partially or totally, and It means both the case where the polymer gel in which the light control material is concentrated to a saturation concentration or more is a part or all of the total polymer gel. If “at least a part of the polymer gel” has a concentration that is equal to or higher than the saturation concentration, the dimming effect can be exerted, but more part of the inside of the polymer gel, or more It is preferable that many polymer gels have a concentration at which the saturation concentration or more is reached.

  The concentration of the pigment and the light scattering material contained in the polymer gel necessary for having such characteristics is generally preferably in the range of 3% by mass to 95% by mass, more preferably in the range of 5% by mass to 80% by mass. is there. When the concentration of the pigment and the light scattering material is 3% by mass or more, the saturated absorption concentration or more (or the saturation light scattering concentration or more) can be obtained, and the light control characteristics due to the volume change of the polymer gel are sufficient. be able to. On the other hand, if the concentration of the pigment and the light scattering material is 95% by mass or less, the stimulation response speed and volume change amount of the polymer gel can be made sufficient.

  On the other hand, a preferable concentration of the dye to be contained in the polymer gel is in the range of 3% by mass to 50% by mass, and particularly preferably in the range of 5% by mass to 30% by mass. The dye concentration is desirably equal to or higher than the saturated absorption concentration at least in the dry or contracted state of the polymer gel, as with the pigment. In order to fix the dye to the polymer gel, a dye having a structure having a polymerizable functional group such as an unsaturated double bond group or a so-called reactive dye capable of reacting with the polymer gel is preferably used. Is done.

  A polymer gel containing such color materials such as pigments and dyes and a light-scattering material such as a light scattering material is a method in which the light-control material is uniformly dispersed and mixed in a polymer before crosslinking, followed by crosslinking. It can be produced by a method of polymerizing by adding the light control material to the polymer precursor composition at the time of polymerization. When adding a light control material at the time of polymerization, it is also preferable to use a light control material having a polymerizable group or an unpaired electron (radical) as described above and chemically bond it to a polymer gel. The

  Further, it is desirable that the light control material is dispersed as uniformly as possible in the polymer gel. In particular, it is desirable to uniformly disperse using a mechanical kneading method, a stirring method, or a dispersing agent when dispersing in a polymer before crosslinking or adding to a polymer precursor monomer composition.

  The shape of the polymer gel that can be used in the present invention is not particularly limited, but is preferably in the form of particles from the viewpoint of response speed and ease of processing. Moreover, in order to efficiently express the effect of increasing the dimming effect due to deformation, it is more preferable that the shape is almost a perfect sphere. Specific shapes of the particulate polymer gel include spheres, ellipsoids, spindles, cubes, polyhedra, porous bodies, fibers, stars, needles, hollows, etc., but other irregular shapes It may be. The preferred size of the particulate polymer gel is in the range of 1 μm to 1 mm, more preferably in the range of 2 μm to 0.5 mm in volume average particle diameter. If the volume average particle diameter is 1 μm or more, the particles can be easily handled, and more excellent optical properties can be obtained. On the other hand, if the volume average particle diameter is 1 mm or less, the graininess can be reduced, and the response time required for volume change can be shortened.

  The particulate polymer gel is a polymer obtained by pulverizing a bulk polymer gel by a physical pulverization method or by polymerizing a polymer before crosslinking into particles by a physical pulverization method or a chemical pulverization method. It can be prepared by a general method such as a gel method or a particle polymerization method such as an emulsion polymerization method, a suspension polymerization method, or a dispersion polymerization method.

As a crosslinking agent applied in order to form the polymer gel used for this invention, the compound which has 2 or more of a polymerizable unsaturated group, a reactive functional group, etc. in a molecule | numerator can be mentioned, for example.
Examples of the compound having two or more polymerizable unsaturated groups include di- or tri (meth) acrylic polyols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, trimethylolpropane, glycerin polyoxyethylene glycol, polyoxypropylene glycol, and polyglycerin. Acid esters, unsaturated polyesters obtained by reacting the polyols with unsaturated acids such as maleic acid and fumaric acid, bis (meth) acrylamides such as N, N′-methylenebis (meth) acrylamide, Di (meth) acrylic acid carbamic acid esters obtained by reacting polyisocyanates such as resin isocyanate and hexamethylene diisocyanate with hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate, allylated starch, allylated cellulose, diallyl Examples thereof include polyvalent allylic compounds such as tarate, other tetraallyloxyethanes, pentane erythritol triallyl ether, trimethylolpropane triallyl ether, diethylene glycol diallyl ether, and triallyl trimethyl ether. Among these, in the present invention, ethylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, propylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, polyethylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, polypropylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, N, N′-methylenebis (meth) acrylamide Etc. are preferably used.

  Examples of the compound having two or more reactive functional groups include diglycidyl ether compounds, haloepoxy compounds, di- and triisocyanate compounds. Specific examples of the diglycidyl ether compound include ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether, polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether, propylene glycol diglycidyl ether, polypropylene glycol diglycidyl ether, glycerin diglycidyl ether, and polyglycerin diglycidyl ether. . Other specific examples of the haloepoxy compound include epichlorohydrin, epibromohydrin, β-methylepichlorohydrin, and the like. Specific examples of the diisocyanate compound include 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate and hexamethylene diisocyanate. Among these, ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether, hexamethylene diisocyanate and the like are particularly preferably used in the present invention.

  Of these, N, N'-methylenebis (meth) acrylamide is particularly preferred. Generally the usage-amount of a crosslinking agent is 0.001-10 mass% with respect to the preparation amount of the said monomer, Preferably it is 0.01-5 mass%.

The polymerization initiator used in the present invention only needs to be soluble in the monomer solution. Specifically, persulfates such as potassium persulfate, sodium persulfate and ammonium persulfate, hydrogen peroxide, peroxides such as t-butyl hydroperoxide and cumene hydroperoxide, azoisobutyronitrile, 2, 2 An azo compound such as' -azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride is used. Among these polymerization initiators, in particular, initiators exhibiting oxidizing properties such as persulfates and hydroperoxides are reducing properties such as sodium bisulfite, L-ascorbic acid, and ferrous salts. It can also be used as a redox initiator in combination with substances or amines such as N, N, N ′, N′-tetramethylethylenediamine.
The amount of these initiators used is generally 0.0001 to 10% by mass, preferably 0.001 to 5% by mass, based on the main monomer.
In addition, the polymer gel can be produced by a general method such as irradiation of a polymer with radiation such as an electron beam or gamma ray, or heating.

  Further, in order to increase the volume change rate due to the stimulus response of the polymer gel, it is also preferable to make the material porous to improve the ease of entering and exiting the liquid, as in the prior art of the polymer gel. In general, the swollen polymer gel can be made porous by freeze-drying or the like.

  The absorption / desorption liquid used in the light control composition of the present invention is not particularly limited, but preferably water; electrolyte aqueous solution; alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol; acetone, methyl ethyl ketone Ketones such as ethyl acetate; esters such as ethyl acetate; ethers such as dimethyl ether and methyl ethyl ether; other aromatic organic solvents such as dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, dimethylsulfoxide, acetonitrile, propylene carbonate, xylene, toluene, hexane , Aliphatic organic solvents such as heptane, alicyclic organic solvents such as cyclohexane, and mixtures thereof. In addition, various polymers, acids, alkalis, salts, surfactants, dispersion stabilizers, stabilizers for the purpose of preventing oxidation or ultraviolet absorption, and preservatives may be added to the liquid as necessary. It doesn't matter.

  In the light control composition of the present invention, the preferred mixing ratio range of the polymer gel and the adsorption / desorption liquid is 1: 2000 to 1: 1 (polymer gel: adsorption / desorption liquid) in mass ratio. Yes, particularly preferably 1: 500 to 1: 5.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.
[Preparation of light control gel particles (polymer gel particles)]
In a 500 ml separable flask, 12 parts by mass of acrylamide, a black pigment dispersion as a color material (carbon black dispersion TBK-BC3 manufactured by Taisei Kako Co., Ltd .: containing 15.1% by mass of solid), 34.06 parts by mass, and a crosslinking agent As described above, 0.048 parts by mass of methylenebisacrylamide and 19.08 parts by mass of distilled water were mixed and sufficiently purged with nitrogen, and then 0.41 part by mass of ammonium persulfate was added and sufficiently stirred and mixed. Next, 234 parts by mass of a sufficiently nitrogen-substituted cyclohexane solution containing 9.00 parts by mass of SO-15R (manufactured by Nikko Chemicals) as a surfactant was injected. After stirring and suspending this mixed liquid at 15 ° C. and 1200 rpm for 30 minutes, 1.68 parts by mass of tetramethylethylenediamine was added, and the polymerization reaction was performed by stirring and holding at 300 rpm for 3 hours. A black acrylamide gel was obtained. The obtained particles were sufficiently washed with distilled water and then recovered as an aqueous dispersion.

Next, a mixed solution of 3 parts by mass of acrylic acid, 0.006 parts by mass of methylenebisacrylamide, 49.63 parts by mass of distilled water, and 0.012 parts by mass of 2,2′-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride was prepared. Prepared. Thereafter, 33.33 parts by mass of the previously obtained aqueous dispersion of black acrylamide gel particles (solid content: 3% by mass) was added to this solution, thoroughly mixed and purged with nitrogen, and then immersed in a 60 ° C. water bath. The polymerization reaction was carried out by holding for a period of time to obtain particulate black dimming gel particles. The obtained light control gel particles were thoroughly washed with distilled water. At this time, the volume average particle diameter of the obtained light control gel particles was about 20 μm at 20 ° C. in distilled water.
Further, as a result of observing the light control gel particles with an optical microscope, the volume average particle diameter is about 46 μm at 50 ° C. in distilled water, and the volume expands about 12 times compared to 20 ° C. at 50 ° C. It was. Thus, it confirmed that the obtained light control gel particle had the heat-sensitive response from which volume changes depending on temperature. The phase transition point was in the temperature range of 30-40 ° C. That is, it was confirmed that it has a characteristic of swelling at a temperature higher than the phase transition point and contracting at a low temperature.

<Example 1>
The optical element was produced by the method shown below using the light control gel particles.
First, blue plate glass (manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.) having a thickness of 3 mm was used as a transparent substrate, and the surface was washed with acetone and a 2N-NaOH aqueous solution. On the other hand, an ethanol 95% aqueous solution and γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane were mixed to prepare a fixing treatment solution containing 25% by mass of γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. Next, the washed substrate was dipped in the fixing treatment solution for 1 minute and taken out, and dried at 110 ° C. for 2 hours to obtain a substrate on which the fixing treatment agent was surface-treated on the entire surface of the substrate.
This substrate is immersed in a 0.2% by weight polyacrylic acid (average molecular weight 25000) aqueous solution in which light control gel particles are dispersed (solid content is about 1% by weight), and is left at 70 ° C. for 1 hour to fix the particles. did. Then, the light control gel particle which was not couple | bonded on the board | substrate was removed by wash | cleaning a board | substrate with distilled water. When the surface of the substrate was observed with an optical microscope, the light-controlling gel particles were fixed almost uniformly. As a result of image processing using a PC in a heating state (coloring state) at 50 ° C., the area ratio of the substrate was about 74%.
Next, processing is performed in the same manner as described above to prepare another substrate on which light control gel particles are fixed so that the area ratio of the substrate is about 74%, and a sphere (about 100 μm in diameter made of acrylic resin as a spacer) Sekisui Fine Chemical Co., Ltd. Micropearl SP) is placed in an appropriate amount (about 0.5 / cm ² ) so that the distance between the substrates can be maintained, and all of the acrylic UV curable resin is left as a swelling liquid inlet. It was sealed with (Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd. KAYARAD FAD-R381I). The distance between the substrates at this time was 100 μm.
Next, after 0.2% by mass of a polyacrylic acid (average molecular weight 25000) aqueous solution as a swelling liquid was injected into the inside by a reduced pressure injection method, an injection port was made of an acrylic ultraviolet curable resin (KAYARAD FAD- manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.). R381I) to obtain an optical element.

This optical element was almost transparent at 20 ° C. with the inner light-controlling gel particles contracted.
Next, when this optical element was heated to 50 ° C., the internal light control gel particles were swollen and black. The area ratio of the element in the heated and swollen state was about 92% as a result of image analysis using a PC. When this optical element was visually observed, it was in a good state with very little graininess.
Then, when it returned to 20 degreeC again, the light control gel particle contracted and the optical element returned to the transparent state.
It was confirmed that the change in transmittance of the optical element due to such a temperature change (that is, the swelling and shrinkage behavior of the light-controlling gel particles) can be repeated reversibly 10,000 times or more.
Further, a sunshine weather meter (WEL-SUN-HC type) manufactured by Suga Test Instruments Co., Ltd. was used, and a weather resistance test was conducted for 1000 hours under a black panel temperature of 63 ° C. As a result, there was no denaturation or discoloration of the light control gel particles, and deterioration of the light control characteristics of the optical element was not confirmed.

<Example 2>
The optical element was produced by the method shown below using the light control gel particles.
First, blue plate glass (manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.) having a thickness of 3 mm was used as a transparent substrate, and the surface was washed with acetone and a 2N-NaOH aqueous solution. Next, a photoresist was coated on the entire surface of the substrate. Thereafter, ultraviolet exposure was performed through a photomask in which 20 μm squares were arranged at 50 μm intervals in the vertical and horizontal directions, and then development processing was performed to expose the portion of the substrate surface on which the polymer gel was fixed. Thereafter, γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane was added to toluene with stirring and a solution adjusted to 25% was applied and reacted at room temperature for 30 minutes. Then, after removing an excess solution and performing a drying process at 110 degreeC for 1 hour, all the photoresists were removed by the etching process and the board | substrate surface-treated with the fixing agent was created partially.
This substrate is immersed in a 0.2% by weight polyacrylic acid (average molecular weight 25000) aqueous solution in which light control gel particles are dispersed (solid content is about 1% by weight), and is left at 70 ° C. for 1 hour to fix the particles. did. Then, the light control gel particle which was not couple | bonded on the board | substrate was removed by wash | cleaning a board | substrate with distilled water. When the surface of the substrate was observed with an optical microscope, the light-controlling gel particles were fixed almost uniformly. As a result of performing image processing using a PC in a heating state (coloring state) at 50 ° C., the area ratio of the substrate was about 66%.
Then, the optical element by which the pattern-form light control gel particle was fixed was produced by the process similar to Example 1. FIG. The distance between the substrates at this time was 100 μm.

This optical element was almost transparent at 20 ° C. with the inner light-controlling gel particles contracted.
Next, when this optical element was heated to 50 ° C., the internal light control gel particles were swollen and black. At this time, the area ratio of the element in the heated and swollen state was about 87% as a result of image analysis using a PC. When this optical element was visually observed, it was in a good state with very little graininess.
Then, when it returned to 20 degreeC again, the light control gel particle contracted and the optical element returned to the transparent state.
It was confirmed that the change in transmittance of the optical element due to such a temperature change (that is, the swelling and shrinkage behavior of the light-controlling gel particles) can be repeated reversibly 10,000 times or more.
Further, a sunshine weather meter (WEL-SUN-HC type) manufactured by Suga Test Instruments Co., Ltd. was used, and a weather resistance test was conducted for 1000 hours under a black panel temperature of 63 ° C. As a result, there was no denaturation or discoloration of the light control gel particles, and deterioration of the light control characteristics of the optical element was not confirmed.

<Example 3>
When producing the optical element, the optical element was produced in the same manner as in Example 2 except that the spacer particles used had a particle diameter of 300 μm. At this time, the distance between the substrates was 300 μm.
The obtained element had an area ratio of 66% for one substrate, and the optical element had an area ratio of 87% in the analysis of the image observed from the normal direction by PC.
When this optical element was visually observed with transmitted light, there was no problem in use as a light control glass, but a slight graininess was felt as compared with Examples 1 and 2.
This is because, as a result of using a 300 μm spacer, the distance between the two polymer gel layers becomes very long, and the scattered light passing through the polymer gel layer on one substrate is transferred to the polymer gel on the other substrate. This is presumed to be due to the fact that the layer could not effectively shield the light.

<Comparative Example 1>
Except for using the light control gel particle fixed substrate (substrate area ratio of about 74%) prepared in Example 1 on only one side and using a glass substrate on which the light control gel particles are not fixed on the opposing surface, All optical elements were produced in the same manner as in Example 1.
The obtained optical element was heated (50 ° C.) in a colored state, the area ratio of the element was about 74%, and as a result of visual observation, the granular feeling was conspicuous and uncomfortable.

<Comparative example 2>
Except for using the light control gel particle fixed substrate (substrate area ratio of about 66%) prepared in Example 2 on only one side and using a glass substrate on which the light control gel particles are not fixed on the opposing surface, All optical elements were produced in the same manner as in Example 1.
The obtained optical element was heated (50 ° C.) in a colored state, the area ratio of the element was about 66%, and as a result of visual observation, the graininess was very noticeable and uncomfortable.

<Comparative Example 3>
Optical elements were produced in the same manner as in Example 2 except that the 20 μm square square vertical and horizontal arrangement intervals of the photomask used for ultraviolet exposure were 60 μm, respectively.
The substrate used in this optical element is in a colored state at 50 ° C., and the area ratio of the substrate is about 46%, and the area ratio of the element in the colored state at 50 ° C. after the two sheets are formed into an optical element is About 70%.
When the obtained optical element was visually observed in a heated (50 ° C.) color development state, the graininess was very conspicuous and uncomfortable.

It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of schematic structure of the optical element of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows one structural example of the substrate surface in which the adhesion fixing part and the non-adhesion fixing part were formed. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating an example of the surface treatment method of a board | substrate. It is a graph which shows the sensory evaluation result with respect to a granular feeling.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical element 2, 4 Substrate 6 Polymer gel 8 Absorption / desorption liquid 10, 12 Stimulation member 14 Spacer 16 Sealing material 18 Adhesive fixing part 20 Non-adhesive fixing part 22 Photoresist 24 Mask

Claims (4)

A dimming composition comprising at least a polymer gel that causes a volume change by reversibly absorbing and releasing liquid by external stimulation between a pair of substrates, and a liquid that can be absorbed and released by the polymer gel. An optical element comprising:
When viewed from the normal direction of the substrate, in the state of absorbing the liquid of the polymer gel, the area of the polymer gel existing between the substrates is the area of the polymer gel and the polymer gel. An optical element, characterized in that it is 85% or more of the total area with the area of the portion where no exists.   2. The polymer gel contains a color material in an amount that becomes a saturated absorption concentration or more in a state where the liquid is released or a light scattering material in an amount that becomes a saturation light scattering concentration or more. An optical element according to 1.   3. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the pair of substrates is smaller than four times an average particle diameter of the polymer gel in a liquid-absorbed state.   The optical element according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the polymer gel is uniformly fixed on the substrate.

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