JP2010026096A - Retardation film, composite sheet polarizer, sheet polarizer and liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a retardation film, having good contrast and excellent viewing angle characteristic, eliminating display unevenness of a liquid crystal display device, having optical compensating performance to stabilize image display, economical and having excellent productivity. <P>SOLUTION: The retardation film is obtained by drawing a substantially non-oriented film formed of amorphous resin (A) and thermoplastic elastomer resin (B) substantially presenting phase separation form to the amorphous resin (A) at least either in the longitudinal direction or in the width direction. A coefficient of static friction of the retardation film is 0.5 or less, front retardation R0 nm thereof ranges from 20 to 300 nm, and Nz coefficient ranges from -1 to 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a retardation film used in a liquid crystal display device.

  In recent years, liquid crystal display devices have been widely used. A liquid crystal display device is configured by attaching a retardation film and a polarizing plate to a liquid crystal cell in which an electrode in which liquid crystal molecules are sealed is incorporated. As an operation method of the liquid crystal display device, a TN (Twisted Nematic) mode, a STN (Super Twisted Nematic) mode, a VA (Vertical Alignment) mode, an IPS (In-Plane Switching) mode, an OCB (Optically Full Bend), etc. Various methods defined by the alignment form of liquid crystal molecules have been proposed. These all perform display utilizing the electro-optical characteristics of liquid crystal molecules, but optical films having various functions are used for the purpose of improving the image quality of the display viewed through the polarizing plate. This type of optical film is required to have various optical properties depending on applications, including transparency and optical compensation. Above all, in order to eliminate the optical distortion due to the birefringence inherent in the liquid crystal and the viewing angle dependency such as the coloration of the display due to the modulation by the visual direction, a retardation film applying its optical anisotropy Are widely used, and generally those having a retardation (phase difference) value in the range of 20 to 800 nm when a 550 nm light beam is incident are used.

  Among the liquid crystal display methods, the VA method (vertical alignment type liquid crystal), which has characteristic advantages such as a wide viewing angle and a high contrast ratio, is becoming mainstream, particularly in large screen applications such as liquid crystal televisions and monitors. As the name implies, VA liquid crystal has a structure in which the liquid crystal is vertically aligned. As a retardation film used for optical compensation, the refractive index ellipsoid has a long axis in the horizontal direction of the panel and is flat and unique. A so-called positive phase difference plate in which birefringence takes a positive value is suitable. The characteristics of the film can be defined by those having an Nz coefficient described later of 1.0 or more, preferably 1.3 or more.

  Conventionally, various methods for producing such a biaxial retardation film have been proposed. However, the present invention is not limited to a uniaxially stretched film only by longitudinal (longitudinal) uniaxial stretching or width (transverse) uniaxial stretching, and is a thermoplastic resin. A sequential biaxial stretching method is also used in which a film is stretched in the vertical or horizontal direction and then stretched in a direction perpendicular to the previous stretching direction (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The resin used for such a positive phase difference plate is required to have a property of increasing the refractive index in a direction parallel to the alignment direction of the molecular main chain. As the thermoplastic resin exhibiting positive intrinsic birefringence, almost all thermoplastic resins other than the resin having a negative intrinsic refractive index described later are applicable, and in view of transparency and practicality and processability with respect to visible light, Examples include polycarbonate resin, polyether sulfone resin, polyethylene terephthalate resin, polyimide resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, acetyl cellulose resin, and cyclic olefin resin. Among them, the cyclic olefin resin is excellent in optical properties such as high light transmittance.

  On the other hand, the IPS mode (lateral electric field mode liquid crystal) is configured to exhibit a display function by controlling the transmitted light by changing the orientation of liquid crystal molecules in a horizontal plane parallel to the panel substrate. The IPS system has a feature that it has a wide viewing angle and a small change in color tone in view of its operation principle, and is widely used for liquid crystal televisions, portable terminal monitors and the like by taking advantage of its display characteristics. The OCB system controls image display by adopting an alignment form in which liquid crystal molecules are inclined with respect to a panel substrate called bend alignment.

  Since the IPS system and OCB system have a structure in which liquid crystal molecules are aligned horizontally or inclined with respect to the panel substrate, the refractive index ellipsoid has a long axis in the normal direction of the panel as a retardation film used for optical compensation. A so-called negative retardation plate in which the intrinsic birefringence takes a negative value is preferable. The characteristics of the film can be defined as those having a negative Nz coefficient described later.

  The material used for such a negative retardation plate is required to have a property of increasing the refractive index in a direction perpendicular to the orientation direction of the molecular main chain. As thermoplastic resin materials exhibiting such negative intrinsic birefringence, acrylic resins, styrene resins, and fluorene resins are known. In particular, acrylic resins have optical characteristics such as high light transmittance. It is excellent and generally used for various applications as an optical member. Further, by stretching an amorphous sheet composed of the resin, it exhibits optical anisotropy that increases the refractive index nz in the thickness direction orthogonal to the orientation direction of the molecular main chain, and the negative retardation plate described above It becomes possible to use as.

  By the way, a surface protective film is widely used on the surface of an optical film or an optical sheet (hereinafter, simply referred to as an optical film) including a retardation film, mainly for the purpose of protecting the appearance. It has a certain effect to maintain the appearance quality and prevent surface contamination and breakage during laminating and other processing of protected objects and glass cells. Furthermore, in the case of optical films that require smoothness, a blocking phenomenon is unavoidable that the next layer cannot be unwound due to close contact between the film layers when the film is rolled up. There is an important function to prevent. In general, an optical film is used as a product roll in the form of a laminated film obtained by laminating a surface protective film on the surface of an object to be protected just before winding in the final process of the optical film production process for storage and transportation.

  However, when these surface protective films are used for retardation film protection, indentation may remain on the surface of the retardation film when left under pressure as a laminate or under pressure as a roll. The original function of the kimono is obstructed, and the image connected to the liquid crystal display panel at the indented part is distorted, causing display quality problems such as unclear or no display, resulting in the expected optical compensation performance. May cause problems.

  Furthermore, since the surface protective film is peeled off from the surface of the object to be protected after it is used, and finally discarded, there is a problem that the production cost of the retardation film is increased and industrial waste is generated. From a technical point of view, it is ideally excluded from the production process.

  Blocking is likely to occur in various optical films because of its resin properties, high thickness accuracy, and excellent smoothness, the thickness of the air layer existing between the film layers is extremely thin, and the contact area between the films is This is because it grows. In general, optical film is inevitable blocking between film layers when used as a roll, and practically impossible to use practically, so a surface protection film is laminated, so to speak, blocking between film layers is prevented as a cushioning material. . The surface protective film is often made of a polyolefin-based or polyester-based resin as a material, and is characterized by high surface slipperiness, which makes it possible to maintain a constant air thickness between the film layers.

  Non-Patent Document 1 mainly examines and considers the influence of the interlayer air thickness inside the scroll on the scroll shape, but in this document, the film has a film thickness relative to the film interlayer air thickness. It also touches logically on how the coefficient of friction affects. Among them, it is pointed out that the interlayer air thickness increases by lowering the friction coefficient. Therefore, it is effective to reduce the friction coefficient in order to prevent or alleviate blocking inside the scroll.

  Addition of inorganic particles or low molecular weight organic compounds as so-called lubricants to impart easy slipping on the film surface is known and widely practiced. In particular, the addition of inorganic particles is a common technique for improving the slidability of general-purpose films, and its use has been studied as exemplified in Patent Document 2 as an example of application to optical films. Yes. However, by adding fine particles composed of inorganic components such as silicate as inorganic particles to the film, a certain level of slipperiness can be obtained, but excessive addition of inorganic particles is not possible in the melt extrusion process of the raw material resin. In general, it is difficult to say that this is a preferable method because it causes problems that cannot be overlooked in the manufacturing process, such as wear of screws and barrels in the extruder, and shortening of the service life due to clogging of the filter for removing foreign matter.

  On the other hand, an organic lubricant made of an organic compound having a relatively low molecular weight relative to the resin of the main constituent material is generally effective in improving the lubricity of the film surface. Examples of optical films are also introduced in Patent Documents 2-5. In order for the organic lubricant to fully exert its effect, the component must be quickly and reliably transferred to the film surface. Surface migration called so-called organic lubricant bleed-out is achieved by aligning the lubricant component with a raw material resin that has been sufficiently kneaded and biaxially stretched and then heat-treated near the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the main constituent resin. In the thermal relaxation process for reducing the strain, the annealing process is performed at a relatively high temperature.

  In the thermal relaxation process, the function of correcting the non-uniform molecular orientation in the width direction, called so-called bowing, is arranged. However, the bleed-out effect and bowing control of organic lubricants are often not balanced, and if the annealing is attempted at a relatively low temperature and the optical axis is controlled, the slipperiness becomes insufficient, and the annealing treatment is performed at a high temperature to improve the slipperiness. If it is made to do, optical axis control may become difficult. In other words, it was difficult to ensure stable slipperiness with the technique using an organic lubricant.

  Patent Documents 2 to 5 also disclose techniques for ensuring easy slipping with an organic lubricant and examining workability improvement. However, even if the coefficient of friction is not specifically defined or is defined, the effect is remarkably inferior as the slipperiness sufficient to ensure the air thickness sufficiently, and is obtained by the technique using an organic lubricant. The slipperiness that can be achieved is insufficient to prevent scroll blocking.

  Furthermore, organic lubricants, which are low molecular weight compounds, cause die lip stains and deposition on the cast roll surface during film formation in the melt extrusion process, or excessive bleeding during surface activation treatment such as corona treatment. The organic lubricant that bleeds the production equipment and deteriorates the film adhesiveness and significantly impairs the processability in the next process. .

  Therefore, the above-described scroll blocking prevention treatment using a surface protective film is practically indispensable in the production of a retardation film, and its productivity is extremely disadvantageous economically.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-148438 (particularly, column of the prior art) JP 2004-151573 A JP 2007-9182 A JP 2006-45369 A JP 2003-26944 A Tribologist, 52, 7 (2007), 533-545

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described background art. In the production and quality control of a retardation film, blocking in a rolled state is prevented without using a surface protective film, and the film travels stably. An object of the present invention is to provide a retardation film having processability and having appropriate front retardation and optical biaxiality as an optical compensation member and capable of maintaining a high-quality display image of a liquid crystal display device. To do.

  As a result of earnestly examining the above problems, as a method for realizing a low coefficient of friction necessary for preventing scroll blocking, the main constituent resin is used without using an organic lubricant that is a compound having a molecular weight sufficiently lower than that of the main constituent resin. The present inventors have found that high slipperiness can be obtained by adding a specific polymer material to form a composite material film, and have reached the present invention.

That is, the retardation film of the present invention is substantially non-oriented consisting of an amorphous resin (A) and a thermoplastic elastomer resin (B) that exhibits a phase separation form with respect to the amorphous resin (A). A retardation film obtained by stretching the film in at least one of the longitudinal direction and the width direction, having a static friction coefficient of 0.5 or less and a front retardation R0 defined by the following formula (1): (Nm) is in the range of 20 to 300 nm, and the Nz coefficient defined by the following formula (2) is in the range of −1 to 5.
R0 = (nx−ny) × d (1)
Nz = (nx−nz) / (nx−ny) (2)
(Where nx: maximum refractive index in the film plane, ny: refractive index in the direction perpendicular to the nx direction in the film plane, nz: refractive index in the film thickness direction, d: thickness of the retardation film)

  Amorphous resin (A) used in the present invention is an optical member having excellent transparency, good heat resistance and good matching with liquid crystal, low intrinsic birefringence, low photoelastic coefficient, etc. The resin is not particularly limited as long as it has useful characteristics and does not substantially have crystallinity. For example, a cyclic olefin resin having a alicyclic hydrocarbon structure in the molecular main chain or side chain, a maleimide structure An excellent effect can be obtained when the maleimide-based resin having an acrylic resin having an acrylic group and its derivative group in the molecular side chain is applied to the present invention.

  The norbornene resin, which is a kind of the above cyclic olefin resin, is a resin that has been conventionally studied as an optical material, for example, a ring-opening (co) polymer of a norbornene monomer, a norbornene monomer, and an olefin monomer. Addition copolymers, norbornene-based addition copolymers, and derivatives thereof. These norbornene resins may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Of the norbornene-based resins, a ring-opening (co) polymer in which a carbon-carbon unsaturated double bond necessarily remains in the molecule or a carbon-carbon unsaturated double bond in the molecule depending on the monomer species used. In the case of employing an addition (co) polymer in which is remained, it is preferably saturated by hydrogenation from the viewpoint of weather resistance.

  The norbornene-based monomer constituting the norbornene-based resin is not particularly limited as long as it is a monomer having a norbornene ring. For example, a bicyclic body such as norbornene and norbornadiene; Tetracycles such as cyclododecene; pentacycles such as cyclopentadiene trimer, heptacycles such as tetracyclopentadiene; alkyls such as methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl, alkenyls such as vinyl, ethylidene, etc. Substituents such as aryl such as alkylidene, phenyl, tolyl, naphthyl; and further, ester groups, ether groups, cyano groups, halogen groups, alkoxycarbonyl groups, pyridyl groups, hydroxyl groups, carboxylic acid groups, amino groups, hydroxyl groups free of these, Silyl group, epoxy group, acrylic group, methacryl group, etc. Groups containing elements other than carbon and hydrogen, and substituted and the like having a so-called polar group.

  Among these norbornene monomers, a polycyclic norbornene monomer having three or more rings is preferable because it is easily available, has excellent reactivity, and has excellent heat resistance of the obtained retardation film. Ring, tetracycle and pentacycle norbornene monomers are more preferred. In addition, a norbornene-type monomer may be used independently and 2 or more types may be used together.

    Examples of the α-olefin monomer include ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-pentene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, and 1-hexene. , 1-octene, 1-decene, 1-dodecene, 1-tetradecene, 1-hexadecene and the like, α-olefin monomers having 2 to 10 carbon atoms having high copolymerizability are preferable, and ethylene is more preferable. is there. When other α-olefin monomers are copolymerized with norbornene monomers, the presence of ethylene is preferable because the copolymerizability is increased.

  When the weight average molecular weight of the norbornene-based resin decreases, the mechanical strength of the obtained retardation film decreases, and when it increases, the moldability of the film may be hindered. It is measured and is preferably 10,000 to 000000, more preferably 30000 to 70000.

  The glass transition temperature of the cyclic olefin resin is important because it affects optical properties and durability of other practical physical properties. Considering the thermal environment to which the retardation film is exposed after mounting the liquid crystal display device, it is preferably 80 ° C. or higher, and more preferably 100 ° C. or higher.

  The maleimide-based resin is a resin that has been conventionally studied as an optical material, and includes, for example, a maleimide-olefin copolymer composed of the following component (1) and component (2). It can be obtained by radical copolymerization reaction of olefins and olefins.

  Examples of the compound that gives component (1) include N-methylmaleimide, N-ethylmaleimide, Nn-propylmaleimide, Ni-propylmaleimide, Nn-butylmaleimide, and Ni-butylmaleimide. N-s-butylmaleimide, Nt-butylmaleimide, Nn-pentylmaleimide, Nn-hexylmaleimide, Nn-heptylmaleimide, Nn-octylmaleimide, N-laurylmaleimide, N- Stearylmaleimide, N-cyclopropylmaleimide, N-cyclobutylmaleimide, N-cyclohexylmaleimide, N-phenylmaleimide, N- (2-methylphenyl) maleimide, N- (2-ethylphenyl) maleimide, N- (2- Isopropylphenyl) maleimide, N- (3-methylpheny ) Maleimide, N- (3-ethylphenyl) maleimide, N- (4-methylphenyl) maleimide, N- (4-ethylphenyl) maleimide, N- (2,6-dimethylphenyl) maleimide, N- (2, 6-diethylphenyl) maleimide, N- (2,6-diisopropylphenyl) maleimide, N- (2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) maleimide, N-carboxyphenylmaleimide, N- (2-chlorophenyl) maleimide, N- N-substituted maleimides such as (2,6-dichlorophenyl) maleimide, N- (2-bromophenyl) maleimide, N- (perbromophenyl) maleimide, N- (2,4-dimethylphenyl) maleimide, p-tolylmaleimide Is mentioned. Among these, N-methylmaleimide, N-ethylmaleimide, N-isopropylmaleimide or N-cyclohexylmaleimide is preferable. These polymerizable monomers may be used independently and may use 2 or more types together.

  Compounds that give component (2) include isobutene, 2-methyl-1-butene, 2-methyl-1-pentene, 2-methyl-1-hexene, 1-methyl-1-heptene, 1-isooctene, 2 Examples include olefins such as methyl-1-octene, 2-ethyl-1-pentene, 2-methyl-2-butene, 2-methyl-2-pentene, 2-methyl-2-hexene, and of these, heat resistance Isobutene is particularly preferable from the viewpoint of mechanical properties and transparency. Moreover, these compounds can be used 1 type or in combination of 2 or more types. The content of component (1) is preferably 30 to 70 mol% of the entire copolymer. When the obtained maleimide copolymer resin is used as a retardation film, if the content of the constituent component (1) is 30 mol% or less, sufficient heat resistance and transparency may not be exhibited. As a result, molding processability decreases. 40-60 mol% is more preferable.

  For the polymerization of these monomers, any known polymerization method such as bulk polymerization method, solution polymerization method, suspension polymerization method, or emulsion polymerization method can be employed. The precipitation polymerization method is particularly preferred from the viewpoint of the transparency and color tone of the obtained film.

  The maleimide-olefin copolymer can also be obtained by post-amidating a resin obtained by copolymerization of maleic anhydride and olefins with ammonia or alkylamine.

  Similar to the acrylic resin, the glass transition temperature of the maleimide resin affects the optical properties and durability of other practical physical properties and is important. Similarly, 80 ° C. or higher is preferable, and 100 ° C. or higher is more preferable.

  Although the weight average molecular weight of the maleimide resin is not particularly limited, it is measured by GPC using a tetrahydrofuran solvent, preferably about 1,000 to 500,000, considering sheet formability and stretchability and the quality of the obtained film as a retardation film. It is.

The above-mentioned acrylic resin is a resin conventionally used for an optical use film, and is obtained mainly by homopolymerizing or copolymerizing a (meth) acrylic acid ester monomer. Examples of the (meth) acrylic acid ester-based monomer include, for example, the general formula CH ₂ = C (R ¹ ) COO-R ² {wherein R ¹ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group (of the acrylic acid ester In the case of a methacrylic acid ester, a methyl group), R ² is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, an aromatic hydrocarbon group, and a hydrocarbon containing a functional group such as halogen, amine, ether, etc. A monovalent group selected from among the groups is preferred.

  Although it does not specifically limit as said (meth) acrylic acid ester type monomer, For example, (meth) acrylic acid methyl, (meth) acrylic acid ethyl, (meth) acrylic acid n-propyl, (meth) acrylic acid isopropyl, N-butyl (meth) acrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, sec-butyl (meth) acrylate, t-butyl (meth) acrylate, isoamyl (meth) acrylate, n-hexyl (meth) acrylate, (meta ) Cyclohexyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl (meth) acrylate, n-octyl (meth) acrylate, lauryl (meth) acrylate, n-tridecyl (meth) acrylate, myristyl (meth) acrylate, (meta ) Cetyl acrylate, stearyl (meth) acrylate, allyl (meth) acrylate, vinyl (meth) acrylate , (Meth) acrylic acid benzyl, (meth) acrylic acid phenyl, (meth) acrylic acid 2-naphthyl, (meth) acrylic acid 2,4,6-trichlorophenyl, (meth) acrylic acid 2,4,6- Tribromophenyl, isobornyl (meth) acrylate, 2-methoxyethyl (meth) acrylate, 2-ethoxyethyl (meth) acrylate, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether (meth) acrylate, polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether (meth) acrylate, (Meth) acrylic acid polypropylene glycol monomethyl ether, (meth) acrylic acid tetrahydrofluoryl, (meth) acrylic acid 2,3-dibromopropyl, (meth) acrylic acid 2-chloroethyl, (meth) acrylic acid 2,2,2 -Trifluoroethyl, (meth) acryl Hexafluoroisopropyl phosphate, glycidyl (meth) acrylate, 3-trimethoxysilylpropyl (meth) acrylate, 2-diethylaminoethyl (meth) acrylate, 2-dimethylaminoethyl (meth) acrylate, (meth) acrylic T-Butylaminoethyl acid, 2-hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl (meth) acrylate, 2-hydroxybutyl (meth) acrylate, (meth) acrylic acid, itaconic acid, crotonic acid, (anhydrous) maleic Acrylics such as acid, fumaric acid, 2- (meth) acryloyloxyethyl succinic acid, 2- (meth) acryloyloxyethyl hexahydrophthalic acid, neopentyl di (meth) acrylate, dimethylol tricyclodecane di (meth) acrylate, Bifunctional epoxy ) Acrylate, caprolactone modified (meth) acrylate, dipentaerythritol hexa (meth) acrylate, pentaerythritol tri (meth) acrylate, pentaerythritol tetra (meth) acrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, trimethylolpropane tetraacrylate, meth) acrylonitrile , N-vinylpyrrolidone, N-vinylcaprolactam, N-vinyllaurylactam, (meth) acrylamide, dimethyl (meth) acrylamide, diethylaminoethyl (meth) acrylate, PEG # 200 di (meth) acrylate, PEG # 400 di (Meth) acrylate, PEG # 600 di (meth) acrylate, polyfunctional urethane acrylate and the like. These series of (meth) acrylic acid ester monomers may be used alone, or two or more of them may be used in combination as a copolymer. In the present invention, (meth) acryl means either one or both of acrylic and methacrylic.

  Further, the monomer composition has a polar group as a radical polymerizable monomer copolymerizable with the (meth) acrylate monomer in addition to the (meth) acrylate monomer. A vinyl monomer may be contained, and examples of such a monomer include maleic anhydride and styrene. These monomers may be used alone or in combination of two or more. .

  The acrylic resin can be improved in wear resistance and heat resistance by being crosslinked and modified by various methods. The method for crosslinking is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a method in which a crosslinking assistant is added to a predetermined amount of (meth) acrylate monomer and polymerized. The crosslinking aid is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include radical generators such as benzoyl peroxide, divinylbenzene, trimethylolpropane tri (meth) acrylate, 1,6-hexanediol di (meth) acrylate, 1,9 -Polyfunctional monomers such as nonanediol di (meth) acrylate and 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic acid triallyl ester. These crosslinking aids may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  The content of the (meth) acrylic acid ester monomer used for the polymerization of the acrylic resin is not particularly limited, but is preferably 5 to 99 mol%, more preferably 30 to 90 mol% of the whole polymer. .

  For the polymerization of the acrylic resin, any known radical polymerization method such as bulk polymerization, solution polymerization, suspension polymerization, or emulsion polymerization can be selected. From the viewpoint of the gain in the polymerization process, the polymerization resin, and the film quality, the solution polymerization method and the bulk polymerization method are preferable.

  The glass transition temperature of the acrylic resin is important because it affects the durability of optical properties and other practical physical properties. Considering the thermal environment to which the retardation film is exposed after mounting the liquid crystal display device, it is preferably 80 ° C. or higher, and more preferably 100 ° C. or higher.

  The weight-average molecular weight of the acrylic resin is not particularly limited, but is preferably 10,000 to 1,000,000, more preferably 50,000 to 500,000 in consideration of sheet formability and stretchability, and the quality of the obtained film as a retardation film. It is. In addition, the weight average molecular weight in this invention is defined by the polystyrene conversion molecular weight measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) in a tetrahydrofuran solvent.

  The glass transition temperature Tg was measured using a differential scanning calorimeter (trade name “DSC2920 Modulated DSC” manufactured by TA Instruments) under the following temperature program conditions. Define as

(Temperature program conditions)
Temperature is raised from room temperature to 50 ° C. at 10 ° C./min and held isothermally for 5 minutes, temperature from 50 ° C. to 200 ° C. is raised at 10 ° C./min and held at 200 ° C. for 5 minutes, from 200 ° C. to −50 ° C. The temperature was lowered at 10 ° C / min and held at -50 ° C for 5 minutes, and the temperature was raised from -50 ° C to 200 ° C at 10 ° C / min and held at 200 minutes for 5 minutes.

  The thermoplastic elastomer resin (B) used in the present invention is a generic term for polymer materials having flexibility at room temperature, and is not particularly limited. For example, ethylene- (meth) acrylic acid ester copolymer (EA), methyl methacrylate-styrene-butadiene copolymer (MBS), acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer (NBR), styrene-butadiene block copolymer ( SB), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer (SEBS), styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene copolymer, styrene-isoprene-styrene copolymer (SIS), hydrogenated styrene-butadiene block copolymer, Styrene-isoprene block copolymer, hydrogenated styrene-isoprene block copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), low crystalline polybutadiene resin, ethylene-propylene elastomer, styrene-grafted ethylene-propylene elastomer, chlorinated poly Examples thereof include thermoplastic elastomers such as ethylene (CPE), chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSPE), polyurethane, thermoplastic polyester elastomer, thermoplastic polyamide elastomer, and ethylene ionomer resin. These thermoplastic elastomer resins (B) may be modified with a specific functional group such as an epoxy group, a carboxyl group, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, an acid anhydride group, or an oxazoline group. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. However, at least one of a (meth) acrylic acid ester monomer, an acrylonitrile monomer and a styrene monomer is used as a hard segment, and a conjugated diene. Use of a copolymer having a soft monomer as a system monomer is preferable for enhancing the effects of the present invention.

  The weight average molecular weight of the thermoplastic elastomer resin (B) is not particularly limited. However, in consideration of sheet formability, stretchability, and quality as a retardation film, it is measured by GPC using a tetrahydrofuran solvent, and preferably 5000 to 500,000. More preferably, it is 10,000 to 300,000.

  In the retardation film in the present invention, the amorphous resin (A) and the thermoplastic elastomer resin (B) substantially exhibit a phase separation form, and the thermoplastic elastomer resin (B) is an amorphous resin (A). It is preferable that it is dispersed in the amorphous resin (A) that is a matrix phase while maintaining a certain domain structure. The microstructure after the melt-kneading of the amorphous resin (A) and the resin (B) is such that the resin (A) forms a matrix as a continuous phase, and the thermoplastic elastomer resin (B) is an island in the continuous phase. It forms a structure, forms a domain, and is dispersed in the matrix as a discontinuous phase.

  The domain size of the thermoplastic elastomer resin (B) dispersed in the matrix phase made of the amorphous resin (A) is not particularly limited, but the aspect ratio obtained by dividing the domain major axis size by the domain minor axis size is: It is preferable that it is 1-50, and it is preferable that a domain major axis size is 0.1-5 micrometers. When the aspect ratio is 50 or more, the tear propagation resistance in the principal axis direction of the molecular orientation decreases, and the mechanical properties are mainly affected, such as cutting during film transport and the film being easily buckled along the molecular orientation principal axis. Is not preferable. On the other hand, when the domain major axis size is less than 0.1 μm, the slipperiness, which is the gist of the present invention, is lowered. When the domain major axis size is more than 5 μm, the transparency is impaired and the optical compensation film cannot be used.

  The evaluation of the domain dispersion state of the thermoplastic elastomer resin (B) dispersed in the matrix phase made of the amorphous resin (A) was performed using a microtome after the retardation film was dyed with ruthenium tetroxide or the like. Slice into a thickness of about 0.05 μm in the longitudinal and width directions during extrusion molding, observe each cross section using a transmission electron microscope (JEM-1200EXII, manufactured by JEOL Ltd.), and take a photograph. It was. Based on this photograph, the average dispersion diameter and aspect ratio of the domain made of the thermoplastic elastomer resin (B) in the cross-sectional area of 80 μm × 100 μm were measured.

The amorphous resin (A) in the present invention preferably has a photoelastic coefficient of 2.0 × 10 ⁻¹¹ Pa ⁻¹ or less. When the retardation film in the present invention is used as a polarizer protective film, various external forces are applied such as the contraction stress of the polarizing plate, the strain at the time of bonding to the polarizing plate, the stress due to the strain at the time of incorporation into the display, Stress is generated inside the retardation film. In particular, the shrinkage stress of the polarizing plate is large in a high temperature and high humidity environment. The photoelastic coefficient is defined by the following formula (3), and is a value representing a change in birefringence with respect to a stress generated inside the film.
C = Δn / σ (3)
(Where C: photoelastic coefficient (Pa ⁻¹ ), Δn: expression birefringence, σ: film internal stress (Pa))
That is, the smaller the photoelastic coefficient, the smaller the amount of change in birefringence due to external force. If the photoelastic coefficient exceeds 2.0 × 10 ⁻¹¹ Pa ⁻¹ , the optical performance largely changes due to deformation due to external force, so that it is difficult to use for optical film applications. More preferably, it is 1.0 × 10 ⁻¹¹ Pa ⁻¹ or less.

  The difference in refractive index between the amorphous resin (A) and the thermoplastic elastomer resin (B) is preferably 0.2 or less. If it exceeds 0.2, the transparency and residual retardation of the resulting film may be deteriorated, or optical distortion or the like may easily occur. More preferably, it is 0.1 or less, More preferably, it is 0.05 or less, Most preferably, it is 0.03 or less.

  The content of the amorphous resin (A) in the polymer composition is preferably at least 60% by weight or more. If it is less than 60% by weight, the transparency and heat resistance tend to decrease, which is not preferred. The content in the case of adding the thermoplastic elastomer resin (B) is preferably 5 to 40% by weight. If the amount is less than 5% by weight, the effect of improving the frictional properties becomes insufficient. If the amount exceeds 40% by weight, the slipperiness obtained is excessive, and the product form is caused by so-called winding deviation that occurs during film winding. The product form and optical characteristics of the retardation film of the present invention are deteriorated, and the commercial value of the retardation film of the present invention is remarkably lowered. Further, when the thermoplastic elastomer resin (B) is contained in an amount of 40% by weight or more, it is not economically preferable because a film formation defect due to a die swell at the time of forming a sheet and a film thickness defect in the width direction become remarkable.

  The amorphous resin (A) and the thermoplastic elastomer-based resin (B) may include 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-methylphenol, 2 as needed, as long as the object of the present invention is not impaired. Antioxidants such as-(1-methylcyclohexyl) -4,6, dimethylphenol, 2,2-methylene-bis- (4-ethyl-6-tert-butylphenol), tris (di-nonylphenyl phosphite); UV absorbers such as pt-butylphenyl salicylate, 2,2′-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-benzophenone, 2- (2′-dihydroxy-4′-m-octoxyphenyl) benzotriazole; paraffin phenos, Lubricants such as hardened oils; antistatic agents such as stearoazitopropyldimethyl-β-hydroxyethylammonium trate may be contained.

  The method for producing a substantially non-oriented raw film used for the retardation film of the present invention is not particularly limited. For example, an amorphous resin (A) and a thermoplastic elastomer resin (B) are mixed. The raw material resin is supplied to an extruder, melted, kneaded, extruded into a film from a die attached to the tip of the extruder, and cooled by an electrostatic application casting method, a touch roll method, or an air knife casting method. A melt extrusion method for forming a long, substantially non-oriented amorphous resin film by cooling and solidifying on a rotating drum, an amorphous resin (A), and a thermoplastic elastomer resin (B) as an organic solvent After casting the solution dissolved in a drum, endless belt, etc., any conventionally known molding method such as a solution casting method in which an organic solvent is evaporated to form a long non-oriented film is adopted. Been There. In the case where the thickness of the non-oriented film is 80 μm or more, it is difficult to sufficiently evaporate and remove the organic solvent by the solution casting method.

  The retardation film of the present invention is obtained by at least uniaxially stretching the substantially non-oriented amorphous resin film obtained in the film forming step in the longitudinal direction or the width direction with a tenter, and further in both directions. It can also be obtained by biaxial stretching. Regarding the biaxial stretching method, after the stretching in the longitudinal direction or the width direction is completed, the so-called sequential biaxial stretching method in which stretching is performed in the direction orthogonal to the preceding stretching direction, and the so-called simultaneous stretching in which the longitudinal and width directions are simultaneously performed. Biaxial stretching method can be mentioned, but both methods can be appropriately selected in view of required optical compensation performance and productivity, and in view of operability, equipment cost, and expression of optical compensation performance, A sequential biaxial stretching method is preferred. The raw film is preferably substantially non-oriented, that is, having a retardation value close to zero in the film plane and in the film thickness direction. More specifically, each is preferably 20 nm or less, more preferably 10 nm or less.

  The said extending | stretching method is demonstrated concretely. The stretching method in the present invention removes and reduces the residual strain of the amorphous resin film obtained by stretching, the preheating step of heating the non-oriented film to a film temperature at which it can be stretched, the stretching step of stretching the non-oriented film. It is preferable to comprise a heat relaxation step for annealing treatment and a cooling step for fixing the orientation of the amorphous resin film. Note that the thermal relaxation process has a function of reducing the molecular orientation curve pattern (so-called bowing) generated particularly in the tenter clip-type stretched form and aligning the orientation. Examples of the film heating method in each step include a hot roll contact heating method and an air convection heating method using an air floating heating method. Or it is also possible to use both together, and it is selected appropriately according to the stretching form.

  As the longitudinal uniaxial stretching method in the longitudinal direction, a conventionally known method may be adopted, and examples thereof include longitudinal uniaxial stretching methods such as an inter-roll stretching method and a clip tenter method, but in view of operability and equipment costs. The inter-roll stretching method is more preferable. In the inter-roll stretching method, a plurality of rolls having different rotational speeds are arranged at an arbitrary interval in the longitudinal direction, with the upstream installation roll at a low speed and the downstream installation roll at a high speed, and heated through the roll interval. This is a technique in which the film is stretched according to the roll speed difference while the film is conveyed. If the stretching distance defined in practice by the roll disposition distance is smaller than the film width, the molecular orientation in the longitudinal direction will be insufficient, and if it is too long, the film will be wrinkled, contact cracks in the heating furnace members, etc. Is not preferable. What is necessary is just to set appropriately according to the runnability of a film. The roll is preferably provided with a nip mechanism for the purpose of improving the holding force of the film against the roll to improve the grip and further preventing the influence of stress in the stretching process from affecting the preceding and following processes.

  As the lateral uniaxial stretching method in the width direction and the simultaneous biaxial stretching method in the longitudinal direction and the width direction, any conventionally known tenter stretching method may be employed. For example, both ends of the non-oriented film in the width direction A method of stretching the non-oriented film by widening the non-oriented film in the width direction by holding the part with the tenter clip and gradually separating the width in the width direction of the tenter clip, or in addition to the above-mentioned width direction stretching method, pantograph A method of stretching the non-oriented film in the longitudinal direction by gradually separating the clips adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction by using a link mechanism based on a structure or a linear motor system.

  In the preheating step, the non-oriented film is heated to near the temperature at which it can be stretched, and may be heated to near the stretching temperature set in the stretching step. Therefore, the temperature of the non-oriented film in the preheating step is preferably at least isothermal or higher than the film temperature in the stretching step which is the next step, and more specifically, the glass transition temperature of the main constituent resin of the non-oriented film. When Tg is used, it is preferable to perform the pre-heat treatment in the range of Tg to Tg + 40 ° C. If the preheating temperature is low, the stretching stress becomes excessive in the stretching process and the film is likely to be cut. If it is too high, the stretching stress is insufficient, and it becomes difficult to sufficiently obtain the following stretching effect.

  In addition, the substantially non-oriented amorphous resin film expands and deforms by heating and widens the sheet width, so that it relaxes downward due to its own weight while passing through the preheating step, and comes into contact with members in the furnace such as a hot air nozzle. There is a case. In the case of longitudinal uniaxial stretching by the inter-roll stretching method, it is possible to avoid such running trouble by providing a mechanism capable of independently adjusting the film tension at the entrance of the preheating process and the film tension at the exit of the process. Similarly, in the case of the tenter clip type lateral uniaxial stretching or simultaneous biaxial stretching, it is possible to avoid such a traveling trouble by widening the clip rail width in advance with respect to the seat width.

  In the stretching step, while heating the non-oriented film, by deforming at least one of the longitudinal direction or the width direction of the film, the film constituent molecules that were substantially non-oriented are oriented in a specific direction, The optical anisotropy including birefringence is imparted to exhibit a function as a retardation film, and further, mechanical properties and durability as a film by molecular orientation by stretching are improved.

  If the temperature of the non-oriented film in the stretching step is low, the film will be cut during stretching due to excessive stretching stress, and the tenter clip may be detached. If it is too high, the stretching stress will be insufficient, and it will be impossible to obtain the above-mentioned stretching effect sufficiently, and the desired retardation value may not be obtained in favor of orientation relaxation. Therefore, Tg-20 to Tg + 40 ° C of the main constituent resin of the film is preferable, and Tg-10 ° C to Tg + 20 ° C of the main constituent resin of the film is more preferable.

  The stretching time from the start to the end of deformation in the stretching step is preferably 10 to 100 seconds, more preferably 20 to 60 seconds. If it is longer than this, the retardation will be remarkably lowered by thermal relaxation, and the molecular orientation effect by stretching cannot be obtained. When shortened, due to the remarkable bowing phenomenon, the uneven distribution of the slow axis in the film width direction cannot be corrected, and the film is cut during stretching due to excessive stretching stress, and the tenter clip is detached, etc. Film running stability will be impaired.

  The stretching ratio in the stretching step may be appropriately determined depending on the compensation retardation amount of the obtained retardation film. However, if the stretching ratio is low, the orientation direction may not be evenly aligned. Since the central portion is slack and the retardation value, slow axis and thickness width distribution are non-uniform, 1.1 to 6 times are preferable, and 1.5 to 5 times are more preferable.

  The stretching strain rate in the stretching step is preferably 50% / min or more. When the strain rate is reduced, the expression of retardation is reduced. On the other hand, when the strain rate is too high, the film is cut or the tenter clip is detached. Therefore, the rate is more preferably 100 to 2000% / min. In addition, by performing stretching at a high strain rate, particularly in the stretching by the tenter clip method, it is possible to increase the clip rail opening angle and shorten the furnace length of the stretching zone as much as possible.

  The thermal relaxation process is a process for removing and reducing residual strain of the stretched film, controlling molecular orientation, and aligning optical characteristics and thickness in the width direction. This is a process for reducing the bowing of the stretched film and aligning the orientation. If the temperature in this process is too high, the retardation value decreases, so the temperature in this process is Tg-30 ° C. of the main constituent resin of the film. -Tg + 20 degreeC is preferable.

  The cooling step is a step for fixing the molecular orientation formed on the film by rapidly cooling the film, and the cooling temperature is preferably Tg-50 ° C to Tg-5 ° C of the main constituent resin of the film.

  The retardation film of the present invention needs to have a static friction coefficient of 0.5 or less. By setting the static friction coefficient within the above range, film blocking does not occur inside the scroll even if a surface protective film is not used. When the coefficient of static friction is 0.5 or more, a single film that does not use a surface protective film is blocked in a roll state, and the commercial value as a retardation film is remarkably impaired, and the use of a surface protective film is inevitable. On the other hand, as the film surface slipperiness becomes excessive, film meandering becomes more prominent, and a phenomenon called a so-called telescope or bamboo shoot, which may cause a roll shape to collapse, may also reduce the commercial value. . Therefore, the static friction coefficient is preferably 0.3 or more.

  It is possible to confirm the blocking state inside the scroll by the film tension (hereinafter referred to as the unfolding force) when the film is unwound at an unwinding speed of 10 m / min. In the retardation film of the present invention, this developing force can be 1 N / 50 mm width or less, and by setting the developing force within the above range, the film can be contained inside a scroll without using a surface protective film. Therefore, unwinding can be performed without problems in the next process without causing problems such as breakage during unwinding. On the other hand, unless a certain unfolding force is maintained, film meandering and shape deformation at the time of unwinding occur, making it impossible to use in the next process. Therefore, the deploying force is more preferably 0.3 N / 50 mm width or more.

The retardation film obtained by the present invention preferably has a front retardation R0 defined by the following formula (1) in the range of 20 to 300 nm.
R0 = (nx−ny) × d (1)
(Where nx: maximum refractive index in the film plane, ny: refractive index in the direction perpendicular to the nx direction in the film plane, nz: refractive index in the film thickness direction, d: thickness of the retardation film)

  When the retardation film is laminated on the liquid crystal panel by controlling the front retardation R0 within the above range, a stable and high-quality image display can be obtained. When the value of the retardation R0 deviates from the above range, the birefringence when passing through the liquid crystal cannot be fully compensated, and the commercial value as a retardation film is lowered.

On the other hand, it is preferable that the retardation film obtained by this invention satisfies the range whose Nz coefficient defined by following formula (2) is -1-5.
Nz = (nx−nz) / (nx−ny) (2)

  Similar to the front retardation R0, by controlling the Nz coefficient within the above range, when the retardation film is laminated on the liquid crystal panel, the characteristics inherent to the liquid crystal display device such as a wide viewing angle and high contrast are further enhanced. Therefore, stable and high-quality image display can be obtained.

  The retardation film obtained by the present invention preferably has a molecular main chain orientation angle θ (°) within 0.5 ° with respect to the width direction of the film. When the molecular main chain orientation angle θ falls within the above range, the molecular main chain is uniformly aligned and the optical axis is stabilized. Therefore, when it is laminated on a liquid crystal panel, there is no display unevenness and a stable image display can be obtained.

  Further, the average thickness of the retardation film obtained according to the present invention is not particularly limited, but it does not impair predetermined birefringence and has a certain mechanical strength, and is further laminated on a liquid crystal display device. In view of the weight reduction of members that are important to the above, in order to be suitably used as an optical compensation film, the thickness is preferably in the range of 20 to 200 μm, more preferably 30 to 100 μm.

  The retardation film in the present invention preferably has a haze value of 8% or less. If it exceeds 5%, it may cause light leakage when used for applications such as a polarizing plate protective film. More preferably, it is 5% or less, further preferably 3% or less, and particularly preferably 1% or less.

  The retardation film provided by the present invention is subjected to surface activation treatment such as corona treatment, plasma treatment, ultraviolet irradiation and various chemical treatments on its surface, and various functional coatings and laminates by coating processing and vapor deposition. It is possible to add various performances and to further improve the utility value.

  The retardation film thus obtained is suitably used as a component of a liquid crystal display device. However, even if the retardation film is used alone, it is laminated and integrated with a polarizing plate and used as a composite polarizing plate. Alternatively, instead of the protective film on the liquid crystal cell side of the polarizing plate, it may be laminated and integrated through an adhesive to form a polarizing plate. Since the thickness of the liquid crystal display device can be improved and the production efficiency can be improved, instead of the protective film on the liquid crystal cell side of the polarizing plate, a retardation film is preferably laminated and integrated through an adhesive, as a polarizing plate. It is preferable to use it.

  Next, the point which manufactures a liquid crystal display device using the said retardation film independently is demonstrated. As the liquid crystal display device using the retardation film, a polarizing plate is disposed on each of the outer surfaces of the pair of substrates constituting the liquid crystal cell, and at least one of the substrates of the liquid crystal cell, preferably The retardation film is interposed between the substrate on the liquid crystal display surface side and the polarizing plate facing the substrate, and on the polarizing plate disposed on the substrate side opposite to the liquid crystal display surface in the liquid crystal cell. A liquid crystal display device can be obtained by disposing a known illumination system of a backlight type or a sidelight type and incorporating a drive circuit.

  Furthermore, in the liquid crystal display device, the retardation film may be laminated and integrated on one surface of the polarizing plate in advance via an adhesive or a pressure-sensitive adhesive and used as a composite polarizing plate.

  The adhesive or pressure-sensitive adhesive used for laminating and integrating the retardation film and the polarizing plate is not particularly limited as long as these optical properties are not impaired, and an acrylic adhesive or pressure-sensitive adhesive. A transparent material such as is used.

  Moreover, what is conventionally used widely is used for the said polarizing plate, and a protective film is laminated | stacked and integrated on both surfaces of a polarizer. Examples of this polarizer include polyvinyl alcohol / iodine polarizing films, dye polarizing films in which dichroic dyes are adsorbed and oriented on polyvinyl alcohol films, dehydration reactions from polyvinyl alcohol films, and polyvinyl chloride films. Examples include a polyene polarizing film in which a polyene is formed by dehydrochlorination reaction, a polarizing film having a dichroic dye on the surface and / or inside of a polyvinyl alcohol film made of modified polyvinyl alcohol containing a cationic group in the molecule, and the like. It is done.

  And as a manufacturing method of the above-mentioned polarizer, for example, a method of adsorbing iodine ions after stretching a polyvinyl alcohol film, a method of stretching a polyvinyl alcohol film after dyeing with a dichroic dye, and after stretching a polyvinyl alcohol film Examples thereof include a method of dyeing with dichroic dyeing, a method of stretching a dichroic dye on a polyvinyl alcohol film after printing, a method of printing a dichroic dye after stretching a polyvinyl alcohol film, and the like.

  The polyvinyl alcohol is not limited to those obtained by saponifying polyvinyl acetate obtained by homopolymerizing a vinyl acetate monomer, but a small amount of olefins, vinyl ethers, unsaturated sulfonates. Alternatively, an unsaturated carboxylic acid or a salt thereof, ester, amide, nitrile or the like may be copolymerized.

  And as a protective film laminated | stacked and integrated on both surfaces of the said polarizer, if it does not inhibit the optical characteristic of a polarizer, it will not specifically limit, For example, from triacetyl cellulose, the triacetyl cellulose etc. which were alkali-processed The film which becomes is mentioned.

  Next, the case where the retardation film is used by forming a polarizing plate by directly laminating and integrating with a polarizer via an adhesive instead of the protective film on the liquid crystal cell side of the polarizing plate will be described. The adhesive may be any adhesive that does not interfere with the optical properties of the polarizer and the retardation film, and is preferably an aqueous urethane adhesive.

  Then, as a point of laminating and integrating the retardation film on the liquid crystal cell side surface of the polarizer via an adhesive, one of the opposing surfaces of the polarizer and the retardation film, preferably An example is a method in which an adhesive is applied almost uniformly on the surface of the retardation film, and then the polarizer and the retardation film are stacked and integrated with the adhesive interposed therebetween.

At this time, if the coating amount of the adhesive applied to the polarizer or the retardation film is small, the adhesive strength between the polarizer and the retardation film is lowered, and the adhesive film is interposed between the polarizer and the retardation film. On the other hand, the optical characteristics may be impaired due to the formation of a gap, but if it is large, the adhesive may not be sufficiently dried and the polarizer may be bent or the degree of polarization may be reduced. It is preferable to adjust so that the coating amount of the adhesive immediately after coating on the retardation film is 0.05 to 10 g / m ² .

On the other hand, a normal light isotropic protective film is laminated and integrated via an adhesive on the surface opposite to the surface on which the retardation film of the polarizer is laminated and integrated. When the difference in moisture permeability with the retardation film is large, there is a problem that the polarizing plate is curved. Therefore, when selecting the protective film, the moisture permeability of the protective film is the moisture permeability of the retardation film. It is preferable to select within about ± 50%, more preferably within about ± 30%.

As a liquid crystal display device using a polarizing plate using the retardation film as a protective film, at least a liquid crystal display surface side of polarizing plates disposed on each of a pair of substrate outer surfaces constituting a liquid crystal cell. As the polarizing plate, this polarizing plate can be obtained by arranging the retardation film surface on the liquid crystal cell side.

The liquid crystal cell is not particularly limited as long as it is a liquid crystal cell system that has been conventionally used. However, when the present invention is applied to a VA mode or an IPS mode excellent in display performance as a large screen, an excellent effect can be obtained. In the VA mode, the alignment of liquid crystal molecules is changed in a direction perpendicular to the panel substrate to control transmitted light. At this time, the refractive index in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal cell in the light passing through the liquid crystal cell is increased, and refractive index anisotropy appears, and light leaks depending on the viewing angle. On the other hand, the IPS mode controls the transmitted light by changing the orientation of liquid crystal molecules in a horizontal plane parallel to the panel substrate. At this time, the refractive index in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal cell in the light passing through the liquid crystal cell becomes small and refractive index anisotropy appears, and light leaks depending on the viewing angle. In the retardation film of the present invention, a resin material having positive or negative intrinsic birefringence is appropriately selected according to the liquid crystal display system, and the non-oriented film is stretched to extend in the panel parallel plane and in the thickness direction. By controlling the refractive index and effectively compensating for the reduced refractive index of the liquid crystal cell, the so-called viewing angle dependency of the resulting liquid crystal display device, such as the front contrast and the change in contrast due to the expected angle, is greatly improved. Is possible.

When using the retardation film in any form, it is necessary to adjust so that the slow axis of the retardation film and the absorption axis of the polarizing film or polarizer adjacent to the retardation film are orthogonal to each other. .

  The constitution of the present invention is as described above. As an effect thereof, a retardation film that is economical and excellent in workability can be obtained. When the retardation film of the present invention is used in a liquid crystal display device, the birefringence of the liquid crystal substance is compensated to eliminate display unevenness, the contrast is excellent, the viewing angle characteristics are excellent, and the image display of the liquid crystal panel can be stabilized. It becomes.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

(Non-oriented film production example 1)
92 parts by weight of polymethylmethacrylate resin (methyl methacrylate component content 55 mol%, styrene component content 30 mol%, maleic anhydride component content 15 mol%, Tg = 120 ° C., weight average molecular weight: 120,000), and acrylonitrile -Styrene-butadiene copolymer (butadiene component content 50 mol%, styrene component content 25 mol%, acrylonitrile component content 18 mol%, methyl methacrylate component content 7 mol%, weight average molecular weight: 48000) 8 weight The parts were mixed, supplied and filled into a twin screw extruder set at a cylinder temperature of 260 ° C., and the extruded strand was cut with a pelletizer to produce a pellet of mixed resin (C).

  The mixed resin (C) is supplied to a single-screw extruder, melt-kneaded at a cylinder temperature of 260 ° C., then melt-extruded from a T die onto a chrome plating roll at a take-up speed of 10 m / min, cooled and solidified, and continuously in a sheet form. Film formation was performed to obtain a substantially non-oriented amorphous resin film. The width of the obtained non-oriented film was 1500 mm and the average thickness in the width direction was 150 μm, and the non-oriented film (C-1) was the same, and the non-oriented film (C-2) was 100 μm. The domain dispersed diameter dispersed in the non-oriented film (C-1) was 0.61 μm, and the domain dispersed diameter of the non-oriented film (C-2) was 0.75 μm.

(Non-oriented film production example 2)
A norbornene resin (“ZEONOR 1420”, weight average molecular weight = 50000, glass transition temperature Tg = 135 ° C., manufactured by Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd.) instead of polymethyl methacrylate resin, twin-screw extruder and film melting in the pellet production process A pellet of mixed resin (D) is produced in the same manner as in Production Example 1 except that the cylinder temperature of the single-screw extruder in the film forming process is changed to 270 ° C. Got. The width of the obtained non-oriented film was 1500 mm and the average thickness in the width direction was 150 μm, and the non-oriented film (D-1) was the same, and the non-oriented film (D-2) was 100 μm. The domain dispersed diameter dispersed in the non-oriented film (D-1) was 0.43 μm, and the domain dispersed diameter of the non-oriented film (D-2) was 0.54 μm.

(Non-oriented film production example 3)
Instead of polymethyl methacrylate resin, a maleimide copolymer resin (maleimide component content 50 mol%, isobutene component content 50 mol%, Tg = 145 ° C., weight average molecular weight: 250,000), pellet preparation step A mixed resin (E) pellet is produced in the same manner as in Production Example 1 except that the cylinder temperature of the twin screw extruder and the single screw extruder of the film melting film forming process is changed to 280 ° C. A non-oriented film was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1. The obtained non-oriented film had a width of 1500 mm and an average thickness in the width direction of 150 μm as an amorphous resin film (E-1). The domain dispersion diameter dispersed in the non-oriented film (E-1) was 0.90 μm.

(Non-oriented film production example 4)
Instead of acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-ethylene-butylene copolymer (styrene component content 30 mol%, ethylene component content 40 mol%, butylene component content 30 mol%, weight average molecular weight: 160000 The mixed resin (F) pellets were produced in the same manner as in Production Example 1 except that the non-oriented film (F-1) was obtained in the same manner as in Production Example 1. The obtained non-oriented film had a width of 1500 mm and an average thickness of 150 μm. The domain dispersion diameter dispersed in the non-oriented film (F-1) was 1.57 μm.

(Non-oriented film production example 5)
A pellet of the mixed resin (G) was produced in the same manner as in Production Example 2 except that the styrene-ethylene-butylene copolymer described in Production Example 4 was used instead of the acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene copolymer. A non-oriented film (G-1) was obtained in the same manner as in Production Example 2. The obtained non-oriented film had a width of 1500 mm and an average thickness of 150 μm. The domain dispersion diameter dispersed in the non-oriented film (G-1) was 1.26 μm.

(Non-oriented film production example 6)
Production Example 1 except that the acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene copolymer described in Production Example 1 is not mixed and only 100 parts by weight of the polymethyl methacrylate resin described in Production Example 1 is used in the production of the non-oriented film. In the same manner as above, a pellet of mixed resin (H) was produced, and a non-oriented film was obtained in the same manner as in Production Example 1. The obtained non-oriented film had a width of 1500 mm and an average thickness in the width direction of 150 μm, which was designated as a non-oriented film (H-1), and a film having a width of 100 μm was designated as a non-oriented film (H-2).

(Non-oriented film production example 7)
In the production of the non-oriented film, the same as in Production Example 2 except that the acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene copolymer described in Production Example 1 is not mixed and only 100 parts by weight of the norbornene-based resin described in Production Example 2 is used. Then, a pellet of mixed resin (I) was produced, and a non-oriented film was obtained in the same manner as in Production Example 2. The obtained amorphous resin film has a width of 1500 mm and an average thickness in the width direction of 150 μm as non-oriented film (I-1), and the same non-oriented film (I-2) as 100 μm. did.

(Non-oriented film production example 8)
The production of the non-oriented film is the same as Production Example 2 except that the acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene copolymer described in Production Example 1 is not mixed and only 100 parts by weight of the maleimide resin described in Production Example 3 is used. Then, a pellet of mixed resin (J) was produced, and a non-oriented film (J-1) was obtained in the same manner as in Production Example 2. The obtained non-oriented film had a width of 1500 mm and an average thickness of 150 μm.

(Examples 1-7, Comparative Examples 1-3)
The unoriented film obtained by the above production examples 1 to 8 is continuously unwound, and is supplied to a horizontal uniaxial tenter stretching machine having a preheating zone, a stretching zone, a thermal relaxation zone and a cooling zone, at a film conveying speed of 20 m / After feeding the end with a tenter clip, preheating and heating the non-oriented film in the preheating zone, the film is stretched in the width direction while heating the film in the stretching zone, and then annealed in the subsequent thermal relaxation zone Further, the orientation was fixed by cooling to 80 ° C. in the cooling zone. At the subsequent stretching machine exit, the film end is released from the clip gripping at a film conveyance speed of 20 m / min, and the film end where the clip gripping trace remains in the subsequent slitting process is placed symmetrically from the film center with a shear blade. The film was removed by slitting, and in the final winding process, the film was wound in a roll shape around a vinyl chloride resin core at a winding tension of 100 N / m to obtain a retardation film. At the time of winding, a surface protection film for preventing blocking is not used. Table 1 and Table 2 show the types of non-oriented films, the temperatures of the preheating zone, the stretching zone, and the thermal relaxation zone, and the stretching ratio.

  The width of the obtained retardation film was 1340 mm excluding both ends including the tenter clip grip marks, and the average thickness was as shown in Tables 1 and 2. The static friction coefficient, front retardation R0, and Nz coefficient of the film were measured, the average value was calculated from the obtained measured values, and the results are shown in Tables 1 and 2. Moreover, the blocking resistance of the obtained retardation film roll is also shown in Tables 1 and 2.

(Examples 8-9, Comparative Examples 4-5)
Roll-type longitudinal uniaxial stretching having the preheating zone, the stretching zone, the thermal relaxation zone, and the cooling zone, continuously unwinding the non-oriented film described in Tables 1 and 2 obtained by the above Production Examples 1-2 and 6-7. After feeding the non-oriented film at the temperature shown in Table 1 and Table 2 in the preheating zone at the film heating speed of 10 m / min at the inlet of the preheating zone, the upstream nip roll and the downstream arranged before and after the stretching zone A rotation speed ratio was given to the side nip roll, the film was stretched in the longitudinal direction while being heated in the stretching zone, annealed in the subsequent thermal relaxation zone, and further cooled to 80 ° C. in the cooling zone to fix the orientation. A part of the film edge is removed by slitting with a shear blade installed symmetrically from the center of the film, and wound into a roll of vinyl chloride resin at a winding speed of 20 m / min and a winding tension of 100 N / m. A retardation film was obtained. At the time of winding, a surface protection film for preventing blocking is not used. Table 1 and Table 2 show the types of non-oriented films, the temperatures of the preheating zone, the stretching zone, and the thermal relaxation zone, and the stretching ratio.

  The width | variety of the obtained retardation film was 1000 mm except the both ends, and the average thickness was as Tables 1 and 2. The static friction coefficient, front retardation R0, and Nz coefficient of the film were measured, the average value was calculated from the obtained measured values, and the results are shown in Tables 1 and 2. The blocking resistance of the obtained retardation film rolls are also shown in Tables 1 and 2.

  In addition, the measuring method of the average thickness of a phase difference film, a static friction coefficient, the front retardation value R0 of a phase difference film, and a Nz coefficient, and the blocking resistance evaluation method of a phase difference film roll are as follows.

Measuring method of average thickness of retardation film Film thickness measuring device (product name “Millitron 1240” manufactured by Seiko EM Co., Ltd.) was measured at intervals of 10 mm parallel to the width direction of the retardation film, and the total average of the measured values was calculated. The average thickness (μm) of the film was calculated.

Method of measuring static friction coefficient of retardation film Using a device that tilts a rigid and smooth polypropylene molded plate without deflection to an arbitrary elevation angle, a true surface of a weight of 200 g having a flat surface of 50 mm in length and 50 mm in width. Retardation films collected from the central part and the left and right end parts in the width direction were respectively attached to the flat surface of the cast plate, and placed on a polypropylene molded plate so that the film surface and the plate surface were in contact with each other, and held horizontally for 1 minute. . Next, the angle formed by the horizontal plane and the polypropylene molding plate is tilted at a speed of 3 ° / second, and the tilt angle (θ) at the time when the true cast plate with the film attached starts to descend, The tangent of the angle (tan θ) was determined, and the average value of the three measured values obtained was calculated as the static friction coefficient of the film.

Method for evaluating blocking resistance of scroll In accordance with JIS Z 0237, the retardation film is left as a scroll having a width of 50 mm and a length of 50 m for 1000 hours in an atmosphere of 40 ° C. and then taken out. The unfolding force when unwinding in minutes was measured.

Measuring method of front retardation value R0 of retardation film Automatic birefringence measuring apparatus (product name “KOBRA-WR” manufactured by Oji Scientific Instruments Co., Ltd.), setting the wavelength of measuring light to 550 nm and orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the retardation film The retardation axis was measured at intervals of 50 mm in the width direction, and the total average value was calculated as the front retardation value R0 of the film.

Method for measuring Nz coefficient of retardation film Automatic birefringence measuring device (manufactured by Oji Scientific Instruments Co., Ltd., trade name “KOBRA-WR”), the wavelength of measuring light is set to 550 nm, and the axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the retardation film is The phase difference film was measured at 50 mm intervals in the width direction as the reference axis, and the average value was calculated as the Nz coefficient of the film.

Claims (6)

A film composed of an amorphous resin (A) and a thermoplastic elastomer resin (B) that substantially exhibits a phase separation form with respect to the amorphous resin (A) is stretched in at least one direction of the longitudinal direction or the width direction. A retardation film having a static friction coefficient of 0.5 or less. The front retardation R0 defined by the following formula (1) is in the range of 20 to 300 nm, and the Nz coefficient defined by the following formula (2) is in the range of -1 to 5. The retardation film described.
R0 = (nx−ny) × d (1)
Nz = (nx−nz) / (nx−ny) (2)
(Where nx: maximum refractive index in the film plane, ny: refractive index in the direction perpendicular to the nx direction in the film plane, nz: refractive index in the film thickness direction, d: thickness of the retardation film) The retardation film according to claim 1, wherein the amorphous resin (A) is selected from at least one of a cyclic olefin resin, a maleimide resin, and an acrylic resin. The composite polarizing plate by which the retardation film in any one of Claims 1-3 is integrally laminated | stacked on the one side of the polarizing plate. The polarizing plate by which the phase difference film in any one of Claims 1-3 is laminated | stacked integrally on the one surface of a polarizer. A liquid crystal display device in which the composite polarizing plate according to claim 4 or the polarizing plate according to claim 5 is laminated on at least one of the outer surfaces of a pair of substrates constituting the liquid crystal cell.