JP6120196B1 - Dimming cell - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a light control cell in which a sealing material is firmly bonded to an alignment film while using a resin as a base material for supporting an electrode portion. A light control cell includes a pair of polarizing elements and a pair of electrode base layers 27 disposed between the pair of polarizing elements, and are fixed to a resin film and the resin film, respectively. A pair of electrode base material layers 27 each having an electrode portion 25; a pair of alignment films 29 disposed between the pair of electrode base material layers 27; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the pair of alignment films 29; And a sealing material 32 disposed adjacent to the liquid crystal layer between the alignment films 29. At least a part of the components constituting the sealing material 32 is 30 nanometers from the end surface on the sealing material 32 side of at least one of the pair of alignment films 29 in the stacking direction D of the pair of alignment films 29 and the sealing material 32. It penetrates into parts that are more than a meter apart. [Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a light control cell that can change light transmittance using liquid crystal, and more particularly to a light control cell in which a sealing material is formed on an alignment film.

  There is known a dimming cell in which the light transmittance can be changed by changing an electric field applied to a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between alignment films. In such a light control cell, the liquid crystal layer is surrounded by the sealing material between the alignment films, and the outflow of liquid crystal between the alignment films and the entry of the outside air into the liquid crystal layer are prevented.

  The application of such a sealing material for sealing the liquid crystal layer is generally performed on the “substrate, electrode layer, and alignment film” that are integrally formed.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a sealing material for a liquid crystal display device. In this liquid crystal display device, the array substrate and the counter substrate are bonded together by a sealing material, and the liquid crystal layer is sealed in a space formed by the array substrate, the counter substrate and the sealing material. Specifically, a sealing material is applied on an array substrate formed by forming various electrodes and an alignment film on a glass substrate, a liquid crystal composition is dropped on the array substrate, and the counter electrode and the alignment film are made of glass. A counter substrate formed on the substrate is overlaid on the sealing material.

JP 2002-214626 A

  Since the sealing material is a member for sealing the liquid crystal layer between the alignment films, the sealing material needs to be provided on the alignment film so as to have the same height as the liquid crystal layer or a larger height. However, the degree of adhesion of the sealing material to the alignment film is not necessarily strong. For example, the adhesive strength between a polyimide widely used as an alignment film and a commercially available sealing material is weak, and assuming a dimming cell used in a window part of a vehicle (automobile), the polyimide and a commercially available sealing material It is practically difficult to ensure the position fixing performance of the sealing material and the adhesion performance between the alignment films only by the adhesive force between them.

  On the other hand, the adhesive force between indium tin oxide (ITO), which is widely used as an electrode, and a commercially available sealing material is often strong. Therefore, normally, a sealing material is disposed not only on the alignment film but also on the electrode. In this case, the liquid crystal layer is appropriately sealed on the alignment film by the sealing material on the alignment film while ensuring the strong position fixing performance of the sealing material and the adhesion performance between the electrodes by the adhesive force between the electrode and the sealing material. Can be stopped. However, in this method, since it is necessary to dispose the sealing material also on the electrode, the sealing material can be provided only in a portion where the electrode is exposed in the vicinity, and in a portion where the electrode is not exposed in the vicinity. Sealing material cannot be provided. Therefore, for example, the seal material is formed on the alignment film by a roll-to-roll method in which it is necessary to dispose the seal material in the alignment film where the electrode is not exposed in the vicinity. I couldn't.

  Moreover, when using resin (resin film) instead of glass as a base material which supports an electrode, the said resin base material may be heated and gas (degassing) may arise. Such a gas generated from the resin base material may enter between the sealing material and the alignment film to weaken the adhesion and adhesive force between the sealing material and the alignment film. For this reason, when using a resin as a base material for supporting the alignment film, it has been particularly difficult to ensure the adhesive strength of the sealing material to the alignment film with high reliability over a long period of time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a light control cell in which a sealing material is firmly bonded to an alignment film while using a resin as a base material for supporting an electrode portion. And

  One embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of polarizing elements and a pair of electrode base layers disposed between the pair of polarizing elements, each having a resin film and an electrode portion fixed to the resin film. A pair of electrode substrate layers, a pair of alignment films disposed between a pair of electrode substrate layers, a liquid crystal layer disposed between a pair of alignment films, and a liquid crystal layer adjacent to each other between the pair of alignment films And at least part of the components constituting the seal material is a laminate of the pair of alignment films and the seal material from the end surface on the seal material side of at least one of the pair of alignment films. The present invention relates to a light control cell that penetrates to a part separated by 30 nanometers or more with respect to the direction.

  The sealing material includes a thermosetting component, and the component constituting the sealing material that permeates at least one of the pair of alignment films may include a thermosetting component.

  The thermosetting component may be an epoxy resin.

  The pair of alignment films may include an organic compound.

  The organic compound may be polyimide.

  The sealing material may contain a photocurable component.

  According to the present invention, since at least a part of the components constituting the sealing material sufficiently permeates the alignment layer, the alignment film can be used even when the resin film is used as the base material for supporting the electrode portion. In contrast, the sealing material can be firmly bonded.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a light control system. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional example of the light control cell. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view conceptually showing a laminated structure of a sealing material, an alignment film, an electrode part, and a resin film. FIG. 4 is an SEM image of a cross section in the vicinity of the sealing material of the actually manufactured light controlling cell, and shows the light controlling cell solidified in a state where the sealing material hardly penetrates the alignment film. FIG. 5 is an SEM image of a cross section in the vicinity of the sealing material of an actually manufactured dimming cell, showing the dimming cell solidified in a state where the sealing material sufficiently penetrates the alignment film. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of a manufacturing method of the light control cell, and shows a cross section of each element constituting the light control cell. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of a manufacturing method of the light control cell, and shows a cross section of each element constituting the light control cell. FIG. 8 is a schematic view for explaining an example of a manufacturing method of the light control cell, and shows a cross section of each element constituting the light control cell. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of a manufacturing method of the light control cell, and shows a cross section of each element constituting the light control cell. FIG. 10 is a schematic view for explaining an example of a method for manufacturing a light control cell, and shows a cross section of each element constituting the light control cell. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of a manufacturing method of the light control cell, and shows a cross section of each element constituting the light control cell. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of a manufacturing method of the light control cell, and shows a cross section of each element constituting the light control cell. FIG. 13 is a view for explaining a method of forming a sealing material on an alignment film by a roll-to-roll method, and is an integrally formed electrode part (electrode base material layer) and alignment film laminate FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings attached to the present specification, for convenience of illustration and understanding, there are places where the scales and dimensional ratios of each element are exaggerated and changed from the actual scales and dimensional ratios. . Further, in the present specification, for example, various terms are not necessarily distinguished from each other based only on a difference in names. For example, the term “film” may generically indicate a member called a sheet, film, layer or layer. In addition, the terms used in this specification to specify shapes, geometric conditions, and their degrees are not limited to strict meanings, but may mean a range where substantially equivalent and similar functions can be expected. As interpreted.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a light control system 5.

  The light control cell 10 of this example has a liquid crystal layer made of a liquid crystal material containing liquid crystal molecules as will be described later, and switches between blocking and transmitting light and continuously changing the light transmittance (transmittance). can do. The application object of the light control cell 10 is not specifically limited, Typically, the light control cell 10 can be applied with respect to a window, a door, etc., for example, it can apply with respect to a building or a vehicle (vehicle etc.).

  The dimming cell 10 is connected to the dimming controller 12 via an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuits), and the dimming controller 12 is connected to the sensor device 14 and the user operation unit 16. The dimming controller 12 can control the dimming state of the dimming cell 10, switch between blocking and transmitting light by the dimming cell 10, and change the light transmittance in the dimming cell 10. Specifically, the dimming controller 12 adjusts the electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer of the dimming cell 10 to change the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer, thereby blocking and transmitting light by the dimming cell 10. It can be switched and the light transmission can be changed.

  The dimming controller 12 can adjust the electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer based on an arbitrary method. For example, the dimming controller 12 adjusts the electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer according to the measurement result of the sensor device 14 or an instruction (command) input by the user via the user operation unit 16, and the light from the dimming cell 10. It is possible to switch between blocking and transmitting light and changing the light transmittance. Therefore, the dimming controller 12 may automatically adjust the electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer according to the measurement result of the sensor device 14 or manually according to a user instruction via the user operation unit 16. You may adjust. Note that the measurement target by the sensor device 14 is not particularly limited, and for example, the brightness of the usage environment may be measured. In this case, light blocking and transmission switching or light transmittance change by the dimming cell 10 is used. This is done according to the brightness of the environment. In addition, both the sensor device 14 and the user operation unit 16 are not necessarily connected to the dimming controller 12, and only one of the sensor device 14 and the user operation unit 16 may be connected. .

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional example of the light control cell 10.

  The light control cell 10 of this example includes a pair of polarizing elements 21, a pair of electrode base material layers 27 disposed between the pair of polarizing elements 21, and a pair of orientations disposed between the pair of electrode base material layers 27. A film 29; a liquid crystal layer 31 disposed between the pair of alignment films 29; and a sealing material 32 disposed adjacent to the liquid crystal layer 31 between the pair of alignment films 29.

  Each of the pair of electrode base layers 27 includes a resin film 23 and an electrode portion 25 that is fixed to the resin film 23. The polarizing element 21 is attached to the resin film 23, and the alignment film 29 is stacked in layers on the electrode portion 25.

  Between the pair of alignment films 29, a large number of spacers 33 are disposed that serve to maintain a gap (cell gap) between the alignment films 29 so that the liquid crystal layer 31 has a uniform thickness as a whole. In the illustrated example, a bead-shaped (spherical) spacer 33 is used, but the shape of the spacer 33 is not particularly limited, and a columnar (for example, truncated cone-shaped) spacer 33 may be used. In the illustrated example, each spacer 33 exists only between the pair of alignment films 29, but the position where each spacer 33 exists is not particularly limited. For example, not only the liquid crystal layer 31 but also one alignment film 29 is provided. Each spacer 33 may extend in the stacking direction D so as to penetrate therethrough.

  Each of the pair of polarizing elements 21 is configured as a so-called polarizing plate (polarizing filter) and transmits only light having a specific polarization direction. That is, each polarizing element 21 has a unique polarization axis and absorption axis, and allows only light polarized in a specific direction to pass therethrough. The arrangement form between the pair of polarizing elements 21 is not particularly limited, and the arrangement form between the pair of polarizing elements 21 is determined in relation to the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules contained in the liquid crystal layer 31. Typically, a state called “cross Nicol” in which the pair of polarizing elements 21 are arranged so that the polarization axes are orthogonal to each other, or the pair of polarizing elements 21 are arranged so that the polarization axes are parallel to each other. There is a state called “Parallel Nicol”.

  Each of the pair of resin films 23 is made of resin at least in part, and exhibits a high flexibility. Therefore, according to the light control cell 10 according to the present embodiment, “bonding of the light control cell 10 to a curved surface”, which is difficult when a glass substrate is used, is easy. Thus, at least any one of the pair of resin films 23 may be bent (curved) in whole or in part.

The pair of electrode portions 25 applies a desired electric field to the liquid crystal layer 31 when a voltage is applied by the dimming controller 12 (see FIG. 1). The member which comprises each electrode part 25, and the arrangement | positioning form of each electrode part 25 are not specifically limited. For example, indium tin oxide (ITO: Indium
Each electrode part 25 can be comprised with the member excellent in visible light transmittance | permeability and electroconductivity, such as Tin Oxide).

  A liquid crystal member constituting the liquid crystal layer 31 is filled between the pair of alignment films 29 together with a plurality of spacers 33. The pair of alignment films 29 is a member for aligning the liquid crystal molecule group included in the liquid crystal layer 31 in a desired direction. The alignment method of the liquid crystal layer 31 by the pair of alignment films 29 is not particularly limited, and for example, a TN (Twisted Nematic) method, a VA (Vertical Alignment) method, or an IPS (In-Place-Switching) method can be employed. The members constituting each alignment film 29 are not particularly limited, and for example, an organic compound polyimide can be suitably used as the material of the alignment film.

  In the dimming cell 10 having the above-described laminated structure, elements other than the above-described elements may be disposed at arbitrary positions, and the dimming cell 10 may include various members for imparting an arbitrary function. Good. For example, when it is desired to improve the rigidity of the light control cell 10, a transparent layer having excellent rigidity may be provided. In order to improve the adhesion between the layers, a transparent layer having excellent adhesion may be disposed between the desired layers. Moreover, when it is desired to prevent scratches, a hard coat layer having excellent scratch resistance may be disposed at the outermost layer or at a position close to the outermost layer. The specific constituents and forming method of the hard coat layer are not limited. For example, a hard coating layer containing fine particles of titanium dioxide can be used as the hard coat layer using an ultraviolet curable resin. The light control cell 10 may include a member having diffusion performance, a member for adjusting the traveling direction of light, or a member having another optical function. Therefore, for example, each of the resin films 23 may have a single layer structure or a multilayer structure. In the case of a multilayer structure, a plurality of layers having different functions may be stacked.

  A sealing material 32 is disposed outside the liquid crystal layer 31 between the pair of alignment films 29, and the liquid crystal layer 31 is enclosed in a space surrounded by the sealing material 32. As described above, the sealing material 32 holds the liquid crystal layer 31 between the pair of alignment films 29 in a state where the liquid crystal layer 31 is blocked from the outside air. Further, the sealing material 32 of the present embodiment adheres (adheres) well to each alignment film 29 and is not easily peeled off from each alignment film 29 even when an external force is applied. The sealing material 32 of the present embodiment that exhibits these characteristics includes a plurality of components, and includes a thermosetting component (for example, a thermosetting resin) and a photocurable component (for example, a photocurable resin) as a curing component. At least one of them is included. As will be described later, the sealing material 32 of the present embodiment includes a thermosetting resin and an ultraviolet curable resin, and is cured with respect to each alignment film 29 by being cured by ultraviolet irradiation (temporary fixing) and cured by heating (main fixing). It is strongly bonded at the desired position.

  Further, at least a part of the components constituting the sealing material 32 is 30 nanometers from the end surface on the sealing material 32 side of at least one of the pair of alignment films 29 with respect to the stacking direction D of the alignment film 29 and the sealing material 32. It penetrates to the part separated by (nm) or more. In the present embodiment, the thermosetting resin contained in the sealing material 32 penetrates into each of the pair of alignment films 29 from the end surface on the sealing material 32 side to a portion separated by 30 nanometers or more with respect to the stacking direction D. .

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view conceptually showing the laminated structure of the sealing material 32, the alignment film 29, the electrode portion 25 and the resin film 23. In the light control cell 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a portion of the alignment film 29 from “the end surface 29 a on the sealing material 32 side to a position separated from the end surface 29 a by the distance Ld in the stacking direction D ( In the following, the thermosetting resin (for example, epoxy resin) contained in the sealing material 32 has penetrated into the “penetrating region 40”. Thereby, the sealing material 32 is directly adhered to the permeation region 40 of the alignment film 29, and the degree of adhesion is very strong. 3 shows only the laminated structure (the sealing material 32, the alignment film 29, the electrode portion 25, and the resin film 23) arranged on one side of the sealing material 32 with respect to the lamination direction D. The same applies to the laminated structure.

  As a result of diligent research, the present inventor has found that the degree of fixation of the sealing material 32 to the alignment film is practically insufficient when the distance Ld in the stacking direction D of the permeation region 40 is about several nanometers. If it is about nanometer or more, it came to the new knowledge that the adhesion | attachment degree with respect to the alignment film of the sealing material 32 is practically sufficient.

  In principle, the component that penetrates the alignment film 29 is any curing component (in this embodiment, one or both of an ultraviolet curable resin and a thermosetting resin) included in the sealing material 32. Good. The present inventor obtains new knowledge that the desired penetration region 40 can be suitably formed by allowing the thermosetting resin to permeate the alignment film 29 using the fluidity of the thermosetting resin in the initial stage of heating. It came to. The degree of penetration of the curable component into the alignment film 29 varies depending on the combination of the constituent material of the sealing material 32 containing the curable component and the alignment film 29, but the lower molecular weight curable resin penetrates into the alignment film 29. Cheap.

  4 and 5 are SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) images of a cross section in the vicinity of the sealing material 32 of the light control cell 10 actually manufactured, and FIG. 4 shows that the sealing material 32 almost penetrates the alignment film 29. FIG. 5 shows the dimming cell 10 solidified with the sealing material 32 sufficiently permeating the alignment film 29. FIG.

  The dimming cell 10 in FIG. 4 and the dimming cell 10 in FIG. 5 share the same elements other than the constituent components of the sealing material 32, and the epoxy resin contained in the sealing material 32 of the dimming cell 10 in FIG. The molecular weight of the thermosetting resin) was made larger than the molecular weight of the epoxy resin contained in the sealing material 32 of the light control cell 10 in FIG.

  4 and 5, the dimming cell 10 includes a sealing material 32, an alignment film 29, an electrode portion 25, and a resin film 23, which are stacked one after another, but between the electrode portion 25 and the resin film 23. A hard coat layer 36 is interposed. Each alignment film 29 was made of polyimide and provided with alignment characteristics by a photo-alignment method. Moreover, the electrode part 25 was made of ITO, and the resin film 23 was made of a cycloolefin polymer (COP: Cyclo Olefin Polymer).

  4 and 5, the permeation region 40 in the alignment film 29 of the constituent components (mainly epoxy resin in this example) of the sealing material 32 is represented by a black shade. As is clear from FIGS. 4 and 5, a slight shadow can be seen near the boundary between the sealing material 32 and the alignment film 29 in the light control cell 10 of FIG. 4. On the other hand, in the vicinity of the boundary between the sealing material 32 and the alignment film 29 in the light control cell 10 of FIG. 5, a shadow reaching a depth up to about half of the entire alignment film 29 in the stacking direction D is seen. Note that the shaded portion of the SEM image does not necessarily indicate only the epoxy resin, and other elements may be reflected in the SEM image as the shaded portion depending on the component state of the sealing material 32 and the alignment film 29. Actually, when the degree of penetration of the epoxy resin in the alignment film 29 of the light control cell 10 of FIGS. 4 and 5 was examined, the epoxy resin component substantially penetrates the alignment film 29 in the light control cell 10 of FIG. In other words, the epoxy resin was only present on the end face of the alignment film 29 (that is, the boundary surface between the sealing material 32 and the alignment film 29). On the other hand, in the light control cell 10 of FIG. 5, the epoxy resin component penetrates the alignment film 29 and is 50 nanometers or more from the end surface of the alignment film 29 (that is, the boundary surface between the sealing material 32 and the alignment film 29). Epoxy resin was present over a range.

  And this inventor performed the peeling test of the light control cell 10 shown to each of FIG.4 and FIG.5, and evaluated the grade of the adhesion | attachment between the sealing material 32 and the orientation film | membrane 29. FIG. More specifically, the sealing material 32 and the alignment film 29 are respectively pulled in the opposite directions in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bonding surface between the sealing material 32 and the alignment film 29 (stacking direction D). 32 and the alignment film 29 were peeled off from each other. By measuring the force required for the peeling, the degree of adhesion between the sealing material 32 and the alignment film 29 was evaluated. For the evaluation method, for example, a T-peel test method defined in ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 11339 can be referred to. According to the evaluation, in the light control cell 10 of FIG. 4, the sealing material 32 and the alignment film 29 are simple with a relatively weak force (approximately 0.5 N / cm width (that is, 0.5 N (Newton) per 1 cm width)). In contrast, in the light control cell 10 of FIG. 5, the sealing material 32 and the alignment film 29 cannot actually be peeled off, and the sealing material 32 is not peeled off from the alignment film 29. And the material destruction of the alignment film 29 was brought about.

  Therefore, also from the evaluation result, at least a part of the components constituting the sealing material 32 (the thermosetting resin (epoxy resin) in the evaluation example) is replaced with the sealing material 32 of the alignment film (polyimide in the evaluation example) 29. It can be seen that the sealing material 32 can be strongly bonded to the alignment film 29 by infiltrating from the end face on the side to a portion separated by 50 nanometers or more in the stacking direction.

<Example of manufacturing method of light control cell 10>
6 to 12 are schematic views for explaining an example of a method for manufacturing the dimming cell 10, and show cross-sections of respective elements constituting the dimming cell 10.

  First, an electrode base layer 27 having an electrode portion 25 formed on one surface side of the resin film 23 is prepared (see FIG. 6), and an alignment film 29 is formed on the electrode base layer 27 (particularly the electrode portion 25). (See FIG. 7). The alignment film 29 is disposed on the electrode substrate layer 27 by any method such as roller coating, and desired alignment characteristics are imparted to the alignment film 29 by a rubbing method or a photo-alignment method.

  Then, the sealing material 32 is directly formed on the alignment film 29 (see FIG. 8). The method for forming the sealing material 32 is not particularly limited. Typically, the sealing material 32 can be arranged in a bank shape by discharging the sealing material 32 from a dispenser toward a desired location on the alignment film 29, but other methods may be used, for example, a screen. The sealing material 32 may be formed on the alignment film 29 by using a printing method. From the viewpoint of ensuring good adhesion between the sealing material 32 and the alignment film 29, the sealing material 32 at this stage is higher in height (length) in the stacking direction D than the spacer 33 and the liquid crystal layer 31. Is preferably large.

  Then, a plurality of bead-shaped spacers 33 are dispersed in the space surrounded by the sealing material 32 on the alignment film 29 (see FIG. 9). At this stage, the positions of the spacers 33 may be fixed by performing heat welding of the spacers 33 to the alignment film 29 or the like. In the case where a columnar spacer is used instead of the bead-shaped spacer, a step of providing a columnar spacer on the electrode substrate layer 27 (particularly the electrode portion 25) and then forming an alignment film 29 on the electrode substrate layer 27. (See FIG. 7) or the like.

  Then, liquid crystal is arranged in a space surrounded by the sealing material 32 on the alignment film 29 to form the liquid crystal layer 31 (see FIG. 10). The liquid crystal application method on the alignment film 29 is not particularly limited, and the liquid crystal layer 31 can be formed according to a so-called ODF (One Drop Fill) method.

  Before or after the liquid crystal is disposed on the alignment film 29, the sealing material 32 is temporarily fixed to the alignment film 29, and the position on the alignment film 29 is determined. Specifically, the sealing material 32 can be temporarily fixed by irradiating the sealing material 32 with ultraviolet rays (UV) and curing the ultraviolet curable resin contained in the sealing material 32. The sealing material 32 may be temporarily fixed as long as the sealing material 32 is fixed (cured) so that the sealing material 32 does not move even when force is applied from the liquid crystal. It is preferable that there is no particular limitation as long as the liquid crystal is not in contact with the sealing material 32.

  And the laminated body of the alignment film 29 and the electrode base material layer 27 (the resin film 23 and the electrode part 25) prepared separately is arrange | positioned so that the liquid crystal layer 31 may be covered (refer FIG. 11). In this case, the liquid crystal layer 31, the sealing material 32, and the spacer 33 are disposed so as to be adjacent to each alignment film 29. Further, the sealing material 32 is compressed in the stacking direction D and is in close contact with each alignment film 29 without a gap, and the liquid crystal layer 31, the sealing material 32, and the spacer 33 are substantially the same height with respect to the stacking direction D. At this stage, the sealing material 32 is bonded (mainly fixed) to each alignment film 29. Specifically, the sealing material 32 is heated, and a curing process of the thermosetting resin included in the sealing material 32 is performed. As described above, in this embodiment, the thermosetting resin (epoxy resin) of the sealing material 32 penetrates the alignment film 29 (polyimide) and has “a length (depth) of 30 nanometers or more with respect to the stacking direction D”. An infiltration region 40 "is formed. The specific heating method such as the heating temperature and heating time of the sealing material 32 is preferably adjusted as appropriate so as to promote the penetration of the thermosetting resin into the alignment film 29 and form the desired permeation region 40. .

  And the polarizing element 21 is bonded together on the outer side (namely, on the resin film 23) of each electrode base material layer 27 (refer FIG. 12). The light control cell 10 can be formed through the above-described series of steps (see FIGS. 6 to 12).

  As described above, according to the light control cell 10 of the present embodiment, at least a part of the component of the sealing material 32 (the thermosetting resin (epoxy resin) in the above-described embodiment) is 30 nanometers with respect to the alignment film 29. By penetrating at a depth of at least a meter, the sealing material 32 can be directly bonded to the alignment film 29 with a strong force. Therefore, even if gas is generated from the resin film 23, it is difficult for such gas to enter between the alignment film 29 and the sealing material 32, and even if gas enters between the alignment film 29 and the sealing material 32. The strong adhesion of the sealing material 32 to the alignment film 29 is maintained. In addition, by using a roll-to-roll method, which has been difficult in the past, the sealing material 32 is appropriately placed at a desired position on the integrated laminate of the “alignment film 29 and the electrode base material layer 27 (resin film 23 and electrode portion 25)”. It is also possible to form.

  FIG. 13 is a view for explaining a method of forming the sealing material 32 on the alignment film 29 by the roll-to-roll method. The electrode portion 25 (electrode base material layer 27) and the alignment that are integrally formed are illustrated. 3 is a plan view of a laminated body of a film 29. FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 13, the laminate of the web-like electrode base material layer 27 and the alignment film 29 extends in the direction indicated by the arrow “E”, and the electrode portions 25 are exposed on both sides of the alignment film 29. Yes. 13 is an area for forming the liquid crystal layer 31, and a sealing material 32 (first material) is formed so as to surround the liquid crystal layer formation area 42. It is necessary to arrange the sealing material 32a and the second sealing material 32b).

  In the conventional method, the sealing material 32 cannot be directly bonded to the alignment film 29 with sufficient strength. Therefore, the sealing material 32 is not provided in the vicinity of the alignment film 29 where the electrode portion 25 is not exposed. Cannot be formed properly. Therefore, in the conventional method, the second sealing material 32b extending across the alignment film 29 in the example shown in FIG. 13 cannot be properly disposed. On the other hand, according to the light control cell 10 (especially the sealing material 32 and the alignment film 29) of the above-described embodiment, the sealing material 32 can be directly bonded to the alignment film 29 with sufficient strength. The sealing material 32 can be appropriately disposed at a position on the alignment film 29 where the portion 25 is not exposed in the vicinity. Therefore, according to this embodiment, both the first sealing material 32 a and the second sealing material 32 b shown in FIG. 13 can be appropriately formed on the alignment film 29. Note that the “first sealing material 32 a” in the example shown in FIG. 13 is formed at a position where the electrode portion 25 is exposed in the vicinity of the alignment film 29. Therefore, the first sealing material 32a may be disposed only on the alignment film 29 and adhered to only the alignment film 29, or may be disposed on both the electrode section 25 and the alignment film 29 to form the electrode section 25 and The alignment film 29 may be adhered to both.

  The above-described embodiment is also effective for a combination of “epoxy resin and polyimide” which is widely used as a combination of the component contained in the sealing material 32 and the alignment film 29, and has a very wide applicable range.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the permeation region 40 has a length of 30 nanometers or more with respect to the stacking direction D has been described. However, the permeation region 40 may not necessarily have a length of 30 nanometers or more. Good. As a result of earnest research, the present inventor has found that at least a part of the components constituting the sealing material 32 reaches a portion of the alignment film 29 that is 30 nanometers or more away from the end surface 29a on the sealing material 32 side in the stacking direction D When penetrating, the sealing material 32 is relatively strongly adhered to the alignment film 29 (for example, the force required to peel the alignment film 29 and the sealing material 32 is approximately 10 N / cm width). It was confirmed that the degree of adhesion between the sealing material 32 and the alignment film 29 increased as the length of the permeation region 40 in the stacking direction D increased. Therefore, the length of at least a part of the sealing material 32 penetrating from the end surface 29a on the sealing material 32 side of the alignment film 29 in the stacking direction D is preferably 30 nanometers or more. In view of the consideration on the material destruction, it is preferably 50 nanometers or more.

  Furthermore, the present inventor has confirmed that the degree of adhesion between the sealing material 32 and the alignment film 29 increases as the ratio of the permeation region 40 in the entire alignment film 29 increases with respect to the length in the stacking direction D. . Specifically, at least a part of the sealing material 32 (for example, thermosetting resin) permeates a portion of 30% (%) or more of the entire alignment film 29 with respect to the length in the stacking direction D. It is more preferable that it penetrates into 50% or more of the entire alignment film 29.

  The method for evaluating the degree of penetration of the constituent components of the sealing material 32 into the alignment film 29 is not particularly limited. For example, a photograph such as an SEM image (see FIGS. 4 and 5) is analyzed by visual or image processing, or the actual light control cell 10 (especially the alignment film 29 and the sealing material 32) is analyzed by GCMS (gas chromatography mass spectrometry). It is possible to evaluate the degree of penetration of the constituent components of the sealing material 32 into the alignment film 29 by performing analysis using an optional component analyzer such as a meter or X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and can include various aspects to which various modifications that can be conceived by those skilled in the art can be included. The effects achieved by the present invention are also described above. It is not limited to the matter of. Therefore, various additions, modifications, and partial deletions can be made to each element described in the claims and the specification without departing from the technical idea and spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Light control cell 12 Light control controller 14 Sensor apparatus 16 User operation part 21 Polarizing element 23 Resin film 25 Electrode part 27 Electrode base material layer 29 Orientation film | membrane 29a End surface 31 Liquid crystal layer 32 Sealing material 32a 1st sealing material 32b 2nd sealing material 33 Spacer 36 Hard coat layer 40 Penetration region 42 Liquid crystal layer formation region

Claims (9)

A laminated body comprising a laminated first resin film, a first electrode part, a first alignment film and a sealing material,
Wherein the first alignment film, possess a penetration region in which at least a part of the components constituting the sealing material has penetrated, and impermeable regions in which the components do not permeate constituting the sealing member, and
A laminate in which a portion of the sealing material that does not penetrate the first alignment film, the penetration region of the first alignment film, and the non-penetration region of the first alignment film are sequentially arranged in the stacking direction .   A laminated body comprising a laminated first resin film, a first electrode part, a first alignment film and a sealing material,
  The first alignment film has a permeation region in which at least a part of the components constituting the seal material permeates,
  The sealing material includes a thermosetting component,
  The component which comprises the said sealing material which osmose | permeates the said 1st alignment film is a laminated body containing the said thermosetting component. The laminate according to claim 2 , wherein the thermosetting component is an epoxy resin. The laminate according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the permeation region occupies a range of 30% or more of the first alignment film with respect to a stacking direction of the first alignment film and the sealing material. At least a part of the component constituting the sealing material penetrating into the first alignment film is related to the stacking direction of the first alignment film and the sealing material from the end surface of the first alignment film on the sealing material side. The laminate according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which has penetrated into portions separated by 30 nanometers or more.   The laminate according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first alignment film contains an organic compound.   The laminate according to claim 6, wherein the organic compound is polyimide.   The said sealing material is a laminated body as described in any one of Claims 1-7 containing a photocurable component. The laminate according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
A light control cell comprising: a second alignment film, a second electrode portion, and a second resin film laminated on the sealing material of the laminate.