JP2005292269A - Photosensitive resin composition for forming spacer, and color filter with spacer obtained by using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form flexible spacers having a small amount of plastic deformation, having superior elastic characteristics, and capable of maintaining a uniform cell gap, independently of the size of the screen of a liquid crystal display. <P>SOLUTION: A photosensitive resin composition for spacers is used which contains, as principal components, an alkali-soluble resin, a photopolymerization initiator and a polymerizable monomer and has an overall acrylic equivalent of ≤200. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a photosensitive resin composition for forming a spacer used in a liquid crystal display device and a color filter having a spacer formed using the same.

  Conventionally, in the liquid crystal display technology, in order to maintain the thickness of the liquid crystal layer between both the color filter side substrate and the thin film transistor (TFT) side substrate, glass or resin transparent spherical particles (beads) called spacers are used. Was sprayed inside the cell. However, since these spacers are transparent particles, if there is a spacer with the liquid crystal in the pixel, light leaks through the spacer particles during black display, and the liquid crystal is enclosed. The presence of spacer particles between the two substrates disturbs the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the spacer particles, causing light leakage at this portion, reducing the contrast of the liquid crystal display device, and adversely affecting the display quality. was there. In addition, in a liquid crystal display device in which the distance between the two substrates (the thickness of the liquid crystal layer) is narrow, such as a ferroelectric liquid crystal, it is difficult to maintain a uniform and accurate distance between the two substrates using the spacer particles. Met.

  As a technique for solving such a problem, for example, a photosensitive resin is used and a photolithography method such as partial pattern exposure and development is performed on a black matrix in a lattice pattern located at a desired position, for example, between pixels. A method of forming a columnar resin spacer has been proposed. Since such a spacer can be formed at a position avoiding the pixels, it does not adversely affect the display quality as described above, and an improvement in display quality can be expected.

  On the other hand, in recent years, as the size of the mother glass for LCD production increases with the increase in screen size of image display devices, a drop method (ODF: One Drop Fill) has been proposed instead of the conventional liquid crystal inflow method (vacuum suction method). Has been. In the ODF, after a predetermined amount of liquid crystal is dropped, the liquid crystal is injected by being sandwiched between substrates, so that the number of processes and the process time can be reduced as compared with the conventional vacuum suction method.

However, in the ODF method, a predetermined amount of liquid crystal calculated from the cell gap is dropped and held, so that a delicate pressure difference in the plane applied at that time causes bubbles to be generated in the panel, especially in the liquid crystal. The display quality of the liquid crystal display device is deteriorated due to the occurrence or the gap between the substrates on which the liquid crystal layer is provided, that is, the so-called cell gap is not uniform. For example, the color unevenness becomes noticeable. . For this reason, the columnar resin spacer is required to have an elastic characteristic that is not affected by a subtle pressure difference within the surface, that is, to be flexible and small in plastic deformation. As a technique for improving the characteristics of the photospacer, a photosensitive resin composition using a photosensitive resin composition in which the amount of monomers in the total solid content is 50 to 70%, or a mixture of a polymer and a polycyclic compound-containing resin is used. A composition is used (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below). However, when the monomer component is increased, the tackiness is strong, which causes a decrease in yield due to the fact that foreign matters and the like are likely to adhere in mass production. In addition, there has been a concern that combinations of resins that can be used in a mixture of a polycyclic compound-containing resin and other polymers are limited due to the problem of compatibility.
JP 2002-174812 A

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to be flexible and have a small amount of plastic deformation, an excellent elastic property, and irrespective of the screen size of the liquid crystal display device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a photosensitive resin composition for forming a spacer capable of forming a spacer capable of maintaining a uniform cell gap.

  In addition, the second object of the present invention is provided with a spacer that is flexible and has a small amount of plastic deformation, has excellent elastic characteristics, and can maintain a cell gap uniformly and accurately regardless of the size of the screen. The object is to provide a color filter with a spacer.

  The photosensitive resin composition for spacers of the present invention comprises an alkali-soluble resin, a photopolymerization initiator, and a polymerization agent used for forming spacers on a color filter side substrate constituting a liquid crystal display device or a substrate disposed opposite thereto. The main component is a functional monomer, and the total acrylic equivalent is 200 or less.

  The preferable aspect of the photosensitive resin composition for spacers of the present invention further contains fine particles having a particle size of 100 nm or less.

  The color filter with a spacer of the present invention is formed using a color filter having a plurality of colored layers formed in a predetermined pattern on a transparent substrate and the photosensitive resin composition provided on the color filter. And a spacer.

A preferred embodiment of the color filter with a spacer of the present invention has an elastic recovery rate (elastic deformation (μm) / total deformation (μm) × 100) with respect to a pressure of 0.2 to 0.8 mN / μm ² at 25 ° C. The plastic deformation rate when it is loaded so as to be deformed until it is 60% or more and the total deformation amount is 20% of the height of the spacer is 8% or less of the height of the spacer.

  When the photosensitive resin composition for forming a spacer of the present invention is used, it is flexible, has a small amount of plastic deformation, has excellent elastic characteristics, and can maintain a uniform cell gap regardless of the screen size of the liquid crystal display device. A spacer is obtained.

  In addition, when the color filter with a spacer of the present invention is used, the cell gap is maintained uniformly and accurately regardless of the size of the screen because the spacer is flexible, has a small amount of plastic deformation, and has excellent elastic characteristics. A high-quality liquid crystal display device can be obtained.

  The photosensitive resin composition for spacers of the present invention is used when forming a spacer on a color filter side substrate constituting a liquid crystal display device or a substrate disposed opposite thereto, and is an alkali-soluble resin, a photopolymerization initiator. , And a polymerizable monomer as a main component, and the acrylic equivalent of the entire photosensitive resin composition is 200 or less.

  For example, columnar spacers can be formed at desired positions on the color filter by applying the photosensitive resin composition for spacers to a photolithography method of partial pattern exposure and development.

  Such a spacer is hereinafter referred to as a photo spacer.

  Moreover, the color filter with a spacer of the present invention was formed using a color filter having a plurality of colored layers formed in a predetermined pattern on a transparent substrate, and the photosensitive resin composition for spacers on the color filter. And a spacer.

  Hereinafter, with reference to drawings, the photosensitive resin composition of this invention and the color filter with a photo spacer formed using the same are demonstrated.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a cross-sectional structure of a color filter with a photospacer according to the present invention.

  As shown in the figure, the color filter 1 with a photo spacer is provided on a transparent substrate 2 and includes a color filter 6 and a photo spacer 5 provided on the color filter 6. The color filter 6 includes a black matrix 3 formed on the transparent substrate 2, and a colored layer 4 including a red colored layer 4R, a green colored layer 4G, and a blue colored layer 4B. Further, the photo spacer 5 is formed at a predetermined position of the black matrix 3 of the color filter 6. Further, ITO (not shown) is deposited on the color filter 6 as a transparent common electrode.

  As the transparent substrate constituting the color filter with a photo spacer, for example, glass, plastic plate, film or the like can be used. In recent years, plastic substrates excellent in permeability and chemical resistance have been proposed, but generally alkali-free glass having a low coefficient of thermal expansion and excellent dimensional accuracy at high temperatures is preferably used.

  Further, the black matrix is provided, for example, in a stripe shape or a lattice shape between pixels of each color or outside the colored layer formation region for the purpose of preventing a decrease in contrast due to light leakage. Such a black matrix can be formed by patterning a multilayer deposited thin film of chromium or chromium oxide or by using a resin BM resist in which a light-shielding pigment such as carbon black is dispersed, and by a normal photolithography method. A method of forming is known.

  The red colored layer 4R, the green colored layer 4G, and the blue colored layer 4B that constitute the colorant layer 4 are arranged in order for each color, for example, in the form of dots or stripes, depending on the shape of the black matrix.

  Each color can be formed into a predetermined pattern shape such as a dot shape or a stripe shape by a photolithography method using a pigment dispersion resist. That is, a resist containing a pigment of one filter color is applied onto a substrate such as glass, and pattern exposure of the first color filter layer is performed by pattern exposure and development. By repeating this for three colors, the colored layer 4 can be obtained.

  The photo spacer determines the gap of the liquid crystal cell when the color filter substrate and the TFT substrate are bonded together, and plays an important role for display quality. The height of the photo spacer has a constant height in the range of about 2 to 5 μm, for example, and its uniformity is required. In addition to the height, the shape, size, density, and the like required for the photo spacer can be appropriately determined depending on the design of the liquid crystal display device.

  For the development when forming the photo spacer by the photolithography method, an organic solvent may be used, but it is preferable to use water or an aqueous alkali solution from the environmental consideration. However, in water development, since the resin used has high hydrophilicity, it has drawbacks such as poor water resistance of the produced photo spacer. Therefore, it is possible to use an aqueous alkali solution and apply a resin and a photosensitive material composition suitable for it.

  As the alkaline aqueous solution, for example, an aqueous solution of an inorganic salt such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate, or an aqueous solution of an organic salt such as hydroxytetramethylammonium or hydroxytetraethylammonium can be used. These can be used alone or in combination of two or more. In addition, such an alkali-developable photosensitive resin composition is composed of an alkali-soluble resin, a polymerizable monomer, and a photopolymerization initiator as main components, and if necessary, a leveling agent, a solvent, a chain transfer agent, It can adjust by adding additives, such as a polymerization inhibitor and a viscosity modifier.

  The photosensitive resin composition of the present invention contains at least a resin, a photopolymerizable monomer, and a photopolymerizable initiator.

  This photosensitive resin composition has a total acrylic equivalent of 200 or less.

  Here, the acrylic equivalent means the number of grams of the photosensitive resin composition with respect to 1 mol of the acrylic group.

  When the acrylic equivalent exceeds 200, the elasticity of the photo spacer becomes insufficient.

  Moreover, it is preferable that an acrylic equivalent is 120 or more, and there exists a tendency for tackiness to deteriorate that it is less than 120. More preferably, it is 140 to 200.

  Examples of the resin that can be used in the present invention include acrylic resins and novolac resins.

  The resin used in the present invention preferably has an acid value of 20 to 180 in terms of solid content, more preferably 35 to 150. If the acid value of the resin is less than 20, there is a risk of developing failure in alkali development, and if the acid value is greater than 180, problems such as the surface of the exposed portion being eroded by the developer in alkali development are likely to occur. .

  Examples of acrylic polymer monomers that can be used in the present invention include (meth) acrylic acid, methyl (meth) acrylate, ethyl (meth) acrylate, propyl (meth) acrylate, and butyl (meth) acrylate. , Alkyl (meth) acrylates such as benzyl (meth) acrylate, lauryl (meth) acrylate, hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate, hydroxypropyl (meth) acrylate, ethoxyethyl (meth) acrylate, glycidyl (meth) acrylate, cyclohexyl ( Examples include alicyclic (meth) acrylates such as (meth) acrylate, isobornyl (meth) acrylate, and dicyclopentenyl (meth) acrylate. These monomers can be used alone or in combination of two or more. Furthermore, examples of monomers copolymerizable with these acrylates include compounds such as styrene, cyclohexylmaleimide, phenylmaleimide, cyclohexylmaleimide, phenylmaleimide, methylmaleimide, ethylmaleimide, n-butylmaleimide, and laurylmaleimide.

  As a method of imparting an acid value to an acrylic polymer, a method of copolymerizing a carboxylic acid-containing acrylate such as acrylic acid, or a polymer obtained by copolymerizing a carboxylic acid-containing acrylate such as acrylic acid with an epoxy containing glycidyl methacrylate or the like A method of adding an acid anhydride to a hydroxyl group produced by adding a compound, and an acid anhydride to a hydroxyl group produced by adding a carboxylic acid-containing compound such as methacrylic acid to an epoxy-containing acrylate such as glycidyl methacrylate. The method of adding is mention | raise | lifted.

  Moreover, an ethylenically unsaturated group can also be added to an acrylic polymer. As a method of adding an ethylenically unsaturated group to an acrylic polymer, a method of adding an ethylenically unsaturated group such as acrylic acid and a carboxylic acid-containing compound to an epoxy-containing resin such as glycidyl methacrylate, or a method such as methacrylic acid Examples thereof include a method of adding an epoxy-containing acrylate such as glycidyl methacrylate to a carboxylic acid-containing resin, and a method of adding an isocyanate group-containing acrylate such as methacryloyloxyethyl isocyanate to a hydroxyl group-containing resin such as hydroxymethacrylate.

  As a novolak resin as an example of the resin in the present invention, a phenol novolak epoxy resin, a cresol novolak epoxy resin, etc. are added with a carboxylic acid-containing compound such as acrylic acid, and then an acid anhydride to give an acid value. Resin to which is added.

  Examples of the photopolymerizable monomer used in the present invention include monomers containing a hydroxyl group such as 2-hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl (meth) acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl (meth) acrylate, (Meth) acrylate, diethylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, triethylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, tetraethylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, tetramethylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, trimethylolpropane tri (meth) acrylate, trimethylol Ethanetri (meth) acrylate, pentaerythritol di (meth) acrylate, pentaerythritol tri (meth) acrylate, pentaerythritol tetra (meth) acrylate, dipe Data pentaerythritol tetra (meth) acrylate, dipentaerythritol hexa (meth) acrylate, glycerol (meth) (meth) acrylic acid esters such as acrylate. These can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  Examples of the photopolymerization initiator used in the present invention include acetophenone, 2,2′-diethoxyacetophenone, p-dimethylacetophenone, p-dimethylaminopropiophenone, dichloroacetophenone, trichloroacetophenone, p-tert-butylacetophenone. Acetophenones such as benzophenone, 2-chlorobenzophenone, benzophenones such as p, p'-bisdimethylaminobenzophenone, benzoin ethers such as benzyl, benzoin, benzoin methyl ether, benzoin isopropyl ether, benzoin isobutyl ether, benzyldimethyl ketal Thioxanthone, 2-chlorothioxanthone, 2,4-diethylthioxanthone, 2-methylthioxanthone, 2-isopropylthioxanthone, etc. Yellow compounds, 2-ethylanthraquinone, octamethylanthraquinone, 1,2-benzanthraquinone, anthraquinones such as 2,3-diphenylanthraquinone, 2,4-trichloromethyl- (4′-methoxyphenyl) -6-triazine, 2, , 4-Trichloromethyl- (4′-methoxynaphthyl) -6-triazine, 2,4-trichloromethyl- (piperonyl) -6-triazine, 2,4-trichloromethyl- (4′-methoxystyryl) -6 Triazines such as triazine, organic peroxides such as azobisisobutyronitrile, benzoyl peroxide, cumene peroxide, thiol compounds such as 2-mercaptobenzoimidazole, 2-mercaptobenzoxazole, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, etc. Can be mentioned. These photopolymerization initiators can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  In addition, the photosensitive resin composition of the present invention does not function as a photopolymerization initiator alone, but a compound that increases the ability of the photopolymerization initiator when used in combination with the photopolymerization initiator is photopolymerized. Can be added as a starting aid. Examples of such compounds include tertiary amines such as triethanolamine that are effective when used in combination with benzophenone. The addition amount of the photopolymerization initiator is preferably 0.1 to 30 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the resin. If the amount is less than 0.1 parts by weight, the photopolymerization rate tends to be low and the sensitivity tends to decrease. If the amount is more than 30 parts by weight, the adhesion to the substrate or the like tends to decrease.

Further, fine particles of 100 nm or less can be added to the photosensitive resin composition of the present invention. As fine particles that can be used, for example, Al ₂ O ₃ , TiO ₂ , Fe ₂ O ₃ , ZnO, CeO ₂ , Y ₂ O ₃ , Mn ₃ O ₄ , SiO _2, etc. There may be mentioned fine particles having a shape. By adding such fine particles, the elastic recovery rate in the photospacer can be improved. The addition amount of the fine particles is preferably 0.5 to 20 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the solid content of the photosensitive resin composition, and if it is less than 0.5 parts by weight, the elasticity of the photo spacer is not good. When the amount exceeds 20 parts by weight, the photo spacer becomes hard and brittle, and the elastic properties tend to be insufficient.

The color filter with a photo spacer of the present invention has an elastic recovery rate (elastic deformation (μm) / total deformation (μm) × 100) of 60% at a pressure of 0.2 to 0.8 mN / μm ² at 25 ° C. It is preferable that the plastic deformation rate when loaded so as to be deformed until the total deformation amount is 20% of the height of the photo spacer is 8% or less of the height of the photo spacer.

  The elastic deformation rate is less than 60%, or the plastic deformation rate when the load is deformed until the total deformation rate becomes 20% of the height of the photo spacer is 8% of the height of the photo spacer. If it exceeds, the cell gap is not uniform, the display quality of the liquid crystal display device is lowered, and there is a tendency that defects such as, for example, color unevenness become remarkable. The higher the elastic recovery rate, the better, and the lower the plastic deformation rate, the better.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to the contents.

Preparation of photosensitive composition for preparing photospacer Composition 1
Synthesis of Resin (A) In a 5-neck reaction vessel with a capacity of 2 liters, 800 g of propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMAc), 140 g of butyl methacrylate (BMA), 30 g of methacrylic acid (MAA), hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) 30 g and 4 g of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) were added and heated at 80 ° C. for 6 hours while blowing nitrogen to obtain a resin (A) solution.

Preparation of photosensitive resin composition Blending ratio of photosensitive resin composition Resin (A) solution 500 parts by weight Dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate (DPHA)
(Theoretical acrylic equivalent is 105) 400 parts by weight Irgacure 907 40 parts by weight 2-acetoxy-1-methoxypropane (PGMEA) 860 parts by weight Each component is mixed at the above blending ratio to obtain a photosensitive resin composition (A). It was.

  The theoretical acrylic equivalent of the composition excluding the solvent of the photosensitive resin composition (A) is 142.

Composition 2
Synthesis of Resin (B) In a five-necked reaction vessel with an internal volume of 2 liters, 686 g of propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMAc), 332 g of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), and 6.6 g of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) And heated at 80 ° C. for 6 hours while blowing nitrogen to obtain a polymer solution of GMA.

  Next, 168 g of acrylic acid (AA), 0.05 g of methoquinone (MQ) and 0.5 g of triphenylphosphine (TPP) are added to the obtained GMA polymer solution, and heated at 100 ° C. for 24 hours while blowing air. Thus, an acrylic acid adduct solution of GMA resin was obtained.

  Further, 186 g of tetrahydrophthalic anhydride was added to the acrylic acid adduct solution of the obtained GMA resin, and the mixture was heated at 70 ° C. for 10 hours to obtain a resin (B) solution.

  The theoretical acrylic equivalent of the resin (B) is 294.

Preparation of photosensitive resin composition Blending ratio of photosensitive resin composition Resin (B) solution (theoretical acrylic equivalent 294) 200 parts by weight Dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate (DPHA)
(Theoretical acrylic equivalent 105) 100 parts by weight Irgacure 907 15 parts by weight
PGMEA 400 weight part Each component was mixed by the said mixture ratio, and the photosensitive resin composition (B) was obtained.

  The theoretical acrylic equivalent of the composition excluding the solvent of the photosensitive resin composition (B) is 166.

Composition 3
Synthesis of Resin (C) In a five-necked reaction vessel with an internal volume of 2 liters, 500 g of propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMAc), phenol novolac epoxy resin (Nippon Kayaku "EPPN-201" (epoxy equivalent 190)) Add 264 g, 100 g of acrylic acid (AA), 0.07 g of methoquinone (MQ), 1.8 g of triphenylphosphine (TPP), and heat at 100 ° C. for 48 hours while blowing air. Got.

  Furthermore, 136 g of tetrahydrophthalic anhydride was added to the resulting acrylic acid adduct solution of the novolak resin and heated at 70 ° C. for 10 hours to obtain a resin (C) solution.

  The theoretical acrylic equivalent of the resin (C) is 361.

Preparation of photosensitive resin composition Blending ratio of photosensitive resin composition Resin (C) solution (theoretical acrylic equivalent is 361) 200 parts by weight Dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate (DPHA)
(Theoretical acrylic equivalent 105) 100 parts by weight Irgacure 907 15 parts by weight
PGMEA 400 weight part Each component was mixed by the said mixture ratio, and the photosensitive resin composition (C) was obtained.

  The theoretical acrylic equivalent of the composition excluding the solvent of the photosensitive resin composition (C) is 175.

Composition 4
Synthesis of Resin (D) 1000 g of the resin (B) solution obtained in Example 2, 85 g of methacryloyloxyethyl isocyanate (“Karenz MOI” manufactured by Showa Denko), propylene in a five-necked reaction vessel with an internal volume of 2 liters 85 g of glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMAc) was added and heated at 60 ° C. for 12 hours while blowing air to obtain a resin (D) solution.

  The theoretical acrylic equivalent of the resin (D) is 260.

Preparation of photosensitive resin composition Compounding ratio of photosensitive resin composition Resin (D) solution (theoretical acrylic equivalent is 260) 200 parts by weight Dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate (DPHA)
(Theoretical acrylic equivalent is 105) 100 parts by weight Irgacure 907 15 parts by weight
PGMEA 400 weight part Each component was mixed by the said mixture ratio, and the photosensitive resin composition (D) was obtained.

  The theoretical acrylic equivalent of the composition excluding the solvent of the photosensitive resin composition (D) is 161.

Composition 5
Mixing ratio of photosensitive resin composition Resin (A) solution 500 parts by weight Dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate (DPHA)
(Theoretical acrylic equivalent 105) 400 parts by weight Irgacure 907 40 parts by weight SiO ₂ fine particles having an average particle diameter of 30 nm 60 parts by weight
PGMEA 800 weight part Each component was mix | blended with the said compounding ratio, and the photosensitive resin composition (E) was obtained.

  The theoretical acrylic equivalent of the composition excluding the solvent of the photosensitive resin composition (E) is 158.

Composition 6
Mixing ratio of photosensitive resin composition Resin (B) solution (theoretical acrylic equivalent is 294) 200 parts by weight Dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate (DPHA)
(Theoretical acrylic equivalent 105) 100 parts by weight 30 parts by weight of SiO ₂ fine particles having an average particle size of 30 nm 15 parts by weight of Irgacure 907
370 parts by weight of PGMEA Each component was mixed at the above blending ratio to obtain a photosensitive resin composition (F).

  The theoretical acrylic equivalent of the composition excluding the solvent of the photosensitive resin composition (F) is 190.

Composition 7
Composition ratio of photosensitive resin composition Resin (A) solution synthesized by composition 1 500 parts by weight Dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate (DPHA)
(Theoretical acrylic equivalent 105) 100 parts by weight Irgacure 907 15 parts by weight
PGMEA 100 weight part Each component was mixed by the said compounding ratio, and the photosensitive resin composition (G) was obtained.

  The theoretical acrylic equivalent of the composition excluding the solvent of the photosensitive resin composition (G) is 226.

Composition 8
Synthesis of Resin (F) In a 5-neck reaction vessel with an internal volume of 2 liters, 484 g of propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMAc), phenol novolac epoxy resin (“EPPN-201” manufactured by Nippon Kayaku (epoxy equivalent: 190)) 264 g, 84 g of acetic acid and 1.8 g of triphenylphosphine (TPP) were added and heated at 100 ° C. for 48 hours while blowing air to obtain an acetic acid adduct solution of novolak resin.

  Furthermore, 136 g of tetrahydrophthalic anhydride was added to the acetic acid adduct solution of the obtained novolak resin and heated at 70 ° C. for 10 hours to obtain a resin (E) solution.

Preparation of photosensitive resin composition Compounding ratio of photosensitive resin composition Resin (E) solution 200 parts by weight Dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate (DPHA)
(Theoretical acrylic equivalent 105) 100 parts by weight Irgacure 907 15 parts by weight
PGMEA 400 weight part Each component was mixed with the said compounding ratio, and the photosensitive resin composition (H) was obtained.

  The theoretical acrylic equivalent of the composition excluding the solvent of the photosensitive resin composition (H) is 226.

Coloring material preparation The following was used for the coloring agent which colors the coloring material used for color filter preparation.

Red pigment: C.I. I. Pigment Red 254 (“Ilgar Forred B-CF” manufactured by Ciba Specialty Chemicals) and C.I. I. Pigment Red 177 (“Chromophthal Red A2B” manufactured by Ciba Specialty Chemicals) Pigment for green: C.I. I. Pigment Green 36 (“Lionol Green 6YK” manufactured by Toyo Ink) and C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 150 ("Funchon First Yellow Y-5688" manufactured by Bayer) Pigment for blue: C.I. I. Pigment Blue 15 (“Rionol Blue ES” manufactured by Toyo Ink) C.I. I. Pigment Violet 23 (“Paliogen Violet 5890” manufactured by BASF Corporation) was used to prepare red, green, and blue colored materials.

Red coloring material A mixture of the following composition was uniformly stirred and mixed, then dispersed in a sand mill for 5 hours using glass beads having a diameter of 1 mm, and then filtered through a 5 μm filter to prepare a red pigment dispersion.

Red pigment: C.I. I. Pigment Red 254 18 parts by weight Red pigment: C.I. I. Pigment Red 177 2 parts by weight Acrylic varnish (solid content 20%) 108 parts by weight Thereafter, a mixture having the following composition was stirred and mixed to be uniform, and then filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a red colored material.

150 parts by weight of the above dispersion 13 parts by weight of trimethylolpropane triacrylate (“NK ester ATMPT” manufactured by Shin-Nakamura Chemical Co., Ltd.)
Photoinitiator 3 parts by weight (“Irgacure 907” manufactured by Ciba Specialty Chemicals)
Sensitizer ("EAB-F" manufactured by Hodogaya Chemical Co., Ltd.) 1 part by weight Cyclohexanone 253 parts by weight Green coloring material The same method as that for the red coloring material was used so that the compositions were as follows.

Green pigment: C.I. I. Pigment Green 36 16 parts by weight Yellow pigment: C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 150 8 parts by weight Acrylic varnish (solid content 20%) 102 parts by weight Trimethylolpropane triacrylate 14 parts by weight (“NK ESTER ATMPT” manufactured by Shin-Nakamura Chemical Co., Ltd.)
Photoinitiator 4 parts by weight (“Irgacure 907” manufactured by Ciba Specialty Chemicals)
Sensitizer ("EAB-F" manufactured by Hodogaya Chemical Co., Ltd.) 2 parts by weight Cyclohexanone 257 parts by weight Blue coloring material Each of the compositions was prepared in the same manner as the red coloring material so that the composition was as follows.

Blue pigment: C.I. I. Pigment Blue 15 50 parts by weight Purple pigment: C.I. I. Pigment Violet 23 2 parts by weight Dispersant (“Solce Birds 20000” manufactured by Zeneca) 6 parts by weight Acrylic varnish (solid content 20%) 200 parts by weight Trimethylolpropane triacrylate 19 parts by weight (“NK Ester ATMPT” manufactured by Shin-Nakamura Chemical Co., Ltd.) )
Photoinitiator 4 parts by weight (“Irgacure 907” manufactured by Ciba Specialty Chemicals)
Sensitizer ("EAB-F" manufactured by Hodogaya Chemical Co., Ltd.) 2 parts by weight 214 parts by weight of cyclohexanone A colored layer was formed as follows using the obtained coloring material.

Colored layer formation and transparent conductive film formation A red colored material was applied to a glass substrate having a size of 360 mm × 460 mm by spin coating so that the finished film thickness was 1.8 μm. After drying at 90 ° C. for 5 minutes, light from a high-pressure mercury lamp is irradiated through a striped photomask for forming a colored layer at 300 mJ / cm ² and developed with an alkali developer for 60 seconds to form a striped red colored layer. Got. Then, it baked at 230 degreeC for 30 minutes.

  Next, the green coloring material was similarly applied by spin coating so that the finished film thickness was 1.8 μm. After drying at 90 ° C. for 5 minutes, a green colored layer was obtained by exposing through a photomask and developing so that a pattern was formed at a position adjacent to the above-mentioned red colored layer. Then, it baked at 230 degreeC for 30 minutes.

  Further, in the same manner as in red and green, a blue colored material having a finished film thickness of 1.8 μm and adjacent to the red and green colored layers was obtained. Thus, a color filter having a striped colored layer of three colors of red, green and blue on the transparent substrate was obtained. Then, it baked at 230 degreeC for 30 minutes. The alkaline developer has the following composition.

Sodium carbonate 1.5% by weight
Sodium bicarbonate 0.5% by weight
Anionic surfactant (Kao Perillex NBL) 8.0% by weight
90.0% by weight of water
Indium tin oxide (ITO) was formed on this color filter by 1500 Å by a general sputtering method.

Example 1
Formation of Photospacer The photosensitive composition for photospacer formation (A) was spin-coated on the above-mentioned color filter with ITO so as to have a finished film thickness of 5 μm, and dried at 90 ° C. for 5 minutes. 150 mJ / cm ^{2 was} irradiated with light from a high-pressure mercury lamp through a photomask for forming a photospacer. The exposure was performed with a gap (exposure gap) between the photomask and the substrate of 100 μm. Then, it developed using the developing solution similar to preparation of a color filter. After washing with water, post-baking was performed at 230 ° C. for 30 posts to form a photo spacer on the color filter. The upper base area of the photo spacer was 150 μm ² and the lower base area was 400 μm ² .

Measurement of Elasticity of Photospacer The elastic properties of the photospacer obtained as described above were evaluated with a dynamic ultra-small hardness meter DUH-200 manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation.

  FIG. 2 is a graph showing an example of a hysteresis curve of the load on the spacer and the deformation amount.

As shown in FIG. 2, a flat indenter with a diameter of 50 μm is used as an elastic property, and the pressure is applied at a constant speed so that the total deformation of the photo spacer is deformed from 0 μm to 1 μm. The total deformation amount T0, the plastic deformation amount T1, and the elastic deformation amount T2 are obtained from the hysteresis curve of the load and the deformation amount when the pressure is released in step 1, and the elastic restoration is performed in the pressure range of 0.2 to 0.8 mN / μm ^2. The value of the plastic deformation rate (T1 / t × 100) when the rate (T2 / T0 × 100) and the total deformation amount became 20% of the height t of the photo spacer was calculated.

The elastic recovery rate when it became the smallest in the pressure range of 0.2 to 0.8 mN / μm ² was 70%. Further, the plastic deformation rate when the load was applied so that the total deformation amount was 20% of the height of the photo spacer was 5% of the height of the photo spacer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

  Similarly, a color filter with a photo spacer having a height of 5 μm and a TFT substrate were aligned and joined, and a liquid crystal material was injected into the gap to produce a liquid crystal display device.

  Since the obtained liquid crystal display device had a uniform cell gap, there was no display unevenness. Further, display unevenness did not occur even when pressure was applied to the color filter surface.

Example 2
Photo spacers were formed on the color filters with ITO in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the photosensitive resin composition (B) was used instead of the photosensitive resin composition (A). In order to make the shape of the photo spacer the same as in Example 1, the exposure gap was 100 μm and the exposure amount was 100 mJ. As a result of evaluating the produced photospacer by the same method as in Example 1, the elastic recovery rate when it became the smallest in the pressure range of 0.2 to 0.8 mN / μm 2 was 68%. Further, the plastic deformation rate when the load was applied so that the total deformation amount was 20% of the height of the photospacer was 5% of the height of the photospacer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

  Further, when the liquid crystal display device was assembled in the same manner as in Example 1, the obtained liquid crystal display device had a uniform cell gap, so there was no display unevenness. Further, display unevenness did not occur even when pressure was applied to the color filter surface.

Example 3
Photo spacers were formed on the color filters with ITO in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the photosensitive resin composition (C) was used instead of the photosensitive resin composition (A). In order to make the shape of the photo spacer the same as in Example 1, the exposure gap was 100 μm and the exposure amount was 100 mJ. As a result of evaluating the produced photospacer by the same method as in Example 1, the elastic recovery rate at the time of the smallest pressure range of 0.2 to 0.8 mN / μm ² was 69%. Further, the plastic deformation rate when the load was applied so that the total deformation amount was 20% of the height of the photospacer was 5% of the height of the photospacer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

  Further, when the liquid crystal display device was assembled in the same manner as in Example 1, the obtained liquid crystal display device had a uniform cell gap, so there was no display unevenness. Further, display unevenness did not occur even when pressure was applied to the color filter surface.

Example 4
Photo spacers were formed on the color filters with ITO in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the photosensitive resin composition (D) was used instead of the photosensitive resin composition (A). In order to make the shape of the photo spacer the same as in Example 1, the exposure gap was 100 μm and the exposure amount was 100 mJ. As a result of evaluating the produced photospacer by the same method as in Example 1, the elastic recovery rate at the time of the smallest in the pressure range of 0.2 to 0.8 mN / μm ² was 71%. Further, the plastic deformation rate when the load was applied so that the total deformation amount was 20% of the height of the photospacer was 5% of the height of the photospacer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

  Further, when the liquid crystal display device was assembled in the same manner as in Example 1, the obtained liquid crystal display device had a uniform cell gap, so there was no display unevenness. Further, display unevenness did not occur even when pressure was applied to the color filter surface.

Example 5
Photo spacers were formed on the color filters with ITO in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the photosensitive resin composition (E) was used instead of the photosensitive resin composition (A). In order to make the shape of the photo spacer the same as in Example 1, the exposure gap was 100 μm and the exposure amount was 100 mJ. As a result of evaluating the produced photospacer by the same method as in Example 1, as shown in Table 1, the elastic recovery rate at the smallest in the pressure range of 0.2 to 0.8 mN / μm ² is 75. %Met. Further, the plastic deformation rate when the load was applied so that the total deformation amount was 20% of the height of the photo spacer was 4% of the height of the photo spacer.

  Further, when the liquid crystal display device was assembled in the same manner as in Example 1, the obtained liquid crystal display device had a uniform cell gap, so there was no display unevenness. Further, display unevenness did not occur even when pressure was applied to the color filter surface.

Example 6
Photo spacers were formed on the color filters with ITO in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the photosensitive resin composition (F) was used instead of the photosensitive resin composition (A). In order to make the shape of the photo spacer the same as in Example 1, the exposure gap was 100 μm and the exposure amount was 100 mJ. As a result of evaluating the produced photospacer by the same method as in Example 1, the elastic recovery rate when it became the smallest in the pressure range of 0.2 to 0.8 mN / μm ² was 74%. Further, the plastic deformation rate when the load was applied so that the total deformation amount was 20% of the height of the photo spacer was 4% of the height of the photo spacer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

  Further, when the liquid crystal display device was assembled in the same manner as in Example 1, the obtained liquid crystal display device had a uniform cell gap, so there was no display unevenness. Further, display unevenness did not occur even when pressure was applied to the color filter surface.

Comparative Example 1
Photo spacers were formed on the color filters with ITO in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the photosensitive resin composition (G) was used instead of the photosensitive resin composition (A). In order to make the shape of the photo spacer the same as in Example 1, the exposure gap was 100 μm and the exposure amount was 200 mJ. As a result of evaluating the produced photospacer by the same method as in Example 1, as shown in Table 1, the elastic recovery rate at the time of the smallest pressure range of 0.2 to 0.8 mN / μm ² is 58. %Met. Further, the plastic deformation ratio when the load was applied so that the total deformation amount was 20% of the height of the photospacer was 9% of the height of the photospacer.

  Similarly, a color filter with a photo spacer having a height of 5 μm and a TFT substrate were aligned and joined, and a liquid crystal material was injected into the gap to produce a liquid crystal display device.

  In the obtained liquid crystal display device, display unevenness occurred when pressure was applied to the color filter surface.

Comparative Example 2
Photo spacers were formed on the color filters with ITO in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the photosensitive resin composition (H) was used instead of the photosensitive resin composition (A). In order to make the shape of the photo spacer the same as in Example 1, the exposure gap was 100 μm and the exposure amount was 200 mJ. As a result of evaluating the produced photospacer by the same method as in Example 1, the elastic recovery rate when it became the smallest in the pressure range of 0.2 to 0.8 mN / μm 2 was 57%. In addition, the plastic deformation rate when loading was performed so that the total deformation amount was 20% of the height of the photospacer was 10% of the height of the photospacer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

  Similarly, a color filter with a photo spacer having a height of 5 μm and a TFT substrate were aligned and joined, and a liquid crystal material was injected into the gap to produce a liquid crystal display device.

In the obtained liquid crystal display device, display unevenness occurred when pressure was applied to the color filter surface.

  The present invention is particularly useful as a photospacer for a large-screen liquid crystal display device.

Schematic sectional view showing an example of a color filter with a photo spacer of the present invention The graph showing an example of the hysteresis curve of the load and deformation amount of the photo spacer according to the present invention

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Color filter with photo spacer, 2 ... Substrate, 3 ... Black matrix, 4 ... Colored layer, 4R ... Red colored layer, 4G ... Green colored layer, 4B ... Blue colored layer, 5 ... Photo spacer, 6 ... Color filter

Claims (4)

  Photosensitivity for spacers mainly composed of an alkali-soluble resin, a photopolymerization initiator, and a polymerizable monomer, used when forming a spacer on a color filter side substrate constituting a liquid crystal display device or a substrate disposed opposite thereto. A photosensitive resin composition for spacers, which is a resin composition, and the acrylic equivalent of the entire photosensitive resin composition is 200 or less.   The photosensitive resin composition for spacers according to claim 1, further comprising fine particles having a particle size of 100 nm or less.   A color filter having a plurality of colored layers formed in a predetermined pattern on a transparent substrate, and a spacer provided on the color filter and formed using the photosensitive resin composition according to claim 1 or 2 A color filter with a spacer. The spacer has an elastic recovery rate (elastic deformation amount (μm) / total deformation amount (μm) × 100) of 60% or more at a pressure of 0.2 to 0.8 mN / μm ² at 25 ° C., and 4. A collar with a spacer according to claim 3, wherein the plastic deformation rate when the load is applied so that the total deformation becomes 20% of the height of the spacer is 8% or less of the height of the spacer. filter.

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