JP2009001696A - Cellulose ester film, and polarizing plate and liquid crystal display device produced by using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cellulose ester film having excellent visibility (light leakage, color nonuniformity and front contrast) and satisfying both of retardation and wavelength dispersion. <P>SOLUTION: The cellulose ester film comprises a cellulose acetate phthalate, an ester compound having at least one of a pyranose structure or a furanose structure in an amount of ≥1 and ≤12 structures wherein all or a part of the OH groups of the structure is esterified, and an acrylic polymer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cellulose ester film used in a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly to a cellulose ester film excellent in visibility (light leakage, uneven coloring, front contrast) and having both retardation and wavelength dispersibility.

  Cellulose ester films, polycarbonate films, polycycloolefin films, and the like are often used as optical films for liquid crystal display devices.

  Cellulose ester film is optically high in transparency and low in birefringence, and is therefore mainly used as a polarizer protective film (hereinafter referred to as polarizing plate protective film) for liquid crystal display devices. Olefin films have been mainly used as cellulose ester films for adjusting retardation.

  In the case of a cellulose ester film, a plurality of optical films are usually combined in order to control retardation and wavelength dispersion. However, the combination of a plurality of optical films has a large load on the production process such as an increase in the combination accuracy and the number of processes, and an optical compensation technique with a small number of sheets is being studied.

  For example, Non-Patent Document 1 proposes a single sheet technology using a polycarbonate film and a polycycloolefin film. However, even with these techniques, as a film that also serves as a polarizing plate protective film, the bonding property with polyvinyl alcohol as a polarizer is insufficient, and a polarizing plate protective film made of a cellulose ester film is still present. In liquid crystal display, it is recognized as an essential optical film.

  Therefore, it has been studied to impart a function as a cellulose ester film to the cellulose ester film excellent as the polarizing plate protective film.

  Originally, the cellulose ester film has been used as a polarizing plate protective film because of its low birefringence, and it is not easy to impart its function.

  Techniques (Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3) have been proposed in which a compound having a retardation increasing effect is added to a cellulose ester film to obtain a desired retardation value, and the film is further stretched. There is a problem that the wavelength dispersion is still not sufficiently stable.

  When the wavelength dispersion is insufficient, light leakage from the polarizing plate, particularly light leakage with time, color tone fluctuation of the liquid crystal display image, and front contrast are deteriorated.

For this reason, it has been strongly desired to simultaneously impart a desired retardation value and stable wavelength dispersibility over time to the cellulose ester film.
JP 2000-1111914 A JP 2002-131538 A JP 2006-321835 A Journal of the Japanese Liquid Crystal Society Special issue on liquid crystal “various functional films for liquid crystal display elements” Vol. 9 No. 4 (2005)

  An object of the present invention is to provide a cellulose ester film that is excellent in visibility (light leakage, uneven coloring, front contrast) and has both retardation and wavelength dispersibility.

The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following configurations.
1. It contains at least one of cellulose acetate phthalate, pyranose structure or furanose structure and an ester compound obtained by esterifying all or part of the OH group of the structure, and an acrylic polymer. Cellulose ester film.
2. A polarizing plate comprising a polarizer and two polarizing plate protective films sandwiching the polarizer, wherein the cellulose ester film described in 1 is used as a polarizing plate protective film on at least one surface of the polarizer. A polarizing plate.
3. 3. A liquid crystal display device using the polarizing plate described in 2 above on at least one surface of a liquid crystal cell.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cellulose ester film that is excellent in visibility (light leakage, uneven coloring, front contrast) and has both retardation and wavelength dispersibility.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

  As described above, the liquid crystal display device generally has viewing angle characteristics, and there is a problem that the contrast is lowered when the liquid crystal display device is observed from a position having an angle from the normal direction of the liquid crystal cell. In order to solve this problem, it is known that it is effective to dispose a cellulose ester film having an optical compensation function having an appropriate retardation between a liquid crystal cell and a polarizer.

In general, the in-plane direction retardation Ro is preferably in the range of 20 to 200 nm, and the thickness direction retardation Rt is preferably in the range of 70 to 400 nm.
<Cellulose ester>
The cellulose ester film of the present invention is characterized by containing cellulose acetate phthalate.

  The degree of acetyl group substitution in the cellulose acetate phthalate of the present invention is preferably 1.2 or more, particularly preferably 2.0 or more. The degree of phthalyl group substitution is preferably from 0.05 to 1.0.

  The ratio of cellulose acetate phthalate contained in the cellulose ester film of the present invention is preferably 10 to 80% by mass, and more preferably 20 to 60% by mass.

  The cellulose ester film of the present invention contains 60 to 100% by mass of cellulose ester. It is preferable that the total acyl group substitution degree of the cellulose ester is 2.1 to 2.9.

  The cellulose ester other than the cellulose acetate phthalate of the present invention is not particularly limited, but the cellulose ester is a carboxylic acid ester having about 2 to 22 carbon atoms, and may be an aromatic carboxylic acid ester, particularly having 6 or less carbon atoms. A lower fatty acid ester is preferred.

  The acyl group bonded to the hydroxyl group may be linear or branched or may form a ring. Furthermore, another substituent may be substituted. When the degree of substitution is the same, birefringence decreases when the number of carbon atoms is large, and therefore, the number of carbon atoms is preferably selected from acyl groups having 2 to 6 carbon atoms. The cellulose ester preferably has 2 to 4 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 3 carbon atoms.

  Specifically, the cellulose ester includes cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, or a mixed fatty acid ester of cellulose to which a propionate group or a butyrate group is bonded in addition to an acetyl group such as cellulose acetate propionate butyrate. Can be used.

  The butyryl group forming butyrate may be linear or branched. As the cellulose ester preferably used in the present invention, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, and cellulose acetate propionate are particularly preferably used.

  Preferred cellulose esters other than cellulose acetate phthalate for the present invention preferably satisfy the following formulas (1) and (2).

Formula (1) 2.0 <= X + Y <= 3.0
Formula (2) 0 ≦ Y ≦ 1.5
In the formula, X is the degree of substitution of the acetyl group, and Y is the degree of substitution of the propionyl group or butyryl group, or a mixture thereof.

  Further, in order to obtain optical characteristics that meet the purpose, resins having different degrees of substitution may be mixed and used. The mixing ratio is preferably 10:90 to 90:10 (mass ratio).

  Of these, cellulose acetate propionate is particularly preferably used. In cellulose acetate propionate, 1.0 ≦ X ≦ 2.5, preferably 0.1 ≦ Y ≦ 1.5, and 2.0 ≦ X + Y ≦ 3.0. The measuring method of the substitution degree of an acyl group can be measured according to ASTM-D817-96.

  The number average molecular weight of the cellulose ester used in the present invention is preferably in the range of 60,000 to 300,000 because the mechanical strength of the resulting film is strong. Furthermore, the thing of 70000-200000 is used preferably.

  The weight average molecular weight Mw and number average molecular weight Mn of the cellulose ester were measured using gel permeation chromatography (GPC).

  The measurement conditions are as follows.

Solvent: Methylene chloride Column: Shodex K806, K805, K803G (Used by connecting three Showa Denko Co., Ltd.)
Column temperature: 25 ° C
Sample concentration: 0.1% by mass
Detector: RI Model 504 (manufactured by GL Sciences)
Pump: L6000 (manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.)
Flow rate: 1.0ml / min
Calibration curve: Standard polystyrene STK standard polystyrene (manufactured by Tosoh Corporation) Mw = 100000 to 500 calibration curves with 13 samples were used. Thirteen samples are used at approximately equal intervals.

  Although there is no limitation in particular as a raw material of cellulose esters, such as a cellulose acetate phthalate, used for this invention, Cotton linter, wood pulp, kenaf etc. can be mentioned. Moreover, the cellulose ester obtained from them can be mixed and used in arbitrary ratios, respectively.

  The cellulose ester such as cellulose acetate phthalate of the present invention can be produced by a known method. Specifically, it can be synthesized with reference to the method described in JP-A-10-45804.

  Cellulose esters are also affected by trace metal components in cellulose esters. These are considered to be related to water used in the production process, but it is preferable that there are few components that can become insoluble nuclei, and metal ions such as iron, calcium, and magnesium contain organic acidic groups. Insoluble matter may be formed by salt formation with a polymer degradation product or the like that may be present, and it is preferable that the amount is small.

  The iron (Fe) component is preferably 1 ppm or less. As for the calcium (Ca) component, it is easy to form a coordination compound, that is, a complex with an acidic component such as carboxylic acid or sulfonic acid, and many ligands. Starch, turbidity).

  The calcium (Ca) component is 60 ppm or less, preferably 0 to 30 ppm. The magnesium (Mg) component is preferably in the range of 0 to 70 ppm, particularly preferably 0 to 20 ppm, since too much will cause insoluble matter.

Metal components such as iron (Fe) content, calcium (Ca) content, magnesium (Mg) content, etc. are pre-processed by completely digesting cellulose ester with micro digest wet cracking equipment (sulfuric acid decomposition) and alkali melting. After being performed, it can be analyzed using ICP-AES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer).
<Ester compound in which at least one of pyranose structure or furanose structure is 1 or more and 12 or less and all or part of OH groups of the structure are esterified>
The cellulose ester film of the present invention is characterized by comprising an ester compound having at least one pyranose structure or at least one furanose structure and having all or part of OH groups in the structure esterified. In the present invention, ester compounds are collectively referred to as sugar ester compounds.

  Examples of the ester compound of the present invention include the following, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

  Glucose, galactose, mannose, fructose, xylose or arabinose, lactose, sucrose, nystose, 1F-fructosyl nystose, stachyose, maltitol, lactitol, lactulose, cellobiose, maltose, cellotriose, maltotriose, raffinose or kestose .

  In addition, gentiobiose, gentiotriose, gentiotetraose, xylotriose, galactosyl sucrose, and the like are also included.

  Among these compounds, compounds having both a pyranose structure and a furanose structure are particularly preferable.

  Examples include sucrose, kestose, nystose, 1F-fructosyl nystose, stachyose, and more preferably sucrose.

  The monocarboxylic acid used for esterifying all or part of the OH groups in the pyranose structure or furanose structure of the present invention is not particularly limited, and known aliphatic monocarboxylic acids, alicyclic monocarboxylic acids, An aromatic monocarboxylic acid or the like can be used.

  The carboxylic acid used may be one type or a mixture of two or more types.

  Preferred aliphatic monocarboxylic acids include acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, enanthic acid, caprylic acid, pelargonic acid, capric acid, 2-ethyl-hexanecarboxylic acid, undecylic acid, lauric acid , Saturated fatty acids such as tridecylic acid, myristic acid, pentadecylic acid, palmitic acid, heptadecylic acid, stearic acid, nonadecanoic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, lignoceric acid, serotic acid, heptacosanoic acid, montanic acid, melicic acid, and laccelic acid, Examples include unsaturated fatty acids such as undecylenic acid, oleic acid, sorbic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, arachidonic acid and octenoic acid.

  Examples of preferable alicyclic monocarboxylic acids include acetic acid, cyclopentanecarboxylic acid, cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, cyclooctanecarboxylic acid, and derivatives thereof.

  Examples of preferred aromatic monocarboxylic acids include aromatic monocarboxylic acids having an alkyl group or alkoxy group introduced into the benzene ring of benzoic acid such as benzoic acid and toluic acid, cinnamic acid, benzylic acid, biphenylcarboxylic acid, and naphthalene. Examples thereof include aromatic monocarboxylic acids having two or more benzene rings such as carboxylic acid and tetralin carboxylic acid, or derivatives thereof. More specifically, xylyl acid, hemelic acid, mesitylene acid, prenylic acid, γ-isoduric acid, jurylic acid, mesitic acid, α-isoduric acid, cumic acid, α-toluic acid, hydroatropic acid, atropic acid, hydrocinnamic acid, salicylic acid, o-anisic acid, m-anisic acid, p-anisic acid , Creosote acid, o-homosalicylic acid, m-homosalicylic acid, p-homosalicylic acid, o-pyroca Succinic acid, β-resorcylic acid, vanillic acid, isovanillic acid, veratromic acid, o-veratrumic acid, gallic acid, asaronic acid, mandelic acid, homoanisic acid, homovanillic acid, homoveratrumic acid, o-homoveratrumic acid, phthalonic acid, p- Although coumaric acid can be mentioned, benzoic acid is particularly preferable.

  The oligosaccharide ester compound can be applied as a compound having 1 to 12 at least one of the pyranose structure or furanose structure according to the present invention.

  Oligosaccharides are produced by allowing an enzyme such as amylase to act on starch, sucrose, etc. Examples of oligosaccharides that can be applied to the present invention include maltooligosaccharides, isomaltoligosaccharides, fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides, and xylooligos. Sugar.

Moreover, the said ester compound is a compound which condensed 1 or more and 12 or less of at least 1 sort (s) of the pyranose structure or furanose structure represented with the following general formula (A). However, R < ₁₁ > -R < ₁₅ >, R < ₂₁ > -R < ₂₅ > represents a C2-C22 acyl group or a hydrogen atom, m and n represent the integer of 0-12 respectively, and m + n represents the integer of 1-12.

R _{11 to} R ₁₅ and R _{21 to} R ₂₅ are particularly preferably a benzoyl group or a hydrogen atom. The benzoyl group may further have a substituent R ₂₆ (p is 0 to 5), and examples thereof include an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkoxyl group, and a phenyl group, and further, these alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, and phenyl groups. May have a substituent. Oligosaccharides can also be produced by the same method as the ester compound of the present invention.

  Next, an example of a production example of an ester compound will be described.

  Acetic anhydride (200 ml) was added dropwise to a solution obtained by adding pyridine (100 ml) to glucose (29.8 g, 166 mmol), and allowed to react for 24 hours. Thereafter, the solution was concentrated by evaporation and poured into ice water.

  After standing for 1 hour, the mixture was filtered through a glass filter to separate the solid and water. The solid on the glass filter was dissolved in chloroform and separated with cold water until it became neutral.

  The organic layer was separated and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. After removing anhydrous sodium sulfate by filtration, chloroform was removed by evaporation and further dried under reduced pressure to obtain glycolose pentaacetate (58.8 g, 150 mmol, 90.9%). In addition, the above-mentioned monocarboxylic acid can be used instead of the acetic anhydride.

  Although the specific example of the ester compound which concerns on this invention is given to the following, this invention is not limited to this.

The cellulose ester film of the present invention preferably contains the ester compound of the present invention in an amount of 1 to 30% by mass of the cellulose ester film in order to suppress the fluctuation of the retardation value and stabilize the display quality. 5 to 30% by mass is preferable. Within this range, it is preferable that the excellent effects of the present invention are exhibited and there is no bleeding out.
<Acrylic polymer>
In the present invention, the wavelength dispersibility can be further improved by adding the acrylic polymer to the cellulose ester film. Here, the acrylic polymer includes a methacrylic polymer.

  As an acrylic polymer used in the present invention, when it is contained in a cellulose ester film, it preferably exhibits negative birefringence as a function of the stretching direction, and the structure is not particularly limited. A polymer having a weight average molecular weight of 500 to 30,000 obtained by polymerizing an ethylenically unsaturated monomer is preferred.

(Test method for birefringence of acrylic polymer)
The acrylic polymer was dissolved in a solvent to form a cast film, and then dried by heating. The film having a transmittance of 80% or more was evaluated for birefringence.

  Refractive index measurement was performed using an Abbe refractometer-4T (manufactured by Atago Co., Ltd.) using a multiwavelength light source. The refractive index ny in the stretching direction and the refractive index in the in-plane direction perpendicular to each other were defined as nx. For films with (ny−nx) <0 for each refractive index at 550 nm, the acrylic polymer is judged to be negatively birefringent with respect to the stretch direction.

  The acrylic polymer having a weight average molecular weight of 500 or more and 30000 or less used in the present invention may be an acrylic polymer having an aromatic ring in the side chain or an acrylic polymer having a cyclohexyl group in the side chain.

  When the weight average molecular weight of the polymer is 500 or more and 30000 or less and the composition of the polymer is controlled, for example, when the cellulose ester film is a particularly preferable cellulose ester film in the present invention, the cellulose ester and the polymer The compatibility with can be improved.

  As for the acrylic polymer having an aromatic ring in the side chain or the acrylic polymer having a cyclohexyl group in the side chain, if the weight average molecular weight is 500 or more and 10,000 or less, in addition to the above, cellulose after film formation The transparency of the ester film is excellent, the moisture permeability is extremely low, and it exhibits excellent performance as a protective film for polarizing plates.

  Since the polymer has a weight average molecular weight of 500 or more and 30000 or less, it is considered to be between the oligomer and the low molecular weight polymer. In order to synthesize such a polymer, it is difficult to control the molecular weight in normal polymerization, and it is desirable to use a method that can align the molecular weight as much as possible by a method that does not increase the molecular weight too much.

[Polymer X, Polymer Y]
The method for adjusting Ro and Rt of the cellulose ester film according to the present invention includes ethylenically unsaturated monomer Xa having no aromatic ring and hydroxyl group in the molecule, and ethylene having a hydroxyl group and no aromatic ring in the molecule. A high molecular weight polymer X having a weight average molecular weight of 2,000 to 30,000 obtained by copolymerization of a polymerizable unsaturated monomer Xb and a copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer excluding Xa and Xb, or an aromatic ring It is preferable to contain at least one low molecular weight polymer Y having a weight average molecular weight of 500 or more and 3000 or less obtained by polymerizing a non-ethylenically unsaturated monomer Ya and an ethylenically unsaturated monomer copolymerizable with Ya. .

  The polymer X used in the present invention includes an ethylenically unsaturated monomer Xa having no aromatic ring and a hydroxyl group in the molecule and an ethylenically unsaturated monomer Xb having no hydroxyl ring in the molecule and having a hydroxyl group, Xa and Xb. Is a polymer having a weight average molecular weight of 2000 or more and 30000 or less obtained by copolymerization with a copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer other than.

  Preferably, Xa is an acrylic or methacrylic monomer having no aromatic ring and hydroxyl group in the molecule, and Xb is an acrylic or methacrylic monomer having no aromatic ring and having a hydroxyl group in the molecule.

  The polymer X used in the present invention is represented by the following general formula (X).

Formula (X)
-[Xa] m- [Xb] n- [Xc] p-
In the general formula (X), Xa represents an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having no aromatic ring and hydroxyl group in the molecule, and Xb represents an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having no aromatic ring and having a hydroxyl group in the molecule. Xc represents a copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer excluding Xa and Xb. m, n, and p each represent a molar composition ratio. However, m ≠ 0, n ≠ 0, and m + n + p = 100.

  Furthermore, the polymer X is preferably a polymer represented by the following general formula (X-1).

Formula (X-1)
_{- [CH 2 -C (-R1)} (- CO 2 R2)] m- [CH 2 -C (-R3) (- CO 2 R4-OH) -] n- [Xc] p-
In the general formula (X-1), R1 and R3 each represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. R2 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or a cycloalkyl group. R4 is _{-CH 2 -, - C 2 H} 4 - or -C ₃ H ₆ - represents a. Xc _{is, [CH 2 -C (-R1)} (- CO 2 R2)] representing the a polymerizable monomer unit or _{[CH 2 -C (-R3) (} - - CO 2 R4-OH)]. m, n, and p represent a molar composition ratio. However, m ≠ 0, n ≠ 0, and m + n + p = 100.

  Although the monomer as a monomer unit which comprises the polymer X which concerns on this invention is mentioned below, it is not limited to this.

  In X, the hydroxyl group means not only a hydroxyl group but also a group having an ethylene oxide chain.

  Examples of the ethylenically unsaturated monomer Xa having no aromatic ring and hydroxyl group in the molecule include methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, propyl acrylate (i-, n-), and butyl acrylate (n-, i-, s). -, T-), pentyl acrylate (n-, i-, s-), hexyl acrylate (n-, i-), heptyl acrylate (n-, i-), octyl acrylate (n-, i -), Nonyl acrylate (n-, i-), myristyl acrylate (n-, i-), acrylic acid (2-ethylhexyl), acrylic acid (ε-caprolactone), etc. The thing changed into acid ester can be mentioned.

  Among these, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, and propyl methacrylate (i-, n-) are preferable.

  The ethylenically unsaturated monomer Xb having no hydroxyl ring in the molecule and having a hydroxyl group is preferably acrylic acid or methacrylic acid ester as a monomer unit having a hydroxyl group, such as acrylic acid (2-hydroxyethyl), acrylic acid. (2-hydroxypropyl), acrylic acid (3-hydroxypropyl), acrylic acid (4-hydroxybutyl), acrylic acid (2-hydroxybutyl), or those obtained by replacing these acrylic acids with methacrylic acid. Preferred are acrylic acid (2-hydroxyethyl) and methacrylic acid (2-hydroxyethyl), acrylic acid (2-hydroxypropyl), and acrylic acid (3-hydroxypropyl).

  Xc is not particularly limited as long as it is a monomer other than Xa and Xb and is a copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer, but preferably has no aromatic ring.

  The molar composition ratio m: n of Xa and Xb is preferably in the range of 99: 1 to 65:35, more preferably in the range of 95: 5 to 75:25. P of Xc is 0-10. Xc may be a plurality of monomer units.

  When the molar composition ratio of Xa is large, the compatibility with the cellulose ester is improved, but the retardation value Rt in the film thickness direction is increased. When the molar composition ratio of Xb is large, the compatibility is deteriorated, but the effect of reducing Rt is high.

  Further, if the molar composition ratio of Xb exceeds the above range, haze tends to occur during film formation, and it is preferable to optimize these and determine the molar composition ratio of Xa and Xb.

  The molecular weight of the high molecular weight polymer X is more preferably 5,000 or more and 30,000 or less, and still more preferably 8,000 or more and 25,000 or less.

  By setting the weight average molecular weight to 5,000 or more, advantages such as little dimensional change of the cellulose ester film under high temperature and high humidity and less curling as a polarizing plate protective film are preferable.

  When the weight average molecular weight is 30000 or less, compatibility with the cellulose ester is further improved, and bleeding out under high temperature and high humidity and further haze generation immediately after film formation are suppressed.

  The weight average molecular weight of the polymer X according to the present invention can be adjusted by a known molecular weight adjusting method. Examples of such a molecular weight adjusting method include a method of adding a chain transfer agent such as carbon tetrachloride, lauryl mercaptan, octyl thioglycolate, and the like.

  The polymerization temperature is usually from room temperature to 130 ° C., preferably from 50 ° C. to 100 ° C., and this temperature or the polymerization reaction time can be adjusted.

  The measuring method of a weight average molecular weight can be calculated | required by the following method.

(Average molecular weight measurement method)
The weight average molecular weight Mw and the number average molecular weight Mn were measured using gel permeation chromatography (GPC).

  The measurement conditions are as follows.

Solvent: Methylene chloride Column: Shodex K806, K805, K803G (Used by connecting three Showa Denko Co., Ltd.)
Column temperature: 25 ° C
Sample concentration: 0.1% by mass
Detector: RI Model 504 (manufactured by GL Sciences)
Pump: L6000 (manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.)
Flow rate: 1.0ml / min
Calibration curve: Standard polystyrene STK standard polystyrene (manufactured by Tosoh Corporation) Mw = 100000 to 500 calibration curves with 13 samples were used. Thirteen samples are used at approximately equal intervals.

  The low molecular weight polymer Y used in the present invention is a polymer having a weight average molecular weight of 500 or more and 3000 or less obtained by polymerizing an ethylenically unsaturated monomer Ya having no aromatic ring. A weight average molecular weight of 500 or more is preferred because the residual monomer in the polymer is reduced.

  Moreover, it is preferable to set it as 3000 or less in order to maintain retardation value Rt fall performance. Ya is preferably an acrylic or methacrylic monomer having no aromatic ring.

  The polymer Y used in the present invention is represented by the following general formula (Y).

General formula (Y)
-[Ya] k- [Yb] q-
In the general formula (Y), Ya represents an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having no aromatic ring, and Yb represents an ethylenically unsaturated monomer copolymerizable with Ya. k and q each represent a molar composition ratio. However, k ≠ 0 and k + q = 100.

  The polymer Y according to the present invention is more preferably a polymer represented by the following general formula (Y-1).

General formula (Y-1)
_{- [CH 2 -C (-R5)} (- CO 2 R6)] k- [Yb] q-
In the general formula (Y-1), R5 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, respectively. R6 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or a cycloalkyl group. Yb represents a monomer unit copolymerizable with [CH ₂ —C (—R 5) (— CO ₂ R 6)]. k and q each represent a molar composition ratio. However, k ≠ 0 and k + q = 100.

  Yb is not particularly limited as long as it is an ethylenically unsaturated monomer copolymerizable with Ya. Yb may be plural. k + q = 100, q is preferably 0-30.

  The ethylenically unsaturated monomer Ya constituting the polymer Y obtained by polymerizing the ethylenically unsaturated monomer having no aromatic ring is, for example, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, propyl acrylate ( i-, n-), butyl acrylate (n-, i-, s-, t-), pentyl acrylate (n-, i-, s-), hexyl acrylate (n-, i-), acrylic Acid heptyl (n-, i-), octyl acrylate (n-, i-), nonyl acrylate (n-, i-), myristyl acrylate (n-, i-), cyclohexyl acrylate, acrylic acid ( 2-ethylhexyl), acrylic acid (ε-caprolactone), acrylic acid (2-hydroxyethyl), acrylic acid (2-hydroxypropyl), acrylic acid (3-hydroxypropiyl) ), Acrylic acid (4-hydroxybutyl), acrylic acid (2-hydroxybutyl), methacrylic acid ester, the above acrylic acid ester changed to methacrylic acid ester; unsaturated acid, for example, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid And maleic anhydride, crotonic acid, itaconic acid and the like.

  Yb is not particularly limited as long as it is an ethylenically unsaturated monomer copolymerizable with Ya. Examples of vinyl esters include vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl butyrate, vinyl valerate, vinyl pivalate, and vinyl caproate. Vinyl caprate, vinyl laurate, vinyl myristate, vinyl palmitate, vinyl stearate, vinyl cyclohexanecarboxylate, vinyl octylate, vinyl methacrylate, vinyl crotonate, vinyl sorbate, vinyl cinnamate and the like are preferred. Yb may be plural.

  In order to synthesize the polymers X and Y, it is difficult to control the molecular weight in normal polymerization, and it is desirable to use a method that can make the molecular weights as uniform as possible without increasing the molecular weight.

  Such polymerization methods include a method using a peroxide polymerization initiator such as cumene peroxide and t-butyl hydroperoxide, a method using a polymerization initiator in a larger amount than normal polymerization, and a mercapto compound in addition to the polymerization initiator. And a method of using a chain transfer agent such as carbon tetrachloride, a method of using a polymerization terminator such as benzoquinone and dinitrobenzene in addition to the polymerization initiator, and further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-128911 or 2000-344823. Examples thereof include a compound having one thiol group and a secondary hydroxyl group, or a bulk polymerization method using a polymerization catalyst in which the compound and an organometallic compound are used in combination. Used.

  In particular, the polymer Y is preferably a polymerization method using a compound having a thiol group and a secondary hydroxyl group in the molecule as a chain transfer agent. In this case, the terminal of the polymer Y has a hydroxyl group and a thioether resulting from the polymerization catalyst and the chain transfer agent. The compatibility of Y and cellulose ester can be adjusted by this terminal residue.

  The hydroxyl values of the polymers X and Y are preferably 30 to 150 [mg KOH / g].

  The hydroxyl value is measured in accordance with JIS K 0070 (1992). This hydroxyl value is defined as the number of mg of potassium hydroxide required to neutralize acetic acid bonded to a hydroxyl group when 1 g of a sample is acetylated.

  Specifically, sample Xg (about 1 g) is precisely weighed in a flask, and 20 ml of an acetylating reagent (a solution obtained by adding pyridine to 20 ml of acetic anhydride to 400 ml) is accurately added thereto. An air cooling tube is attached to the mouth of the flask and heated in a glycerin bath at 95-100 ° C.

  After 1 hour and 30 minutes, the mixture is cooled, 1 ml of purified water is added from an air condenser, and acetic anhydride is decomposed into acetic acid.

  Next, titration is performed with a 0.5 mol / L potassium hydroxide ethanol solution using a potentiometric titrator, and the inflection point of the obtained titration curve is set as the end point.

  Further, as a blank test, titration is performed without a sample, and an inflection point of the titration curve is obtained. The hydroxyl value is calculated by the following formula.

Hydroxyl value = {(BC) × f × 28.05 / X} + D
In the formula, B is the amount (ml) of 0.5 mol / L potassium hydroxide ethanol solution used for the blank test, C is the amount (ml) of 0.5 mol / L potassium hydroxide ethanol solution used for titration, f is a factor of a 0.5 mol / L potassium hydroxide ethanol solution, D is an acid value, and 28.05 is 1/2 of 1 mol amount 56.11 of potassium hydroxide.

  The above-mentioned polymer X and polymer Y are both excellent in compatibility with cellulose ester, excellent in productivity without evaporation and volatilization, good retention as a protective film for polarizing plates, low moisture permeability, and dimension stability. Excellent in properties.

The content of the polymer X and the polymer Y in the cellulose ester film is preferably in a range satisfying the following formulas (i) and (ii). When the content of the polymer X is Xg (mass% = (mass of polymer X / mass of cellulose ester) × 100) and the content of the polymer Y is Yg (mass%),
Formula (i) 5 ≦ Xg + Yg ≦ 35 (mass%)
Formula (ii) 0.05 ≦ Yg / (Xg + Yg) ≦ 0.4
A preferable range of (Xg + Yg) in the formula (i) is 10 to 35% by mass. If the polymer X and the polymer Y are 5 mass% or more as a total amount with respect to the total mass of the cellulose ester, the polymer X and the polymer Y have a sufficient effect for adjusting the retardation value Rt. Moreover, if it is 35 mass% or less as a total amount, adhesiveness with polarizer PVA is favorable.

The polymer X and the polymer Y can be directly added and dissolved as a material constituting the dope solution described later, or can be added to the dope solution after being previously dissolved in an organic solvent for dissolving the cellulose ester.
<Other additives>
The cellulose ester film of the present invention can appropriately contain additives as necessary.

(Plasticizer)
The cellulose ester film of the present invention can contain a plasticizer as necessary to obtain the effects of the present invention.

  The plasticizer is not particularly limited, but is preferably a polycarboxylic acid ester plasticizer, a glycolate plasticizer, a phthalate ester plasticizer, a fatty acid ester plasticizer, a polyhydric alcohol ester plasticizer, or a polyester plasticizer. Agent, acrylic plasticizer and the like.

  Of these, when two or more plasticizers are used, at least one is preferably a polyhydric alcohol ester plasticizer.

  The polyhydric alcohol ester plasticizer is a plasticizer composed of an ester of a divalent or higher aliphatic polyhydric alcohol and a monocarboxylic acid, and preferably has an aromatic ring or a cycloalkyl ring in the molecule. Preferably it is a 2-20 valent aliphatic polyhydric alcohol ester.

  The polyhydric alcohol preferably used in the present invention is represented by the following general formula (a).

Formula (a) R1- (OH) n
However, R1 represents an n-valent organic group, n represents a positive integer of 2 or more, and the OH group represents an alcoholic and / or phenolic hydroxyl group.

  Examples of preferred polyhydric alcohols include the following, but the present invention is not limited to these.

  Adonitol, arabitol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, dipropylene glycol, tripropylene glycol, 1,2-butanediol, 1,3- Butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, dibutylene glycol, 1,2,4-butanetriol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, hexanetriol, galactitol, mannitol, 3-methylpentane- Examples include 1,3,5-triol, pinacol, sorbitol, trimethylolpropane, trimethylolethane, xylitol and the like.

  In particular, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, tripropylene glycol, sorbitol, trimethylolpropane, and xylitol are preferable.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as monocarboxylic acid used for polyhydric alcohol ester, Well-known aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, alicyclic monocarboxylic acid, aromatic monocarboxylic acid, etc. can be used. Use of an alicyclic monocarboxylic acid or aromatic monocarboxylic acid is preferred in terms of improving moisture permeability and retention.

  Examples of preferred monocarboxylic acids include the following, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

  As the aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, a fatty acid having a straight chain or a side chain having 1 to 32 carbon atoms can be preferably used. The number of carbon atoms is more preferably 1-20, and particularly preferably 1-10. When acetic acid is contained, the compatibility with the cellulose ester is increased, and it is also preferable to use a mixture of acetic acid and another monocarboxylic acid.

  Preferred aliphatic monocarboxylic acids include acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, enanthic acid, caprylic acid, pelargonic acid, capric acid, 2-ethyl-hexanoic acid, undecylic acid, lauric acid, tridecylic acid, Saturated fatty acids such as myristic acid, pentadecylic acid, palmitic acid, heptadecylic acid, stearic acid, nonadecanoic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, lignoceric acid, serotic acid, heptacosanoic acid, montanic acid, melicic acid, laccelic acid, undecylenic acid, olein Examples thereof include unsaturated fatty acids such as acid, sorbic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and arachidonic acid.

  Examples of preferred alicyclic monocarboxylic acids include cyclopentane carboxylic acid, cyclohexane carboxylic acid, cyclooctane carboxylic acid, or derivatives thereof.

  Examples of preferred aromatic monocarboxylic acids include those in which 1 to 3 alkoxy groups such as alkyl group, methoxy group or ethoxy group are introduced into the benzene ring of benzoic acid such as benzoic acid and toluic acid, biphenylcarboxylic acid, Examples thereof include aromatic monocarboxylic acids having two or more benzene rings such as naphthalenecarboxylic acid and tetralincarboxylic acid, or derivatives thereof. Benzoic acid is particularly preferable.

  The molecular weight of the polyhydric alcohol ester is not particularly limited, but is preferably 300 to 1500, and more preferably 350 to 750. A higher molecular weight is preferred because it is less likely to volatilize, and a smaller one is preferred in terms of moisture permeability and compatibility with cellulose ester.

  The carboxylic acid used for the polyhydric alcohol ester may be one kind or a mixture of two or more kinds. Moreover, all the OH groups in the polyhydric alcohol may be esterified, or a part of the OH groups may be left as they are.

  Below, the specific compound of a polyhydric alcohol ester is illustrated.

  The glycolate plasticizer is not particularly limited, but alkylphthalylalkyl glycolates can be preferably used.

  Examples of alkyl phthalyl alkyl glycolates include methyl phthalyl methyl glycolate, ethyl phthalyl ethyl glycolate, propyl phthalyl propyl glycolate, butyl phthalyl butyl glycolate, octyl phthalyl octyl glycolate, methyl phthalyl ethyl Glycolate, ethyl phthalyl methyl glycolate, ethyl phthalyl propyl glycolate, methyl phthalyl butyl glycolate, ethyl phthalyl butyl glycolate, butyl phthalyl methyl glycolate, butyl phthalyl ethyl glycolate, propyl phthalyl butyl glycol Butyl phthalyl propyl glycolate, methyl phthalyl octyl glycolate, ethyl phthalyl octyl glycolate, octyl phthalyl methyl glycolate, octyl phthalate Ethyl glycolate, and the like.

  Examples of the phthalate ester plasticizer include diethyl phthalate, dimethoxyethyl phthalate, dimethyl phthalate, dioctyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, dioctyl phthalate, dicyclohexyl phthalate, and dicyclohexyl terephthalate.

  Examples of the citrate plasticizer include acetyl trimethyl citrate, acetyl triethyl citrate, and acetyl tributyl citrate.

  Examples of fatty acid ester plasticizers include butyl oleate, methylacetyl ricinoleate, and dibutyl sebacate.

  Examples of the phosphate ester plasticizer include triphenyl phosphate, tricresyl phosphate, cresyl diphenyl phosphate, octyl diphenyl phosphate, diphenyl biphenyl phosphate, trioctyl phosphate, tributyl phosphate and the like.

  The polyvalent carboxylic acid ester compound is composed of an ester of divalent or higher, preferably divalent to 20 valent polyvalent carboxylic acid and alcohol. The aliphatic polyvalent carboxylic acid is preferably 2 to 20 valent, and in the case of an aromatic polyvalent carboxylic acid or an alicyclic polyvalent carboxylic acid, it is preferably 3 to 20 valent.

  The polyvalent carboxylic acid is represented by the following general formula (b).

Formula _{(b) R 2 (COOH)} m (OH) n
(Where R ₂ is an (m + n) -valent organic group, m is a positive integer of 2 or more, n is an integer of 0 or more, a COOH group is a carboxyl group, and an OH group is an alcoholic or phenolic hydroxyl group)
Examples of preferred polyvalent carboxylic acids include the following, but the present invention is not limited to these.

  Trivalent or higher aromatic polyvalent carboxylic acids such as trimellitic acid, trimesic acid, pyromellitic acid or derivatives thereof, succinic acid, adipic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, oxalic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, tetrahydrophthal An aliphatic polyvalent carboxylic acid such as an acid, an oxypolyvalent carboxylic acid such as tartaric acid, tartronic acid, malic acid and citric acid can be preferably used. In particular, it is preferable to use an oxypolycarboxylic acid from the viewpoint of improving retention.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as alcohol used for the polyhydric carboxylic acid ester compound which can be used for this invention, Well-known alcohol and phenols can be used.

  For example, an aliphatic saturated alcohol or aliphatic unsaturated alcohol having a straight chain or a side chain having 1 to 32 carbon atoms can be preferably used. It is more preferable that it is C1-C20, and it is especially preferable that it is C1-C10.

  In addition, alicyclic alcohols such as cyclopentanol and cyclohexanol or derivatives thereof, aromatic alcohols such as benzyl alcohol and cinnamyl alcohol, or derivatives thereof can also be preferably used.

  When an oxypolycarboxylic acid is used as the polycarboxylic acid, the alcoholic or phenolic hydroxyl group of the oxypolycarboxylic acid may be esterified with a monocarboxylic acid. Examples of preferred monocarboxylic acids include the following, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

  As the aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, a fatty acid having a straight chain or a side chain having 1 to 32 carbon atoms can be preferably used. It is more preferable that it is C1-C20, and it is especially preferable that it is C1-C10.

  Preferred aliphatic monocarboxylic acids include acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, enanthic acid, caprylic acid, pelargonic acid, capric acid, 2-ethyl-hexanecarboxylic acid, undecylic acid, lauric acid, tridecylic acid, Saturated fatty acids such as myristic acid, pentadecylic acid, palmitic acid, heptadecylic acid, stearic acid, nonadecanoic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, lignoceric acid, serotic acid, heptacosanoic acid, montanic acid, melicic acid, and laccelic acid, undecylenic acid, olein Examples thereof include unsaturated fatty acids such as acid, sorbic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and arachidonic acid.

  Examples of preferred alicyclic monocarboxylic acids include cyclopentane carboxylic acid, cyclohexane carboxylic acid, cyclooctane carboxylic acid, or derivatives thereof.

  Examples of preferred aromatic monocarboxylic acids include those in which an alkyl group is introduced into the benzene ring of benzoic acid such as benzoic acid and toluic acid, and two or more benzene rings such as biphenyl carboxylic acid, naphthalene carboxylic acid, and tetralin carboxylic acid. And aromatic monocarboxylic acids possessed by them, or derivatives thereof. Particularly preferred are acetic acid, propionic acid, and benzoic acid.

  The molecular weight of the polyvalent carboxylic acid ester compound is not particularly limited, but is preferably in the range of 300 to 1000, and more preferably in the range of 350 to 750. The larger one is preferable in terms of improving the retention, and the smaller one is preferable in terms of moisture permeability and compatibility with the cellulose ester.

  The alcohol used for the polyvalent carboxylic acid ester that can be used in the present invention may be one kind or a mixture of two or more kinds.

  The acid value of the polyvalent carboxylic acid ester compound that can be used in the present invention is preferably 1 mgKOH / g or less, and more preferably 0.2 mgKOH / g or less. Setting the acid value in the above range is preferable because the environmental fluctuation of retardation is also suppressed.

  In addition, an acid value means the milligram number of potassium hydroxide required in order to neutralize the acid (carboxyl group which exists in a sample) contained in 1g of samples. The acid value is measured according to JIS K0070.

  Examples of particularly preferred polyvalent carboxylic acid ester compounds are shown below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

  For example, triethyl citrate, tributyl citrate, acetyl triethyl citrate (ATEC), acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC), benzoyl tributyl citrate, acetyl triphenyl citrate, acetyl tribenzyl citrate, dibutyl tartrate, diacetyl dibutyl tartrate, Examples include tributyl trimellitic acid and tetrabutyl pyromellitic acid.

  The polyester plasticizer is not particularly limited, and a polyester plasticizer having an aromatic ring or a cycloalkyl ring in the molecule can be used. Although it does not specifically limit as a polyester plasticizer, For example, the aromatic terminal ester plasticizer represented by the following general formula (c) can be used.

General formula (c) B- (GA) n-GB
(In the formula, B is a benzene monocarboxylic acid residue, G is an alkylene glycol residue having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, an aryl glycol residue having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, or an oxyalkylene glycol residue having 4 to 12 carbon atoms, A represents an alkylene dicarboxylic acid residue having 4 to 12 carbon atoms or an aryl dicarboxylic acid residue having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and n represents an integer of 1 or more.)
In the general formula (c), a benzene monocarboxylic acid residue represented by B and an alkylene glycol residue, oxyalkylene glycol residue or aryl glycol residue represented by G, an alkylene dicarboxylic acid residue or aryl dicarboxylic group represented by A It is composed of an acid residue and can be obtained by a reaction similar to that of a normal polyester plasticizer.

  Examples of the benzene monocarboxylic acid component of the polyester plasticizer used in the present invention include benzoic acid, para-tert-butylbenzoic acid, orthotoluic acid, metatoluic acid, p-toluic acid, dimethylbenzoic acid, ethylbenzoic acid, and normalpropyl. There exist benzoic acid, aminobenzoic acid, acetoxybenzoic acid, etc., and these can be used as 1 type, or 2 or more types of mixtures, respectively.

  Examples of the alkylene glycol component having 2 to 12 carbon atoms of the polyester plasticizer that can be used in the present invention include ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,2-butanediol, 1, 3-butanediol, 1,2-propanediol, 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol (neo Pentyl glycol), 2,2-diethyl-1,3-propanediol (3,3-dimethylolpentane), 2-n-butyl-2-ethyl-1,3propanediol (3,3-dimethylolheptane) 3-methyl-1,5-pentanediol 1,6-hexanediol, 2,2,4-trimethyl 1,3-penta Diol, 2-ethyl 1,3-hexanediol, 2-methyl 1,8-octanediol, 1,9-nonanediol, 1,10-decanediol, 1,12-octadecanediol, and the like. It is used as one kind or a mixture of two or more kinds.

  In particular, an alkylene glycol having 2 to 12 carbon atoms is particularly preferable because of excellent compatibility with a cellulose ester.

  In addition, examples of the oxyalkylene glycol component having 4 to 12 carbon atoms of the aromatic terminal ester include diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, and tripropylene glycol. It can be used as a seed or a mixture of two or more.

  Examples of the alkylene dicarboxylic acid component having 4 to 12 carbon atoms of the aromatic terminal ester include succinic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, and dodecanedicarboxylic acid. These are used as one kind or a mixture of two or more kinds. Examples of the arylene dicarboxylic acid component having 6 to 12 carbon atoms include phthalic acid, terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, 1,5 naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, and 1,4 naphthalene dicarboxylic acid.

  The polyester plasticizer used in the present invention has a number average molecular weight of preferably 300 to 1500, more preferably 400 to 1000. The acid value is 0.5 mgKOH / g or less, the hydroxyl value is 25 mgKOH / g or less, more preferably the acid value is 0.3 mgKOH / g or less, and the hydroxyl value is 15 mgKOH / g or less.

  Hereinafter, synthesis examples of aromatic terminal ester plasticizers that can be used in the present invention will be shown.

<Sample No. 1 (Aromatic terminal ester sample)>
A reaction vessel was charged with 410 parts of phthalic acid, 610 parts of benzoic acid, 737 parts of dipropylene glycol, and 0.40 part of tetraisopropyl titanate as a catalyst. While refluxing the monohydric alcohol, heating was continued at 130 to 250 ° C. until the acid value became 2 or less, and water produced was continuously removed. Next, the distillate is removed under reduced pressure at 200 to 230 ° C. under a reduced pressure of 1.33 × 10 ⁴ Pa to 4 × 10 ² Pa or less, and then filtered to filter the aromatic terminal ester plastic having the following properties: An agent was obtained.

Viscosity (25 ° C., mPa · s); 43400
Acid value: 0.2
<Sample No. 2 (Aromatic terminal ester sample)>
Sample No. 1 was used except that 410 parts of phthalic acid, 610 parts of benzoic acid, 341 parts of ethylene glycol, and 0.35 part of tetraisopropyl titanate as a catalyst were used in the reaction vessel. In the same manner as in No. 1, an aromatic terminal ester having the following properties was obtained.

Viscosity (25 ° C., mPa · s); 31000
Acid value: 0.1
<Sample No. 3 (Aromatic terminal ester sample)>
Sample No. 1 was used except that 410 parts of phthalic acid, 610 parts of benzoic acid, 418 parts of 1,2-propanediol, and 0.35 part of tetraisopropyl titanate as the catalyst were used in the reaction vessel. In the same manner as in No. 1, an aromatic terminal ester having the following properties was obtained.

Viscosity (25 ° C., mPa · s); 38000
Acid value: 0.05
<Sample No. 4 (Aromatic terminal ester sample)>
Sample No. 4 was used except that 410 parts of phthalic acid, 610 parts of benzoic acid, 418 parts of 1,3-propanediol, and 0.35 part of tetraisopropyl titanate as a catalyst were used in the reaction vessel. In the same manner as in No. 1, an aromatic terminal ester having the following properties was obtained.

Viscosity (25 ° C., mPa · s); 37000
Acid value: 0.05
Although the specific compound of the aromatic terminal ester plasticizer which can be used for this invention below is shown, this invention is not limited to this.

(UV absorber)
The cellulose ester film according to the present invention can also contain an ultraviolet absorber. The ultraviolet absorber is intended to improve durability by absorbing ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 400 nm or less, and the transmittance at a wavelength of 370 nm is particularly preferably 10% or less, more preferably 5% or less. Preferably it is 2% or less.

  Although the ultraviolet absorber used in the present invention is not particularly limited, for example, oxybenzophenone compounds, benzotriazole compounds, salicylic acid ester compounds, benzophenone compounds, cyanoacrylate compounds, triazine compounds, nickel complex compounds, inorganic powders Examples include the body.

  For example, 5-chloro-2- (3,5-di-sec-butyl-2-hydroxylphenyl) -2H-benzotriazole, (2-2H-benzotriazol-2-yl) -6- (linear and side Chain dodecyl) -4-methylphenol, 2-hydroxy-4-benzyloxybenzophenone, 2,4-benzyloxybenzophenone, etc., and tinuvin 109, tinuvin 171, tinuvin 234, tinuvin 326, tinuvin 327, tinuvin 328, etc. These are commercially available products manufactured by Ciba Specialty Chemicals and can be preferably used.

  The UV absorbers preferably used in the present invention are benzotriazole UV absorbers, benzophenone UV absorbers, and triazine UV absorbers, particularly preferably benzotriazole UV absorbers and benzophenone UV absorbers. .

  For example, as the benzotriazole ultraviolet absorber, a compound represented by the following general formula (d) can be used.

In the formula, R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ , R ₄ and R ₅ may be the same or different, and are a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, nitro group, hydroxyl group, alkyl group, alkenyl group, aryl group, alkoxyl group, acyloxy Represents a group, aryloxy group, alkylthio group, arylthio group, mono- or dialkylamino group, acylamino group or 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic group, and R ₄ and R ₅ are closed to form a 5- to 6-membered carbocyclic ring May be.

  Moreover, these groups described above may have an arbitrary substituent.

  Although the specific example of the benzotriazole type ultraviolet absorber used for this invention below is given, this invention is not limited to these.

UV-1: 2- (2'-hydroxy-5'-methylphenyl) benzotriazole UV-2: 2- (2'-hydroxy-3 ', 5'-di-tert-butylphenyl) benzotriazole UV-3 : 2- (2'-hydroxy-3'-tert-butyl-5'-methylphenyl) benzotriazole UV-4: 2- (2'-hydroxy-3 ', 5'-di-tert-butylphenyl)- 5-Chlorobenzotriazole UV-5: 2- (2'-hydroxy-3 '-(3 ", 4", 5 ", 6" -tetrahydrophthalimidomethyl) -5'-methylphenyl) benzotriazole UV-6: 2,2-methylenebis (4- (1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl) -6- (2H-benzotriazol-2-yl) phenol)
UV-7: 2- (2'-hydroxy-3'-tert-butyl-5'-methylphenyl) -5-chlorobenzotriazole UV-8: 2- (2H-benzotriazol-2-yl) -6 (Linear and side chain dodecyl) -4-methylphenol (TINUVIN171)
UV-9: Octyl-3- [3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-5- (chloro-2H-benzotriazol-2-yl) phenyl] propionate and 2-ethylhexyl-3- [3-tert-butyl- 4-Hydroxy-5- (5-chloro-2H-benzotriazol-2-yl) phenyl] propionate mixture (TINUVIN 109)
Further, as the benzophenone ultraviolet absorber, a compound represented by the following general formula (e) is preferably used.

  In the formula, Y represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkoxyl group, and a phenyl group, and these alkyl group, alkenyl group, and phenyl group may have a substituent. A represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, a phenyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkylcarbonyl group, an alkylsulfonyl group or a —CO (NH) n-1-D group, and D represents an alkyl group, an alkenyl group or a substituent. Represents a phenyl group which may have m and n represent 1 or 2.

  In the above, the alkyl group represents, for example, a linear or branched aliphatic group having up to 24 carbon atoms, the alkoxyl group represents, for example, an alkoxyl group having up to 18 carbon atoms, and the alkenyl group has, for example, carbon number An alkenyl group up to 16 represents an allyl group, a 2-butenyl group, or the like. In addition, as substituents to alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, and phenyl groups, halogen atoms such as chlorine atoms, bromine atoms, fluorine atoms, etc., hydroxyl groups, phenyl groups (this phenyl group is substituted with alkyl groups or halogen atoms, etc.) May be used).

  Specific examples of the benzophenone-based ultraviolet absorber represented by the general formula (e) are shown below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

UV-10: 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone UV-11: 2,2'-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone UV-12: 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-5-sulfobenzophenone UV-13: Bis (2-methoxy -4-hydroxy-5-benzoylphenylmethane)
In addition, a discotic compound such as a compound having a 1,3,5 triazine ring is also preferably used as the ultraviolet absorber.

  It is preferable that the polarizing plate protective film concerning this invention contains 2 or more types of ultraviolet absorbers.

  As the UV absorber, a polymer UV absorber can also be preferably used, and in particular, a polymer type UV absorber described in JP-A-6-148430 is preferably used.

  The method for adding the UV absorber is to add the UV absorber to the dope after dissolving the UV absorber in an alcohol such as methanol, ethanol or butanol, an organic solvent such as methylene chloride, methyl acetate, acetone or dioxolane, or a mixed solvent thereof. Or you may add directly in dope composition.

  For an inorganic powder that does not dissolve in an organic solvent, a dissolver or a sand mill is used in the organic solvent and cellulose ester to disperse and then added to the dope.

  The amount of the UV absorber used is not uniform depending on the type of UV absorber, the operating conditions, etc., but when the dry film thickness of the polarizing plate protective film is 30 to 200 μm, it is 0.5 with respect to the polarizing plate protective film. -10 mass% is preferable, and 0.6-4 mass% is still more preferable.

(Antioxidant)
Antioxidants are also referred to as deterioration inhibitors. When a liquid crystal image display device or the like is placed in a high humidity and high temperature state, the cellulose ester film may be deteriorated. The antioxidant has a role of delaying or preventing the cellulose ester film from being decomposed by, for example, a residual solvent amount of halogen in the cellulose ester film or phosphoric acid of a phosphoric acid plasticizer. It is preferable to make it contain in a film.

  As such an antioxidant, a hindered phenol compound is preferably used. For example, 2,6-di-t-butyl-p-cresol, pentaerythrityl-tetrakis [3- (3,5-di- -T-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate], triethylene glycol-bis [3- (3-t-butyl-5-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate], 1,6-hexanediol-bis [3 -(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate], 2,4-bis- (n-octylthio) -6- (4-hydroxy-3,5-di-t-butylanilino)- 1,3,5-triazine, 2,2-thio-diethylenebis [3- (3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate], octa Sil-3- (3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate, N, N'-hexamethylenebis (3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxy-hydrocinnamamide) 1,3,5-trimethyl-2,4,6-tris (3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) benzene, tris- (3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxy Benzyl) -isocyanurate and the like.

  In particular, 2,6-di-t-butyl-p-cresol, pentaerythrityl-tetrakis [3- (3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate], triethylene glycol-bis [3 -(3-t-butyl-5-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate] is preferred.

  Further, for example, hydrazine-based metal deactivators such as N, N′-bis [3- (3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionyl] hydrazine and tris (2,4-di- A phosphorus processing stabilizer such as t-butylphenyl) phosphite may be used in combination.

  The addition amount of these compounds is preferably 1 ppm to 1.0%, more preferably 10 to 1000 ppm in terms of mass ratio with respect to the cellulose derivative.

(Fine particles)
The cellulose ester film according to the present invention preferably contains fine particles.

  As fine particles used in the present invention, examples of inorganic compounds include silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, calcium carbonate, calcium carbonate, talc, clay, calcined kaolin, calcined calcium silicate, and hydrated silicic acid. Mention may be made of calcium, aluminum silicate, magnesium silicate and calcium phosphate.

  Fine particles containing silicon are preferable in terms of low turbidity, and silicon dioxide is particularly preferable.

  The average primary particle diameter of the fine particles is preferably 5 to 400 nm, and more preferably 10 to 300 nm. These may be mainly contained as secondary aggregates having a particle size of 0.05 to 0.3 μm, and may be contained as primary particles without being aggregated if the particles have an average particle size of 100 to 400 nm. preferable.

  The content of these fine particles in the polarizing plate protective film is preferably 0.01 to 1% by mass, particularly preferably 0.05 to 0.5% by mass. In the case of a polarizing plate protective film having a multilayer structure by the co-casting method, it is preferable to contain fine particles of this addition amount on the surface.

  Silicon dioxide fine particles are commercially available, for example, under the trade names Aerosil R972, R972V, R974, R812, 200, 200V, 300, R202, OX50, TT600 (manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.). it can.

  Zirconium oxide fine particles are commercially available, for example, under the trade names Aerosil R976 and R811 (manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) and can be used.

  Examples of the polymer include silicone resin, fluororesin, and acrylic resin. Silicone resins are preferable, and those having a three-dimensional network structure are particularly preferable. For example, Tospearl 103, 105, 108, 120, 145, 3120, and 240 (manufactured by Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd.) It is marketed by name and can be used.

  Among these, Aerosil 200V and Aerosil R972V are particularly preferably used because they have a large effect of reducing the friction coefficient while keeping the turbidity of the polarizing plate protective film low. In the polarizing plate protective film used in the present invention, the dynamic friction coefficient of at least one surface is preferably 0.2 to 1.0.

  Various additives may be batch-added to a dope that is a cellulose ester-containing solution before film formation, or an additive solution may be separately prepared and added in-line. In particular, it is preferable to add a part or all of the fine particles in-line in order to reduce the load on the filter medium.

  When the additive solution is added in-line, it is preferable to dissolve a small amount of cellulose ester in order to improve mixing with the dope. The amount of the cellulose ester is preferably 1 to 10 parts by mass, more preferably 3 to 5 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the solvent.

In order to perform in-line addition and mixing in the present invention, for example, an in-line mixer such as a static mixer (manufactured by Toray Engineering), SWJ (Toray static type in-tube mixer Hi-Mixer) or the like is preferably used.
<Method for producing cellulose ester film>
Next, the manufacturing method of the cellulose-ester film of this invention is demonstrated.

  The cellulose ester film according to the present invention can be preferably used regardless of whether it is a film produced by a solution casting method or a film produced by a melt casting method.

  The cellulose ester film of the present invention is prepared by dissolving a cellulose ester and an additive in a solvent to prepare a dope, casting a dope onto an endless metal support, and casting the dope. It is carried out by a step of drying as a web, a step of peeling from a metal support, a step of stretching or maintaining the width, a step of further drying, and a step of winding up the finished film.

  The process for preparing the dope will be described. The concentration of cellulose ester in the dope is preferably higher because the drying load after casting on the metal support can be reduced. However, if the concentration of cellulose ester is too high, the load during filtration increases and the filtration accuracy is poor. Become.

  As a density | concentration which makes these compatible, 10-35 mass% is preferable, More preferably, it is 15-25 mass%.

  The solvent used in the dope may be used alone or in combination of two or more, but it is preferable to use a mixture of a good solvent and a poor solvent of cellulose ester in terms of production efficiency, and there are many good solvents. This is preferable from the viewpoint of the solubility of the cellulose ester.

  The preferable range of the mixing ratio of the good solvent and the poor solvent is 70 to 98% by mass for the good solvent and 2 to 30% by mass for the poor solvent. With a good solvent and a poor solvent, what dissolve | melts the cellulose ester to be used independently is defined as a good solvent, and what poorly swells or does not melt | dissolve is defined as a poor solvent.

  Therefore, depending on the average acetylation degree (acetyl group substitution degree) of the cellulose ester, the good solvent and the poor solvent change. For example, when acetone is used as the solvent, the cellulose ester acetate ester (acetyl group substitution degree 2.4), cellulose Acetate propionate is a good solvent, and cellulose acetate (acetyl group substitution degree 2.8) is a poor solvent.

  Although the good solvent used for this invention is not specifically limited, Organic halogen compounds, such as a methylene chloride, dioxolanes, acetone, methyl acetate, methyl acetoacetate, etc. are mentioned. Particularly preferred is methylene chloride or methyl acetate.

  Moreover, although the poor solvent used for this invention is not specifically limited, For example, methanol, ethanol, n-butanol, cyclohexane, cyclohexanone, etc. are used preferably.

  Moreover, it is preferable that 0.01-2 mass% of water contains in dope. Moreover, the solvent used for melt | dissolution of a cellulose ester collect | recovers the solvent removed from the film by drying at the film-forming process, and uses this again.

  The recovery solvent may contain trace amounts of additives added to the cellulose ester, such as plasticizers, UV absorbers, polymers, monomer components, etc., but even if these are included, they are preferably reused. Can be purified and reused if necessary.

  A general method can be used as a dissolution method of the cellulose ester when preparing the dope described above. When heating and pressurization are combined, it is possible to heat above the boiling point at normal pressure.

  It is preferable to stir and dissolve while heating at a temperature that is equal to or higher than the boiling point of the solvent at normal pressure and does not boil under pressure, in order to prevent the formation of massive undissolved material called gel or mamako.

  Moreover, after mixing a cellulose ester with a poor solvent and making it wet or swell, the method of adding a good solvent and melt | dissolving is also used preferably.

  The pressurization may be performed by a method of injecting an inert gas such as nitrogen gas or a method of increasing the vapor pressure of the solvent by heating. Heating is preferably performed from the outside. For example, a jacket type is preferable because temperature control is easy.

  The heating temperature with the addition of a solvent is preferably higher from the viewpoint of the solubility of the cellulose ester, but if the heating temperature is too high, the required pressure increases and the productivity deteriorates.

  A preferable heating temperature is 45 to 120 ° C, more preferably 60 to 110 ° C, and still more preferably 70 ° C to 105 ° C. The pressure is adjusted so that the solvent does not boil at the set temperature.

  Alternatively, a cooling dissolution method is also preferably used, whereby the cellulose ester can be dissolved in a solvent such as methyl acetate.

  Next, this cellulose ester solution is filtered using a suitable filter medium such as filter paper. As the filter medium, it is preferable that the absolute filtration accuracy is small in order to remove insoluble matters and the like, but there is a problem that the filter medium is likely to be clogged if the absolute filtration accuracy is too small.

  For this reason, a filter medium with an absolute filtration accuracy of 0.008 mm or less is preferable, a filter medium with 0.001 to 0.008 mm is more preferable, and a filter medium with 0.003 to 0.006 mm is still more preferable.

  There are no particular restrictions on the material of the filter medium, and ordinary filter media can be used. However, plastic filter media such as polypropylene and Teflon (registered trademark), and metal filter media such as stainless steel do not drop off fibers. preferable. It is preferable to remove and reduce impurities, particularly bright spot foreign matter, contained in the raw material cellulose ester by filtration.

Bright spot foreign matter means that when two polarizing plates are placed in a crossed Nicol state, an optical film or the like is placed between them, light is applied from one polarizing plate side, and observation is performed from the other polarizing plate side. It is a point (foreign matter) where light from the opposite side appears to leak, and the number of bright spots having a diameter of 0.01 mm or more is preferably 200 / cm ² or less.

More preferably, it is 100 pieces / cm < ² > or less, More preferably, it is 50 pieces / m < ² > or less, More preferably, it is 0-10 pieces / cm < ² > or less. Further, it is preferable that the number of bright spots of 0.01 mm or less is small.

  The dope can be filtered by a normal method, but the method of filtering while heating at a temperature not lower than the boiling point of the solvent at normal pressure and in a range where the solvent does not boil under pressure is the filtration pressure before and after filtration. The increase in the difference (referred to as differential pressure) is small and preferable.

  A preferred temperature is 45 to 120 ° C, more preferably 45 to 70 ° C, and still more preferably 45 to 55 ° C.

  A smaller filtration pressure is preferred. The filtration pressure is preferably 1.6 MPa or less, more preferably 1.2 MPa or less, and further preferably 1.0 MPa or less.

  Here, the dope casting will be described.

  The metal support in the casting (casting) step preferably has a mirror-finished surface. As the metal support, a stainless steel belt or a drum whose surface is plated with a casting is preferably used. The cast width can be 1 to 4 m.

  The surface temperature of the metal support in the casting step is −50 ° C. to a temperature lower than the boiling point of the solvent, and a higher temperature is preferable because the web can be dried faster. May deteriorate.

  A preferable support body temperature is 0-40 degreeC, and 5-30 degreeC is still more preferable. Alternatively, it is also a preferable method that the web is gelled by cooling and peeled from the drum in a state containing a large amount of residual solvent.

  The method for controlling the temperature of the metal support is not particularly limited, and there are a method of blowing hot air or cold air, and a method of contacting hot water with the back side of the metal support.

  It is preferable to use warm water because heat transfer is performed efficiently, so that the time until the temperature of the metal support becomes constant is short. When warm air is used, wind at a temperature higher than the target temperature may be used.

  In order for the cellulose ester film to exhibit good flatness, the residual solvent amount when peeling the web from the metal support is preferably 10 to 150% by mass, more preferably 20 to 40% by mass or 60 to 130% by mass. Especially preferably, it is 20-30 mass% or 70-120 mass%.

  In the present invention, the amount of residual solvent is defined by the following formula.

Residual solvent amount (% by mass) = {(MN) / N} × 100
M is the mass of a sample collected during or after the production of the web or film, and N is the mass after heating M at 115 ° C. for 1 hour.

  Further, in the drying step of the cellulose ester film, the web is peeled off from the metal support, and further dried, and the residual solvent amount is preferably 1% by mass or less, more preferably 0.1% by mass or less, Especially preferably, it is 0-0.01 mass% or less.

  In the film drying step, generally, a roll drying method (a method in which webs are alternately passed through a plurality of rolls arranged above and below) and a method in which the web is dried while being conveyed by a tenter method are employed.

  In order to produce the cellulose ester film of the present invention, it is particularly preferable to perform stretching in the width direction (lateral direction) by a tenter method in which both ends of the web are held with clips or the like. Peeling is preferably performed at a peeling tension of 300 N / m or less.

  The means for drying the web is not particularly limited, and can be generally performed with hot air, infrared rays, a heating roll, microwave, or the like, but it is preferably performed with hot air in terms of simplicity.

  The drying temperature in the web drying step is preferably increased stepwise from 40 to 200 ° C.

  Although the film thickness of a cellulose-ester film is not specifically limited, 10-200 micrometers is used. In particular, the film thickness is particularly preferably 10 to 100 μm. More preferably, it is 20-60 micrometers.

The cellulose ester film of the present invention has a width of 1 to 4 m. In particular, those having a width of 1.4 to 4 m are preferably used, and particularly preferably 1.6 to 3 m. If it exceeds 4 m, conveyance becomes difficult.
<Optical properties of cellulose ester film>
In the cellulose ester film of the present invention, the retardation values Ro and Rt preferably satisfy the following formulas (A-1) to (A-3).

(A-1) 20 ≦ Ro ≦ 100 (nm)
(A-2) 70 ≦ Rt ≦ 200 (nm)
(A-3) 0.82 ≦ Ro (480) / Ro (630) ≦ 0.95
Ro = (nx−ny) × d
Rt = ((nx + ny) / 2−nz) × d
(Where nx is the refractive index in the slow axis direction in the plane of the cellulose ester film, ny is the refractive index in the direction perpendicular to the slow axis in the plane, nz is the refractive index in the thickness direction, and d is the refractive index in the thickness direction) Represents the thickness (nm) of the cellulose ester film, the refractive index is measured at 590 nm, and Ro (480) and Ro (630) represent Ro when measured at wavelengths of 480 nm and 630 nm, respectively.
The refractive index can be obtained at a wavelength of 590 nm under an environment of 23 ° C. and 55% RH using, for example, KOBRA-21ADH (Oji Scientific Instruments).

  By combining the acrylic polymer of the present invention with a compound having a pyranose structure or a furanose structure and appropriately containing it, not only the desired retardation but also the wavelength dispersion can be adjusted.

  In the present invention, even when 20 ≦ Ro ≦ 100 (nm) and 70 ≦ Rt ≦ 200 (nm), a wavelength dispersion of 0.82 ≦ Ro (480) / Ro (630) ≦ 0.95 is achieved. be able to.

  A preferred range in the present invention is 20 ≦ Ro ≦ 100 (nm), and particularly preferably 45 ≦ Ro ≦ 75 (nm).

  The preferred range in the present invention is 70 ≦ Rt ≦ 200 (nm), more preferably 105 ≦ Rt ≦ 140 (nm).

  In order to obtain the retardation values Ro and Rt, it is preferable that the cellulose ester film has the structure of the present invention and the refractive index is controlled by a stretching operation.

  For example, biaxial stretching or uniaxial stretching can be performed sequentially or simultaneously with respect to the longitudinal direction (film forming direction) of the film and the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the film, that is, the width direction.

  The draw ratios in the biaxial directions perpendicular to each other are preferably in the range of 0.8 to 1.5 times in the casting direction and 1.1 to 2.5 times in the width direction, respectively. It is preferable to carry out in the range of 0.8 to 1.0 times in the direction and 1.2 to 2.0 times in the width direction.

  The stretching temperature is preferably 120 ° C. to 200 ° C., more preferably 160 ° C. to 200 ° C., and more preferably over 170 ° C. and 200 ° C. or less.

  The residual solvent in the film is preferably 20 to 0%, more preferably 15 to 0%. Specifically, the residual solvent is preferably stretched at 11% at 175 ° C., or the residual solvent is stretched at 2% at 175 ° C.

  Alternatively, it is preferred that the residual solvent is stretched at 11% at 185 ° C., or it is preferred that the residual solvent is stretched at less than 1% at 185 ° C.

  There is no particular limitation on the method of stretching the web. For example, a method in which a difference in peripheral speed is applied to a plurality of rolls, and the roll peripheral speed difference is used to stretch in the longitudinal direction, the both ends of the web are fixed with clips and pins, and the interval between the clips and pins is increased in the traveling direction. And a method of stretching in the vertical direction, a method of stretching in the horizontal direction and stretching in the horizontal direction, a method of stretching in the vertical and horizontal directions and stretching in both the vertical and horizontal directions, and the like.

  Of course, these methods may be used in combination. In the case of the so-called tenter method, driving the clip portion by the linear drive method is preferable because smooth stretching can be performed and the risk of breakage and the like can be reduced.

  It is preferable to perform the width maintenance or the transverse stretching in the film forming process by a tenter, and it may be a pin tenter or a clip tenter.

  The slow axis or the fast axis of the cellulose ester film of the present invention is present in the film plane, and θ1 is preferably −1 ° or more and + 1 ° or less, assuming that the angle formed with the film forming direction is θ1. More preferably, it is 5 ° or more and + 0.5 ° or less.

This θ1 can be defined as an orientation angle, and θ1 can be measured using an automatic birefringence meter KOBRA-21ADH (Oji Scientific Instruments). Each of θ1 satisfying the above relationship can contribute to obtaining high luminance in a display image, suppressing or preventing light leakage, and contributing to obtaining faithful color reproduction in a color liquid crystal display device.
<Physical properties of cellulose ester film>
The moisture permeability of the cellulose ester film according to the present invention, 40 ° C., preferably 10~1200g / m ² · 24h at 90% RH, preferably more ^{20~1000g / m 2 · 24h, 20~850g} / m 2 · 24h Is particularly preferred. The moisture permeability can be measured according to the method described in JIS Z 0208.

  The cellulose ester film according to the present invention preferably has a breaking elongation of 10 to 80%, more preferably 20 to 50%.

  The visible light transmittance of the cellulose ester film according to the present invention is preferably 90% or more, and more preferably 93% or more.

  The haze of the cellulose ester film according to the present invention is preferably less than 1%, particularly preferably 0 to 0.1%.

Further, by applying a liquid crystal layer to the cellulose ester film of the present invention, retardation values over a wider range can be obtained.
<Polarizer>
The polarizing plate which used the cellulose-ester film of this invention as the polarizing plate protective film, and the liquid crystal display device of this invention using the same are demonstrated.

  The polarizing plate of the present invention is characterized in that it is a polarizing plate bonded to at least one surface of a polarizer using the cellulose ester film of the present invention as a polarizing plate protective film. The liquid crystal display device of the present invention is characterized in that the polarizing plate according to the present invention is bonded to at least one liquid crystal cell surface via an adhesive layer.

  The polarizing plate of the present invention can be produced by a general method. The cellulose ester film of the present invention is preferably bonded to at least one surface of a polarizer produced by subjecting the polarizer side to alkali saponification treatment and immersion drawing in an iodine solution using a completely saponified polyvinyl alcohol aqueous solution.

  Even if it uses this cellulose-ester film for another surface, it is preferable to paste another polarizing plate protective film. For example, a commercially available cellulose ester film (for example, Konica Minoltak KC8UX, KC4UX, KC5UX, KC8UCR3, KC8UCR4, KC8UCR5, KC8UY, KC4UY, KC12UR, KC4UE, KC8UE, KC8UY-HA, KC8UY-HA, KC8UY-C8 -RHA-NC, KC4UXW-RHA-NC, manufactured by Konica Minolta Opto Co., Ltd.) are also preferably used.

  In addition to the antiglare layer or the clear hard coat layer, the polarizing plate protective film used on the surface side of the display device preferably has an antireflection layer, an antistatic layer, an antifouling layer, and a backcoat layer.

  A polarizer, which is a main component of a polarizing plate, is an element that allows only light of a plane of polarization in a certain direction to pass. A typical polarizer currently known is a polyvinyl alcohol-based polarizing film, which is polyvinyl alcohol. There are one in which iodine is dyed on a system film and one in which dichroic dye is dyed.

  For the polarizer, a polyvinyl alcohol aqueous solution is formed into a film and dyed by uniaxial stretching or dyed or uniaxially stretched and then preferably subjected to a durability treatment with a boron compound. The film thickness of the polarizer is preferably 5 to 30 μm, particularly preferably 10 to 20 μm.

  Further, the ethylene unit content described in JP-A-2003-248123, JP-A-2003-342322, etc. is 1 to 4 mol%, the degree of polymerization is 2000 to 4000, and the degree of saponification is 99.0 to 99.99 mol%. Ethylene-modified polyvinyl alcohol is also preferably used.

  Among them, an ethylene-modified polyvinyl alcohol film having a hot water cutting temperature of 66 to 73 ° C. is preferably used.

  The difference in hot water cutting temperature between two points 5 cm away in the TD direction of the film is more preferably 1 ° C. or less in order to reduce color spots, and two points separated 1 cm in the TD direction of the film. In order to reduce color spots, it is more preferable that the difference in the hot water cutting temperature is 0.5 ° C. or less.

  A polarizer using this ethylene-modified polyvinyl alcohol film is excellent in polarization performance and durability, and has few color spots, and is particularly preferably used for a large-sized liquid crystal display device.

The polarizer obtained as described above is usually used as a polarizing plate with a protective film bonded to both sides or one side thereof. Examples of the adhesive used for pasting include a PVA-based adhesive and a urethane-based adhesive. Among them, a PVA-based adhesive is preferably used.
<Liquid crystal display device>
By using the polarizing plate of the present invention for a liquid crystal display device, the liquid crystal display device of the present invention having various visibility can be produced.

  The cellulose ester film of the present invention can be used in liquid crystal display devices of various drive systems such as STN, TN, OCB, HAN, VA (MVA, PVA), IPS, OCB. A VA (MVA, PVA) type liquid crystal display device is preferable.

  In particular, even a large-screen liquid crystal display device with a 30-inch or larger screen can provide a liquid crystal display device with excellent visibility such as uneven coloring and front contrast with little environmental fluctuation and reduced light leakage.

  In the group of liquid crystal display devices manufactured using the cellulose ester film of the present invention, the frequency of light leakage can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, although an example is given and the present invention is explained, the present invention is not limited to these.

Example 1
<Production of Cellulose Ester Film 101>
<Fine particle dispersion 1>
Fine particles (Aerosil R972V manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) 11 parts by weight Ethanol 89 parts by weight The above was stirred and mixed with a dissolver for 50 minutes, and then dispersed with Manton Gorin.

<Fine particle addition liquid 1>
The fine particle dispersion 1 was slowly added to the dissolution tank containing methylene chloride with sufficient stirring. Further, the particles were dispersed by an attritor so that the secondary particles had a predetermined particle size. This was filtered through Finemet NF manufactured by Nippon Seisen Co., Ltd. to prepare a fine particle additive solution 1.

Methylene chloride 99 parts by mass Fine particle dispersion 1 11 parts by mass A main dope solution having the following composition was prepared. First, methylene chloride and ethanol were added to the pressure dissolution tank. Cellulose esters A and B were added to a pressurized dissolution tank containing a solvent while stirring. This is completely dissolved with heating and stirring.

  This was designated as Azumi Filter Paper No. The main dope solution was prepared by filtration using 244. The compositions of cellulose ester and acrylic polymer are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

<Composition of main dope solution>
Methylene chloride 340 parts by mass Ethanol 64 parts by mass Cellulose ester A of the present invention 50 parts by mass Cellulose ester B of the present invention 50 parts by mass Acrylic polymer A of the present invention 3.0 parts by mass Sugar ester compound 3 of the present invention 10 parts by mass More than 2 parts by mass of the fine particle addition liquid 1 was put into a sealed container and dissolved while stirring to prepare a dope liquid. Next, using an endless belt casting apparatus, the dope solution was uniformly cast on a stainless steel belt support at a temperature of 33 ° C. and a width of 1500 mm. The temperature of the stainless steel belt was controlled at 50 ° C.

  On the stainless steel belt support, the solvent was evaporated until the amount of residual solvent in the cast (cast) film was 75%, and then peeled off from the stainless steel belt support with a peeling tension of 70 N / m.

  The peeled cellulose ester film was stretched 45% in the width direction using a tenter while applying heat at 170 ° C. The residual solvent at the start of stretching was 20%.

  Next, drying was terminated while the drying zone was conveyed by a number of rolls. The drying temperature was 120 ° C. and the transport tension was 90 N / m.

  As described above, a cellulose ester film 101 having a dry film thickness of 50 μm was obtained. Hereinafter, a plasticizer and an ultraviolet absorber (0.4, 0.7, and 0.6 parts by mass of Tinuvin (manufactured by Ciba Specialty Chemicals) 326, 109, and 171 were added to the film sample 110, respectively). The cellulose ester films 102 to 117 were produced in substantially the same manner except that the solvent type, film thickness, and draw ratio were changed as shown in Table 3.

  Moreover, 201-203 were produced as a comparative sample.

  Table 3 shows the results of measuring the retardation value and haze value at each wavelength for each of the obtained samples in the following manner.

<< Measurement of Retardation Ro, Rt >>
A 35 mm × 35 mm sample was cut out from the obtained film, conditioned at 25 ° C. and 55% RH for 2 hours, and measured with an automatic birefringence meter (KOBRA21DH, Oji Scientific Co., Ltd.) in the vertical direction at 480 nm, 590 nm and 630 nm. And the extrapolated value of the retardation value measured in the same manner while tilting the film surface.

  It turns out that the cellulose-ester films 101-117 of this invention are excellent in wavelength dispersion compared with a comparative film.

Example 2
<Preparation of polarizing plate>
A polyvinyl alcohol film having a thickness of 120 μm was uniaxially stretched (temperature: 110 ° C., stretch ratio: 5 times). This was immersed for 60 seconds in an aqueous solution consisting of 0.075 g of iodine, 5 g of potassium iodide, and 100 g of water, and then immersed in an aqueous solution of 68 ° C. consisting of 6 g of potassium iodide, 7.5 g of boric acid, and 100 g of water. This was washed with water and dried to obtain a polarizer.

  Next, according to the following steps 1 to 5, a polarizer, the cellulose ester films 101 to 203, and Konica Minolta Tack KC4UY (Konica Minolta Opto Co., Ltd. cellulose ester film) are bonded together as a polarizing plate protective film on the back side for polarization. A plate was made.

  Step 1: Soaked in a 2 mol / L sodium hydroxide solution at 60 ° C. for 90 seconds, then washed with water and dried to obtain a saponified cellulose ester film on the side to be bonded to the polarizer.

  Process 2: The said polarizer was immersed in the polyvinyl alcohol adhesive tank of 2 mass% of solid content for 1-2 seconds.

  Step 3: Excess adhesive adhered to the polarizer in Step 2 was lightly wiped off, and this was placed on the cellulose ester film treated in Step 1.

Step 4: Step 3 Cellulose ester film laminated with the polarizer and the pressure backside cellulose ester film 20-30 N / cm ^2, the conveyance speed was pasted at approximately 2m / min.

  Step 5: A sample obtained by bonding the polarizer prepared in Step 4 in the dryer at 80 ° C., the present invention and comparative cellulose ester films 101 to 203, and Konica Minoltack KC4UY for 2 minutes, and polarizing plates 101 to 203 Was made.

  The amount of light leakage was measured for each of the obtained polarizing plates. The results are shown in Table 4.

<< Evaluation of light leakage >>
Two polarizing plates thus prepared were arranged in crossed Nicols, and transmittance (T1) at 590 nm was measured using a spectrophotometer U3100 manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd. Further, after both of the polarizing plates were treated at 80 ° C. and 90% for 100 hours, the transmittance (T2) when placed in crossed Nicols was measured in the same manner as described above, and the transmittance before and after the thermo treatment was measured. The change was examined, and the amount of light leakage was measured according to the following equation.

Light leakage amount (%) = T2 (%)-T1 (%)
If the amount of light leakage is 0 to 5%, there is no practical problem, but it is preferably 0 to 4%, more preferably 0 to 3%, and particularly preferably 0 to 1 (%).

Example 3
<Production of liquid crystal display device>
A liquid crystal panel for viewing angle measurement was produced as follows, and the characteristics as a liquid crystal display device were evaluated.

  The polarizing plates on both sides of the SONY 40-type display KLV-40V2500 previously bonded were peeled off, and the prepared polarizing plates 101 to 203 were respectively bonded to both surfaces of the glass surface of the liquid crystal cell.

  At that time, the direction of bonding of the polarizing plate is such that the surface of the cellulose ester film of the present invention is on the liquid crystal cell side, and the absorption axis is in the same direction as the polarizing plate previously bonded. Thus, liquid crystal display devices 101 to 203 were produced.

  The liquid crystal display device was evaluated for color variation and front contrast. The results are shown in Table 5.

<Evaluation of color variation>
About each produced said liquid crystal display device, the color fluctuation was measured using the measuring machine (EZ-Contrast160D, ELDIM company make). In the CIE 1976 and UCS coordinates, the maximum hue variation width Δu′v ′ in the vertical direction (80 ° to 80 ° below the display normal) was compared.

<< Evaluation of front contrast >>
The measurement was performed after the backlight of each liquid crystal display device was lit continuously for one week in an environment of 23 ° C. and 55% RH. For measurement, EZ-Contrast 160D manufactured by ELDIM was used to measure the luminance from the normal direction of the display screen of white display and black display with a liquid crystal display device, and the ratio was defined as the front contrast.

Front contrast = (brightness of white display measured from normal direction of display device) / (brightness of black display measured from normal direction of display device)
From the results shown in Table 5, it is clear that the polarizing plates 101 to 117 of the present invention are polarizing plates excellent in hue variation and front contrast.

Claims (3)

  It contains at least one of cellulose acetate phthalate, pyranose structure or furanose structure and an ester compound obtained by esterifying all or part of the OH group of the structure, and an acrylic polymer. Cellulose ester film.   A polarizing plate comprising a polarizer and two polarizing plate protective films sandwiching the polarizer, wherein the cellulose ester film according to claim 1 is used as a polarizing plate protective film on at least one surface of the polarizer. A characteristic polarizing plate.   A liquid crystal display device using the polarizing plate according to claim 2 on at least one surface of a liquid crystal cell.