JP7269908B2 - Polarizing element, circularly polarizing plate and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a polarizing element, a circularly polarizing plate, and manufacturing methods thereof.

A polarizing element used in a liquid crystal display device generally uses a film made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) dyed with iodine as an alignment layer (Non-Patent Document 1).

Written and edited by Yatoji Suzuki, "How liquid crystal displays are made", Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, November 28, 2005

The present invention provides a novel polarizing element provided with a specific polarizing layer and a photo-alignment layer, a circular polarizer including the polarizing element, and methods for producing them.

［式（Ａ’）中、
ｎは、０又は１を表す。
Ｘ^１は、単結合、－Ｏ－、－ＣＯＯ－、－ＯＣＯ－、－Ｎ＝Ｎ－、－ＣＨ＝ＣＨ－又は－ＣＨ_２－を表す。
Ｙ^１は、単結合又は－Ｏ－を表す。
Ｒ^１及びＲ^２はそれぞれ独立に、水素原子、炭素数１～４のアルキル基又は炭素数１～４のアルコキシ基を表す。
＊は、ポリマー主鎖に対する結合手を表す。］
〔５〕前記〔１〕～〔４〕のいずれか記載の偏光素子の製造方法であり、
前記透明基材上に、
前記光反応性基を有するポリマーと溶剤とを含有する組成物を塗布して、該透明基材上に第１塗布膜を形成する工程と、
該第１塗布膜から該溶剤を乾燥除去することにより、該透明基材上に第１乾燥被膜を形成して、第１積層体を得る工程と、
該第１乾燥被膜に偏光ＵＶを照射することにより、該第１乾燥被膜から光配向層を形成して第２積層体を得る工程と、
該第２積層体にある該光配向層上に、重合性スメクチック液晶化合物、二色性色素、重合開始剤及び溶剤を含有する組成物を塗布して、該光配向層上に第２塗布膜を形成する工程と、
該第２塗布膜を、該第２塗布膜中に含まれる該重合性スメクチック液晶化合物が重合しない条件で乾燥することにより、該光配向層上に第２乾燥被膜を形成して第３積層体を得る工程と、
該第２乾燥被膜中の該重合性スメクチック液晶化合物をスメクチック液晶状態とした後、該スメクチック液晶状態を保持したまま、該重合性スメクチック液晶化合物を重合させることにより、該第２乾燥被膜から偏光層を形成する工程と
を有する製造方法。
〔６〕形状が、フィルム状且つ長尺状である、前記〔１〕～〔４〕のいずれか記載の偏光素子。
〔７〕前記〔６〕記載の偏光素子の製造方法であり、
透明基材が第１の巻芯に巻き取られている第１ロールを準備する工程と、
該第１ロールから、該透明基材を連続的に送り出す工程と、
前記光反応性基を有するポリマーと溶剤とを含有する組成物を塗布して、該透明基材上に第１塗布膜を連続的に形成する工程と、
該第１塗布膜から該溶剤を乾燥除去することにより、該透明基材上に第１乾燥被膜を形成して、第１積層体を連続的に得る工程と、
該第１乾燥被膜に偏光ＵＶを照射することにより、該第１積層体の搬送方向に対して、略４５°の角度に配向方向を有する光配向層を形成して、第２積層体を連続的に得る工程と、
該光配向層上に、重合性スメクチック液晶化合物、二色性色素、重合開始剤及び溶剤を含有する組成物を塗布して、該光配向層上に第２塗布膜を連続的に形成する工程と
該第２塗布膜を、該第２塗布膜中に含まれる該重合性スメクチック液晶化合物が重合しない条件で乾燥することにより、該光配向層上に第２乾燥被膜を形成して第３積層体を連続的に得る工程と、
該第２乾燥被膜中に含まれる該重合性スメクチック液晶化合物をスメクチック液晶状態とした後、該スメクチック液晶状態を保持したまま、該重合性スメクチック液晶化合物を重合させることにより、該第３積層体の搬送方向に対して、４５°の角度に吸収軸を有する偏光層を形成して、偏光素子を連続的に得る工程と、
連続的に得られた偏光素子を第２の巻芯に巻き取り、第２ロールを得る工程と
を有する製造方法。
〔８〕前記〔１〕～〔４〕のいずれか記載の偏光素子を備えた液晶表示装置。
〔９〕前記〔１〕～〔４〕のいずれか記載の偏光素子を、液晶セル内部に配置することにより備えた液晶表示装置。
〔１０〕前記〔１〕～〔４〕のいずれか記載の偏光素子と、位相差フィルムとを、前記偏光層の吸収軸と前記位相差フィルムの遅相軸のなす角度が、略４５°となるように積層した円偏光板であり、
波長５５０ｎｍの光で測定した楕円率の値が８０％以上であり、
前記位相差フィルムが、波長５５０ｎｍの光で測定した正面リタデーションの値が１００～１５０ｎｍの範囲のフィルムである円偏光板。
〔１１〕前記位相差フィルムが、可視光に対する正面リタデーションの値が、波長が短くなるに従って小さくなる特性を有する、前記〔１０〕記載の円偏光板。
〔１２〕形状が、フィルム状且つ長尺状である、前記〔１０〕又は〔１１〕記載の円偏光板。
〔１３〕前記〔１２〕記載の円偏光板の製造方法であり、
位相差フィルムが第３の巻芯に巻き取られている第３ロールを準備する工程と、
前記偏光素子が第２の巻芯に巻き取られている第２ロールを準備する工程と、
該第２ロールから該偏光素子を連続的に巻き出すとともに、該第３ロールから該位相差フィルムを連続的に巻き出す工程と、
連続的に巻き出された偏光素子の偏光層と、連続的に巻き出された位相差フィルムとを張り合わせる工程と
を有する製造方法。
〔１４〕前記〔１〕～〔４〕のいずれか記載の偏光素子に含まれる透明基材を、位相差性を有する位相差フィルムに置き換え、前記位相差フィルムの遅相軸と、前記偏光層の吸収軸のなす角度が、略４５°に積層してなる円偏光板であり、
波長５５０ｎｍの光で測定した楕円率の値が８０％以上であり、
前記位相差フィルムが、波長５５０ｎｍの光で測定した正面リタデーションの値が１００～１５０ｎｍの範囲のフィルムである円偏光板。
〔１５〕形状が、フィルム状且つ長尺状である、前記〔１４〕記載の円偏光板。
〔１６〕前記〔１５〕記載の円偏光板の製造方法であり、
位相差フィルムが第１の巻芯に巻き取られている第１ロールを準備する工程と、
該第１ロールから、該位相差フィルムを連続的に送り出す工程と、
前記光反応性基を有するポリマーと溶剤とを含有する組成物を塗布して、該位相差フィルム上に第１塗布膜を連続的に形成する工程と、
該第１塗布膜から該溶剤を乾燥除去して、該透明基材上に第１乾燥被膜を形成して、第１積層体を連続的に得る工程と、
該第１乾燥被膜に偏光ＵＶを照射することにより、該第１積層体の搬送方向に対して、略４５°の角度に配向方向を有する光配向層を形成して、第２積層体を連続的に得る工程と、
該光配向層上に、重合性スメクチック液晶化合物、二色性色素、重合開始剤及び溶剤を含有する組成物を塗布して、該光配向層上に第２塗布膜を連続的に形成する工程と
該第２塗布膜を、該第２塗布膜中に含まれる該重合性スメクチック液晶化合物が重合しない条件で乾燥することにより、該光配向層上に第２乾燥被膜を形成して第３積層体を連続的に得る工程と、
該第２乾燥被膜中に含まれる該重合性スメクチック液晶化合物をスメクチック液晶状態とした後、該スメクチック液晶状態を保持したまま、該重合性スメクチック液晶化合物を重合させることにより、該第３積層体の搬送方向に対して、４５°の角度に吸収軸を有する偏光層を形成して、円偏光板を連続的に得る工程と、
連続的に得られた円偏光板を第２の巻芯に巻き取り、第２ロールを得る工程と
を有する製造方法。
〔１７〕前記〔１０〕、〔１１〕及び〔１４〕のいずれか記載の円偏光板と、有機ＥＬ素子とを備えた有機ＥＬ表示装置。 The present invention includes the following inventions [1] to [17].
[1] A polarizer in which a photo-alignment layer and a polarizing layer are provided in this order on a transparent substrate,
The photo-alignment layer is formed from a polymer having photoreactive groups,
The polarizing layer is
A polarizing element formed from a composition containing a polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound and a dichroic dye.
[2] The polarizing element according to [1] above, wherein the polarizing layer is a polarizing layer that gives a Bragg peak in X-ray diffraction measurement.
[3] The polarizing element according to [1] or [2], wherein the composition contains two or more polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compounds.
[4] The polarizing element according to any one of [1] to [3] above, wherein the polymer having a photoreactive group is a polymer containing a group represented by formula (A').

[In formula (A′),
n represents 0 or 1;
X ¹ represents a single bond, -O-, -COO-, -OCO-, -N=N-, -CH=CH- or -CH ₂ -.
Y ¹ represents a single bond or -O-.
R ¹ and R ² each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
* represents a bond to the polymer backbone. ]
[5] A method for manufacturing a polarizing element according to any one of [1] to [4] above,
on the transparent substrate,
a step of applying a composition containing the polymer having a photoreactive group and a solvent to form a first coating film on the transparent substrate;
forming a first dry film on the transparent substrate by removing the solvent from the first coating film by drying to obtain a first laminate;
obtaining a second laminate by forming a photo-alignment layer from the first dry coating by irradiating the first dry coating with polarized UV;
A composition containing a polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound, a dichroic dye, a polymerization initiator and a solvent is applied onto the photo-alignment layer of the second laminate, and a second coating film is formed on the photo-alignment layer. forming a
By drying the second coating film under conditions in which the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound contained in the second coating film does not polymerize, a second dried coating is formed on the photo-alignment layer to form a third laminate a step of obtaining
After converting the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound in the second dry film into a smectic liquid crystal state, the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound is polymerized while maintaining the smectic liquid crystal state, thereby removing the second dry film from the polarizing layer. A manufacturing method comprising the step of forming
[6] The polarizing element according to any one of [1] to [4], which has a film-like and elongated shape.
[7] A method for manufacturing a polarizing element according to [6] above,
preparing a first roll in which a transparent substrate is wound around a first winding core;
continuously feeding the transparent substrate from the first roll;
a step of continuously forming a first coating film on the transparent substrate by applying a composition containing the polymer having a photoreactive group and a solvent;
A step of continuously obtaining a first laminate by forming a first dry film on the transparent substrate by removing the solvent from the first coating film by drying;
By irradiating the first dry film with polarized UV, a photo-alignment layer having an orientation direction at an angle of approximately 45° with respect to the conveying direction of the first laminate is formed, and the second laminate is continuously formed. and
A step of applying a composition containing a polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound, a dichroic dye, a polymerization initiator and a solvent onto the photo-alignment layer to continuously form a second coating film on the photo-alignment layer. and drying the second coating film under conditions in which the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound contained in the second coating film does not polymerize, thereby forming a second dry coating on the photo-alignment layer to form a third lamination successively obtaining a body;
After converting the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound contained in the second dry film into a smectic liquid crystal state, the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound is polymerized while maintaining the smectic liquid crystal state to obtain the third laminate. a step of continuously obtaining polarizing elements by forming a polarizing layer having an absorption axis at an angle of 45° with respect to the transport direction;
winding the continuously obtained polarizing element around a second winding core to obtain a second roll.
[8] A liquid crystal display device comprising the polarizing element according to any one of [1] to [4].
[9] A liquid crystal display device comprising the polarizing element according to any one of [1] to [4] arranged inside a liquid crystal cell.
[10] The polarizing element according to any one of [1] to [4] and a retardation film, wherein the angle formed by the absorption axis of the polarizing layer and the slow axis of the retardation film is approximately 45°. It is a circularly polarizing plate laminated so that
The ellipticity value measured with light having a wavelength of 550 nm is 80% or more,
A circularly polarizing plate, wherein the retardation film has a front retardation value of 100 to 150 nm measured with light having a wavelength of 550 nm.
[11] The circularly polarizing plate of [10] above, wherein the retardation film has a property that the front retardation value for visible light becomes smaller as the wavelength becomes shorter.
[12] The circularly polarizing plate according to [10] or [11], which has a film-like and elongated shape.
[13] A method for producing a circularly polarizing plate according to [12] above,
A step of preparing a third roll in which the retardation film is wound around a third core;
preparing a second roll in which the polarizing element is wound around a second core;
A step of continuously unwinding the polarizing element from the second roll and continuously unwinding the retardation film from the third roll;
A manufacturing method comprising a step of laminating the continuously unwound polarizing layer of the polarizing element and the continuously unwound retardation film.
[14] The transparent substrate contained in the polarizing element according to any one of [1] to [4] is replaced with a retardation film having retardation properties, and the slow axis of the retardation film and the polarizing layer A circularly polarizing plate laminated at an angle of approximately 45° between the absorption axes of
The ellipticity value measured with light having a wavelength of 550 nm is 80% or more,
A circularly polarizing plate, wherein the retardation film has a front retardation value of 100 to 150 nm measured with light having a wavelength of 550 nm.
[15] The circularly polarizing plate of [14] above, which has a film-like and elongated shape.
[16] A method for producing a circularly polarizing plate according to [15] above,
A step of preparing a first roll in which a retardation film is wound around a first core;
A step of continuously feeding the retardation film from the first roll;
A step of continuously forming a first coating film on the retardation film by applying a composition containing the polymer having the photoreactive group and a solvent;
a step of removing the solvent from the first coating film by drying to form a first dry film on the transparent substrate to continuously obtain a first laminate;
By irradiating the first dry film with polarized UV, a photo-alignment layer having an orientation direction at an angle of approximately 45° with respect to the conveying direction of the first laminate is formed, and the second laminate is continuously formed. and
A step of applying a composition containing a polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound, a dichroic dye, a polymerization initiator and a solvent onto the photo-alignment layer to continuously form a second coating film on the photo-alignment layer. and drying the second coating film under conditions in which the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound contained in the second coating film does not polymerize, thereby forming a second dry coating on the photo-alignment layer to form a third lamination successively obtaining a body;
After converting the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound contained in the second dry film into a smectic liquid crystal state, the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound is polymerized while maintaining the smectic liquid crystal state to obtain the third laminate. A step of continuously obtaining circularly polarizing plates by forming a polarizing layer having an absorption axis at an angle of 45° with respect to the conveying direction;
and winding the continuously obtained circularly polarizing plate around a second winding core to obtain a second roll.
[17] An organic EL display comprising the circularly polarizing plate according to any one of [10], [11] and [14], and an organic EL element.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the novel polarizing element provided with the specific polarizing layer and the photo-alignment layer, and the novel circularly-polarizing plate containing the said polarizing element can be provided.

It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the simplest structure of the polarizing element of this invention. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the principal part of the manufacturing method of the polarizing element of this invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a method of irradiating the first dry film with polarized UV in the photo-alignment operation. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a main part of the continuous method (Roll to Roll type) for manufacturing the polarizing element of the present invention. It is a figure which represents typically the relationship between the orientation direction D2 of a photo-alignment layer, and the conveyance direction D1 of a film. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional configuration of a liquid crystal display device using a polarizing element of the present invention; FIG. 1 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view showing the order of layers of a polarizing element of the present invention provided in a liquid crystal display device; FIG. 1 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view showing the order of layers of a polarizing element of the present invention provided in a liquid crystal display device; FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional configuration of a liquid crystal display device (in-cell type) using a polarizing element of the present invention; FIG. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the simplest structure of the circularly-polarizing plate of this invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a schematic cross section which shows the principal part of the continuous manufacturing method of the circularly-polarizing plate of this invention. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional structure of an EL display device using a polarizing element of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view showing the order of layers of the polarizing element of the present invention provided in an EL display device; 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional structure of an EL display device using a polarizing element of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional configuration of a projection-type liquid crystal display device using a polarizing element of the present invention; FIG.

The polarizing element of the present invention (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "this polarizing element") comprises a transparent base material and a photo-alignment layer and a polarizing layer provided in this order,
The photo-alignment layer is formed from a polymer having a photoreactive group, and the polarizing layer is formed from a composition containing a polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound and a dichroic dye. Preferably, the composition further contains a solvent. The present polarizing element is not only suitable for liquid crystal display devices, but also a circularly polarizing plate (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "the present circularly polarized light ) can also be manufactured. Hereinafter, the present polarizing element and its manufacturing method, and the present circularly polarizing plate and its manufacturing method will be described with reference to the drawings as necessary. It should be noted that the drawings attached to this specification have arbitrary dimensions for ease of viewing.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the simplest configuration of this polarizing element. A photo-alignment layer 2 and a polarizing layer 3 are laminated in this order on a transparent substrate 1 to form the polarizing element 100 . The present polarizing element 100 can be manufactured, for example, by a manufacturing method including the following steps (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "this manufacturing method A").

(Step A1) A step of applying a composition containing a polymer having a photoreactive group and a solvent onto a transparent substrate to form a first coating film on the transparent substrate;
(Step A2) A step of forming a first dry film on the transparent substrate by removing the solvent from the first coating film by drying to obtain a first laminate;
(Step A3) A step of irradiating the first dry coating of the first laminate with polarized UV to form a photo-alignment layer from the first dry coating to obtain a second laminate;
(Step A4) A composition containing a polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound, a dichroic dye and a solvent is applied onto the photo-alignment layer of the second laminate, and a second coating film is formed on the photo-alignment layer. forming a;
(Step A5) The second coating film is dried under conditions in which the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound contained in the second coating film is not polymerized, thereby forming a second dry film on the photo-alignment layer. obtaining a third laminate;
(Step A6) After the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound in the second dry film of the third laminate is brought into a smectic liquid crystal state, the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound is polymerized while maintaining the smectic liquid crystal state. forming a polarizing layer from the second dry film by

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the main part of the method for manufacturing the polarizing element 100 (this manufacturing method A), which consists of (steps A1) to (steps A6). This manufacturing method will be described step by step below.

<Step A1>
Step A1 is a step of forming a first coating film on a transparent substrate.

<Transparent substrate>
In step A1, first, a transparent substrate 1 is prepared. The term "transparent base material" as used herein means a base material having transparency to the extent that light, particularly visible light, can be transmitted. The transparency refers to the property of having a transmittance of 80% or more for light rays having a wavelength of 380 to 780 nm. Specifically, examples of such transparent substrates include glass substrates, translucent sheets and translucent films made of plastic. Examples of plastics constituting the translucent sheet or translucent film include polyolefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and norbornene-based polymers; cyclic olefin-based resins; polyvinyl alcohol; polyethylene terephthalate; acid ester; cellulose ester such as triacetyl cellulose, diacetyl cellulose and cellulose acetate propionate; polyethylene naphthalate; polycarbonate; polysulfone; and a base material. Among the above specific examples of the transparent base material, when it comes to preferable plastic light-transmitting sheets and films, a plastic light-transmitting film, that is, a polymer film is preferable. Among the polymer films, polymer films made of cellulose ester, cyclic olefin resin, polyethylene terephthalate, or polymethacrylic acid ester are particularly preferred because they are readily available on the market and have excellent transparency. is preferred. In the production of the present polarizing element using such a transparent substrate, the transparent substrate can be easily handled without causing damage such as tearing during transportation or storage. A support base material or the like may be attached. In addition, as will be described later, when producing a circularly polarizing plate from the present polarizing element, the transparent base material may be provided with a retardation property. In this case, a polymer film is prepared as a transparent base material, the polymer film is subjected to a stretching treatment or the like to impart a retardation property to the polymer film to obtain a retardation film, and then the retardation film is obtained. A transparent film may be used as the transparent substrate 1 . A method for imparting a retardation property to the transparent substrate (polymer film) will be described later.

Among the polymer films, a film made of a cellulose ester or a cyclic olefin resin (cellulose ester film, cyclic olefin resin film) is preferred because the retardation value can be easily controlled when imparting retardation properties. preferable. These two polymer films are described in detail below.
In the cellulose ester constituting the cellulose ester film, at least part of the hydroxyl groups contained in the cellulose are acetic esterified. Cellulose ester films made of such cellulose esters are readily available on the market. Commercially available triacetylcellulose films include, for example, "Fujitac Film" (Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.); "KC8UX2M", "KC8UY" and "KC4UY" (Konica Minolta Opto Co., Ltd.). Such a commercially available cellulose ester film (triacetyl cellulose film) can be used as a transparent substrate as it is or after imparting a retardation property as necessary. Moreover, the surface of the prepared transparent base material can be used as the transparent base material 1 after being subjected to surface treatments such as antiglare treatment, hard coating treatment, antistatic treatment and antireflection treatment.

In order to impart retardation to the polymer film, as described above, the polymer film is stretched or the like. Polymer films made of plastics, that is, thermoplastic resins, can all be stretched, but cyclic olefin resin films are preferable in that retardation can be easily controlled. The cyclic olefin resin constituting the cyclic olefin resin film is composed of, for example, a cyclic olefin polymer or copolymer (cyclic olefin resin) such as norbornene or polycyclic norbornene monomer. The olefinic resin may partially contain an open ring portion. Moreover, what hydrogenated the cyclic olefin type resin containing an open ring part may be used. Furthermore, the cyclic olefin resin is a copolymer of a cyclic olefin and a chain olefin or a vinylated aromatic compound (such as styrene) in that it does not significantly impair transparency or significantly increase hygroscopicity. may be Further, the cyclic olefin resin may have a polar group introduced into its molecule.

When the cyclic olefin-based resin is a copolymer of a cyclic olefin and a chain olefin or an aromatic compound having a vinyl group, the chain olefin may be ethylene, propylene, or the like. Compounds include styrene, α-methylstyrene and alkyl-substituted styrenes. In such a copolymer, the content of structural units derived from cyclic olefins is 50 mol % or less, for example, in the range of about 15 to 50 mol %, based on the total structural units of the cyclic olefin resin. When the cyclic olefin-based resin is a terpolymer obtained from a cyclic olefin, a chain olefin, and a vinylated aromatic compound, for example, the content of structural units derived from the chain olefin is It is about 5 to 80 mol % of the total structural units of the system resin, and the content of structural units derived from the vinylated aromatic compound is about 5 to 80 mol %. Such a terpolymer cyclic olefin resin has the advantage that the amount of expensive cyclic olefin used can be relatively reduced when producing the cyclic olefin resin.

Cyclic olefin resins from which cyclic olefin resin films can be produced are readily available on the market. Commercially available cyclic olefin resins include "Topas" [Ticona (Germany)]; "Arton" [JSR Corporation]; "ZEONOR" and "ZEONEX" [Nippon Zeon Corporation]. ; "APEL" [manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.] and the like. Such a cyclic olefin-based resin can be formed into a film (cyclic olefin-based resin film) by a known film-forming means such as a solvent casting method or a melt extrusion method. A cyclic olefin resin film that is already commercially available in the form of a film can also be used. Examples of such commercially available cyclic olefin resin films include “Escina” and “SCA40” [Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.]; “Zeonor Film” [Optes Co., Ltd.]; ] and the like. In addition, all items described in "" here are product names, and the same shall apply hereinafter.

Next, a method for imparting a retardation property to a polymer film will be briefly described. A polymer film can be imparted with a retardation property by a known stretching method. For example, a roll (wound body) in which a polymer film is wound on a roll is prepared, the film is continuously unwound from the roll, and the unwound film is conveyed to a heating furnace. The setting temperature of the heating furnace is in the range from the vicinity of the glass transition temperature (° C.) to [glass transition temperature +100] (° C.) of the polymer film, preferably from the vicinity of the glass transition temperature (° C.) to [glass transition temperature +50] (° C.) ). In the heating furnace, when the film is stretched in the traveling direction of the film or in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction, the film is uniaxially or biaxially stretched by adjusting the conveying direction and the tension and tilting the film at an arbitrary angle. . The draw ratio is usually about 1.1 to 6 times, preferably about 1.1 to 3.5 times. Moreover, the method for stretching in an oblique direction is not particularly limited as long as the orientation axis can be continuously inclined at a desired angle, and known stretching methods can be employed. Examples of such stretching methods include the methods described in JP-A-50-83482 and JP-A-2-113920.

When used as the transparent base material 1, the thickness of the polymer film is preferably as thin as possible in terms of weight that allows practical handling and in terms of ensuring sufficient transparency. It tends to have low strength and poor workability. Therefore, the suitable thickness of these films is, for example, about 5 to 300 μm, preferably 20 to 200 μm. When the present polarizing element is used as a circularly polarizing plate, which will be described later, the thickness of the film is particularly preferably about 20 to 100 μm because the display device using the circularly polarizing plate is expected to be used for mobile applications. When retardation is imparted to the film by stretching, the thickness after stretching is determined by the thickness of the film before stretching and the stretching ratio.

In step A1, by providing the photo-alignment layer 2 on the transparent substrate 1 described above, the first laminate 101 having the transparent substrate 1 and the photo-alignment layer 2, preferably the transparent substrate 1 and the photo-alignment layer 2 to form a first laminate 101 in which are laminated. When the transparent substrate 1 is subjected to surface treatment such as hard coating treatment, a photo-alignment layer may be formed on the surface opposite to the surface treated surface.

<Photo-alignment layer>
In forming the photo-alignment layer, first, a composition containing a polymer having a photoreactive group and a solvent (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "composition for forming a photo-alignment layer") is prepared. A photoreactive group refers to a group that exhibits liquid crystal alignment ability upon irradiation with light (light irradiation). The photoreactive group in the present invention specifically refers to orientation-induced or isomerization reaction, dimerization reaction, photocrosslinking reaction, or photodegradation reaction of polymer molecules caused by irradiation with light, such as liquid crystal orientation It causes the photoreaction that is the origin of the ability. Among the photoreactive groups, those utilizing a dimerization reaction or a photocrosslinking reaction are preferred because they are excellent in orientation and the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound maintains the smectic liquid crystal state during the formation of the polarizing layer described later. As the photoreactive group capable of causing the above reactions, those having an unsaturated bond, particularly a double bond are preferable, and carbon-carbon double bond (C=C bond), carbon-nitrogen double bond (C =N bond), a nitrogen-nitrogen double bond (N=N bond), and a carbon-oxygen double bond (C=O bond) are particularly preferred.

Photoreactive groups having a C═C bond include, for example, vinyl groups, polyene groups, stilbene groups, stilbazole groups, stilbazolium groups, chalcone groups and cinnamoyl groups. Photoreactive groups having a C═N bond include groups having structures such as aromatic Schiff bases and aromatic hydrazones. Examples of photoreactive groups having an N=N bond include azobenzene groups, azonaphthalene groups, aromatic heterocyclic azo groups, bisazo groups, formazan groups, and groups having azoxybenzene as a basic structure. Photoreactive groups having a C=O bond include benzophenone, coumarin, anthraquinone and maleimide groups. These groups may have substituents such as alkyl groups, alkoxy groups, aryl groups, allyloxy groups, cyano groups, alkoxycarbonyl groups, hydroxyl groups, sulfonic acid groups and halogenated alkyl groups.
Among them, a photoreactive group capable of causing a photodimerization reaction is preferable, and a cinnamoyl group and a chalcone group are preferable. It is preferable because it is easy to obtain. Furthermore, as a polymer having a photoreactive group, a polymer having a cinnamoyl group having a cinnamic acid structure at the end of the polymer side chain is particularly preferable.

［式（Ａ’）中、
ｎは、０又は１を表す。
Ｘ^１は、単結合、－Ｏ－、－ＣＯＯ－、－ＯＣＯ－、－Ｎ＝Ｎ－、－ＣＨ＝ＣＨ－又は－ＣＨ_２－を表す。
Ｙ^１は、単結合又は－Ｏ－を表す。
Ｒ^１及びＲ^２はそれぞれ独立に、水素原子、炭素数１～４のアルキル基又は炭素数１～４のアルコキシ基を表す。
＊は、ポリマー主鎖に対する結合手を表す。］ Since the composition for forming a photo-alignment layer can be easily handled and an alignment layer having highly durable alignment can be easily obtained, a particularly preferable polymer having a photoreactive group is, for example, the formula (A') is a polymer (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "polymer (A')") having a group represented by in a side chain.

[In formula (A′),
n represents 0 or 1;
X ¹ represents a single bond, -O-, -COO-, -OCO-, -N=N-, -CH=CH- or -CH ₂ -.
Y ¹ represents a single bond or -O-.
R ¹ and R ² each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
* represents a bond to the polymer backbone. ]

In formula (A′), X ¹ is any one of a single bond, —O—, —COO—, —OCO—, —N═N—, —C═C— and —CH ₂ —, the polymer (A') is particularly preferred because it facilitates the production of (A') itself.

In formula (A'), R ¹ and R ² are each independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a halogenated alkyl group, a halogenated alkoxy group, a cyano group, a nitro group, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group, and an allyloxy group. , an alkoxycarbonyl group, a carboxyl group, a sulfonic acid group, an amino group or a hydroxy group, and the carboxyl group and the sulfonic acid group may form a salt with an alkali metal ion. Among these, R ¹ and R ² are each independently more preferably a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Examples of the alkyl group include methyl group, ethyl group and butyl group, and examples of the alkoxy group include methoxy group, ethoxy group and butoxy group.

The main chain of the polymer (A') is not particularly limited, but a (meth)acrylic acid ester unit represented by formula (M-1) or formula (M-2); formula (M-3) or formula (M- 4) a (meth) acrylamide unit represented by; a vinyl ether unit represented by the formula (M-5) or the formula (M-6); a formula (M-7) or a formula (M-8) represented by ( The polymer (A) has a main chain selected from the group consisting of methyl)styrene units and vinyl ester units represented by formula (M-9) or formula (M-10). More preferably, the polymer (A') has a main chain composed of units selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylate units and (meth)acrylamide units. The term "main chain of the polymer (A')" as used herein refers to the longest molecular chain among the molecular chains possessed by the polymer (A').

The unit represented by any one of formulas (M-1) to (M-10) and the group represented by formula (A') may be directly bonded or bonded via an appropriate linking group. You may have The linking group includes a carbonyloxy group (ester bond), an oxygen atom (ether bond), an imide group, a carbonylimino group (amide bond), an iminocarbonylimino group (urethane bond), and a substituent. divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon groups which may be substituted, divalent aromatic hydrocarbon groups which may have substituents, and divalent groups obtained by combining these groups. Specific examples of the divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group which may have a substituent include a phenylene group, a 2-methoxy-1,4-phenylene group, a 3-methoxy-1,4-phenylene group, a 2-ethoxy -1,4-phenylene group, 3-ethoxy-1,4-phenylene group, 2,3,5-trimethoxy-1,4-phenylene group and the like. Among these, the linking group is preferably an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, more preferably an optionally substituted alkanediyl group having 1 to 11 carbon atoms. Examples of such alkanediyl groups include methylene, ethylene, trimethylene, tetramethylene, pentamethylene, hexamethylene, heptamethylene, octamethylene, nonamethylene, decamethylene and undecamethylene groups. , which may be linear or branched. Moreover, such an alkanediyl group may have a substituent. This substituent is, for example, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

［式（Ａ）中、
Ｘ^１、Ｙ^１、Ｒ^１、Ｒ^２及びｎは式（Ａ’）と同義であり、
Ｓ^１は、炭素数１～１１のアルカンジイル基であり、

で表される構造は、式（Ｍ－１）～式（Ｍ－１０）のいずれかで表される構造である。］ In other words, the structural unit having a group represented by formula (A′) is represented by formula (A) (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “structural unit (A)”, and the structural unit (A) A polymer containing is referred to as "polymer (A)".) is preferred.

[in formula (A),
X ¹ , Y ¹ , R ¹ , R ² and n are synonymous with formula (A′),
S ¹ is an alkanediyl group having 1 to 11 carbon atoms,

is a structure represented by any one of formulas (M-1) to (M-10). ]

The polymer (A') or the molecular weight of the polymer (A) is preferably in the range of 1×10 ³ to 1×10 ⁷ in terms of polystyrene-equivalent weight-average molecular weight determined by, for example, a gel permeation method (GPC method). . However, if the molecular weight becomes too high, the solubility in the solvent decreases, making it difficult to prepare the alignment film-forming composition, and the sensitivity to light irradiation tends to decrease ^. A range of 10 ⁶ is preferred.

［式（Ｂ）中、
ｍは、０又は１を表す。
Ｓ^２は、炭素数１～１１のアルカンジイル基を表す。

で表される構造は、式（Ｍ－１）～式（Ｍ－１０）のいずれかで表される構造である。］ Ｘ^２は、単結合、－Ｏ－、－ＣＯＯ－、－ＯＣＯ－、－Ｎ＝Ｎ－、－ＣＨ＝ＣＨ－又は－ＣＨ_２－を表す。
Ｙ^１は、単結合又は－Ｏ－を表す。
Ｒ^３及びＲ^４はそれぞれ独立に、水素原子、炭素数１～４のアルキル基又は炭素数１～４のアルコキシ基を表す。］ In addition to the structural unit (A), the polymer (A) may have a structural unit represented by formula (B) (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "structural unit (B)").

[In formula (B),
m represents 0 or 1;
^S2 represents an alkanediyl group having 1 to 11 carbon atoms.

is a structure represented by any one of formulas (M-1) to (M-10). ] X ² represents a single bond, -O-, -COO-, -OCO-, -N=N-, -CH=CH- or -CH ₂ -.
Y ¹ represents a single bond or -O-.
R ³ and R ⁴ each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. ]

In formula (B), specific examples of S ² are the same as specific examples of S ¹ in formula (A), and specific examples of alkyl groups and alkoxy groups for R ³ and R ⁴ are the same as those of formula (A). are the same as the specific examples of R ¹ and R ² in

When the molar fractions of the structural unit (A) and the structural unit (B) with respect to the total structural units of the polymer (A) are respectively p and q (p + q is 1), 0.25 < p ≤ 1 and It is preferable to satisfy the relationship of 0≦q<0.75 [here, when the polymer (A) has the structural unit (A) and p is 1, the polymer (A) has the structural unit (A ) means that it is a polymer consisting of The polymer comprising the structural unit (A) may contain one or more structural units (A). ]. However, the polymer (A) has structural units other than the structural units (A) and (B) (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "other structural units") as long as the alignment ability by light irradiation is not significantly impaired. may be

The polymer (A) can be produced by (co)polymerizing a monomer that induces the structural unit (A) and, if necessary, a monomer that induces the structural unit (B) or another structural unit. The (co)polymerization usually employs an addition polymerization method, and examples of such addition polymerization include radical polymerization, chain polymerization such as anionic polymerization and cationic polymerization, and coordination polymerization. The polymerization conditions are set according to the types and amounts of the monomers used so that the preferred molecular weight of the polymer (A) described above is satisfied.

As described above, the polymer (A) has been described in detail as a preferred polymer having a photoreactive group. ) in a suitable solvent. Such a solvent can be appropriately selected within a range in which the polymer having the photoreactive group can be dissolved and an alignment layer forming composition having an appropriate viscosity can be obtained. , propylene glycol, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol butyl ether and propylene glycol monomethyl ether; ester solvents such as ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, ethylene glycol methyl ether acetate, γ-butyrolactone or propylene glycol methyl ether acetate and ethyl lactate; ketone solvents such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone, 2-heptanone and methyl isobutyl ketone; aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents such as pentane, hexane and heptane; aromatic hydrocarbon solvents such as toluene and xylene; nitrile solvents; ether solvents such as tetrahydrofuran and dimethoxyethane; chlorine-containing solvents such as chloroform and chlorobenzene; amide solvents such as N-methylpyrrolidone, N,N-dimethylformamide, γ-butyrolactone and dimethylacetamide. These solvents may be used singly or in combination.

The concentration of the polymer having a photoreactive group in the photo-alignment layer-forming composition can be appropriately adjusted depending on the type of the polymer and the thickness of the photo-alignment layer 2 of the polarizing element 100 to be produced. Expressed as such, it is preferably at least 0.2% by mass, particularly preferably in the range of 0.3 to 10% by mass. In addition, the composition for forming the alignment layer contains polymer materials such as polyvinyl alcohol and polyimide, and photosensitizers within the range in which the characteristics of the photo-alignment layer 2 of the polarizing element 100 are not significantly impaired. may

Methods for applying the composition for forming a photo-alignment film onto the transparent substrate 1 include spin coating, extrusion, gravure coating, die coating, bar coating and applicator methods, A known method such as a printing method such as a flexographic method is employed. When the present polarizing element is manufactured by a Roll to Roll type continuous manufacturing method, which will be described later, a printing method such as a gravure coating method, a die coating method, or a flexographic method is usually employed as the coating method.

<Step A2>
Again, with reference to FIG. 2, step A2 of this manufacturing method A will be described.
In step A2, the first coating film formed on the transparent substrate 1 in step A1 is dried to remove the solvent contained in the first coating film (the solvent used in the composition for forming a photo-alignment layer). ) is removed by drying to form a first dry film 2A on the transparent substrate 1, thereby obtaining a first laminate 101. To dry and remove the solvent, the first laminate is heated to an appropriate temperature to dry and remove the solvent (heating method), or the first laminate 101 is enclosed in an appropriate pressure-resistant container. After that, the pressure in the container is reduced to remove the solvent by drying (decompression method), ventilation drying (ventilation method), air drying, or a combination of these methods. In addition, when manufacturing the present polarizing element in a continuous process such as a Roll to Roll process, which will be described later, a heating method is usually adopted. By removing the solvent by drying, the first coating film is converted into the first dry film 2A, and the first laminate 101 is obtained.

The thickness of the first dry film 2A of the first laminate 101 thus obtained is determined so that the orientation layer 2 obtained in step A3, which will be described later, has a desired thickness. The thickness of the alignment layer 2 is, for example, 10 nm to 10000 nm, preferably 10 nm to 1000 nm.
The predetermined thickness of the alignment layer 2 can be controlled by adjusting the solid concentration of the photo-alignment layer-forming composition and the coating conditions of the photo-alignment layer-forming composition on the transparent substrate 1 in step A1.

<Step A3>
Subsequently, by irradiating the first dry film 2A of the first laminate 101 with polarized UV (polarized ultraviolet light), the polymer having a photoreactive group contained in the first dry film 2A is oriented, and the liquid crystal The second laminate 102 is formed by imparting alignment ability (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “photo alignment operation”). In the photo-alignment operation, in order to irradiate the first dry film 2A with the polarized UV, the format of irradiating the polarized UV directly from the first dry film 2A side of the first laminate (shown in FIG. 3(A) In the form (A)), the transparent substrate 1 side of the first laminate is irradiated with polarized UV, and the polarized UV is transmitted through the transparent substrate 1, so that the polarized UV is applied to the first dry film 2A. A form of irradiation (form (B) shown in FIG. 3B) may be used. In any of these formats, the polarized UV to be irradiated may be either linearly polarized UV or elliptically polarized UV. It is preferred to use highly linearly polarized UV. Moreover, it is particularly preferable that the polarized UV is substantially parallel light. However, when the optical alignment operation is performed by the type (B), the transparent base material 1 in the first laminate 101 to be used is preferably as high in transparency as possible.

The polarized UV to be irradiated preferably has a wavelength range in which the photoreactive group of the polymer having a photoreactive group contained in the first dry film can absorb the light energy. For example, when the photoreactive group is a cinnamoyl group as in the polymer (A'), UV (ultraviolet) with a wavelength of 250 to 400 nm is particularly preferred. Light sources used for photoalignment include xenon lamps; high-pressure mercury lamps; ultrahigh-pressure mercury lamps; metal halide lamps; and ultraviolet light lasers such as KrF and ArF. When a polymer (A') having a cinnamoyl group as a photoreactive group is used, a high-pressure mercury lamp, an ultrahigh-pressure mercury lamp, and a metal halide lamp are preferable as the light source for photo-alignment operation. The reason for this is that these lamps have a high emission intensity of ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 313 nm. If the light from the light source passes through a suitable polarizer 200 and then irradiates the first laminate, the first laminate will be irradiated with polarized UV. As the polarizer 200, a polarizing filter, a polarizing prism such as Glan-Thompson or Glan-Taylor, or a wire grid type polarizer can be used.

The photo-alignment operation has been described above with reference to FIG. On the other hand, it is not always necessary that the direction of irradiation of the polarized UV is substantially perpendicular, and the direction of irradiation of the polarized UV may be oblique to the surface direction of the first laminate 101 . The irradiation direction of the polarized UV with respect to the surface direction of the first laminate 101 is determined according to the type of light source and polarizer used for the photo-alignment operation so that the obtained photo-alignment layer 2 has a desired absorption axis. be done.

<Step A4>
Steps A4 to A6 of this manufacturing method A are to provide a polarizing layer 3 on the photo-alignment layer 2 of the second laminate 102 obtained through the step A3.
The polarizing layer of this polarizing element is formed by the method described above. Again, this method is described. First, a composition containing a polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound, a dichroic dye and a solvent (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "polarizing layer-forming composition") is prepared. In step A4, the composition for forming a polarizing layer is applied onto the alignment layer 2 to form a second coating film.

First, the constituent components of the polarizing layer-forming composition will be described.
The polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound contained in the composition for forming a polarizing layer is a compound having a polymerizable group and exhibiting a smectic liquid crystal state. A polymerizable group means a group involved in the polymerization reaction of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound.

The liquid crystal state exhibited by the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound is preferably a high-order smectic phase. The higher order smectic phases referred to herein are smectic B phase, smectic D phase, smectic E phase, smectic F phase, smectic G phase, smectic H phase, smectic I phase, smectic J phase, smectic K phase and smectic L phase. Among them, smectic B phase, smectic F phase, smectic I phase, tilted smectic F phase and tilted smectic I phase are preferred, and smectic B phase is more preferred. The liquid crystal state exhibited by the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound produces the present polarizing element having a polarizing layer with a high degree of orientational order.

Preferred polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compositions include, for example, compounds represented by formula (1) (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “compound (1)”).

U ¹ -V ¹ -W ¹ -X ¹⁰ -Y ¹⁰ -X ²⁰ -Y ²⁰ -X ³⁰ -W ² -V ² -U ² (1) [in formula (1),
X ¹⁰ , X ²⁰ and X ³⁰ each independently represent an optionally substituted p-phenylene group or an optionally substituted cyclohexane-1,4-diyl group. However, at least one of X ¹ , X ² and X ³ is a p-phenylene group which may have a substituent.
Y ¹⁰ and Y ²⁰ are independently of each other -CH ₂ CH ₂ -, -CH ₂ O-, -COO-, -OCOO-, single bond, -N=N-, -CR ^a =CR ^b -, - represents C≡C- or -CR ^a =N-. R ^a and R ^b each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
U ¹ represents a hydrogen atom or a polymerizable group.
^U2 represents a polymerizable group.
W ¹ and W ² independently represent a single bond, -O-, -S-, -COO- or -OCOO-.
V ¹ and V ² each independently represent an optionally substituted alkanediyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and —CH ₂ — constituting the alkanediyl group is —O—, — It may be replaced with S- or -NH-. ]

In compound (1), as described above, at least one of X ¹⁰ , X ²⁰ and X ³⁰ is a 1,4-phenylene group which may have a substituent. are preferably p-phenylene groups which may have a substituent.
The p-phenylene group is preferably unsubstituted. The cyclohexane-1,4-diyl group is preferably a trans-cyclohexane-1,4-diyl group, and the trans-cyclohexane-1,4-diyl group is also unsubstituted. is more preferred.

Examples of substituents optionally possessed by the p-phenylene group or the cyclohexane-1,4-diyl group include alkyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms such as methyl group, ethyl group and butyl group; cyano group; halogen atom etc. -CH ₂ - constituting the cyclohexane-1,4-diyl group may be replaced with -O-, -S- or -NR-. R is an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a phenyl group.

Y ¹⁰ of compound (1) is preferably -CH ₂ CH ₂ -, -COO- or a single bond, and Y ²⁰ is preferably -CH ₂ CH ₂ - or -CH ₂ O-.

^U2 is a polymerizable group. U ¹ is a hydrogen atom or a polymerizable group, preferably a polymerizable group. That is, both U ¹ and U ² are preferably polymerizable groups, and both are preferably photopolymerizable groups. Here, the photopolymerizable group refers to a group that can participate in a polymerization reaction by an active radical or acid generated from a photopolymerization initiator, which will be described later. The use of a polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound having a photopolymerizable group is also advantageous in that the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound can be polymerized under lower temperature conditions.

In compound (1), the photopolymerizable groups of ^U1 and ^U2 may be different from each other, but are preferably of the same type. Examples of the photopolymerizable group include vinyl group, vinyloxy group, 1-chlorovinyl group, isopropenyl group, 4-vinylphenyl group, acryloyloxy group, methacryloyloxy group, oxiranyl group and oxetanyl group. Among them, an acryloyloxy group, a methacryloyloxy group, a vinyloxy group, an oxiranyl group and an oxetanyl group are preferred, and an acryloyloxy group is more preferred.

The alkanediyl group for V ¹ and V ² includes methylene group, ethylene group, propane-1,3-diyl group, butane-1,3-diyl group, butane-1,4-diyl group, pentane-1,5 -diyl group, hexane-1,6-diyl group, heptane-1,7-diyl group, octane-1,8-diyl group, decane-1,10-diyl group, tetradecane-1,14-diyl group and icosane -1,20-diyl group and the like. V ¹ and V ² are preferably alkanediyl groups having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, more preferably alkanediyl groups having 6 to 12 carbon atoms.
Examples of the substituent optionally possessed by the alkanediyl group include a cyano group and a halogen atom. is more preferable.

W ¹ and W ² are each independently preferably a single bond or -O-.

Examples of compound (1) include compounds represented by any one of formulas (1-1) to (1-23). When a specific example of such compound (1) has a cyclohexane-1,4-diyl group, the cyclohexane-1,4-diyl group is preferably a trans form.

The exemplified compound (1) can be used alone or in combination of two or more in the polarizing layer-forming composition. Alternatively, two or more polymerizable smectic compounds may be used, and at least one of the two or more polymerizable smectic compounds may be compound (1). In the following description, the case of using a single kind of polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound and the case of using two or more kinds of polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compounds may be collectively referred to as a "polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound".
When compound (1) is used in the composition for forming a polarizing layer, the phase transition temperature of compound (1) is determined in advance, and the compound (1) is polymerized under temperature conditions below the phase transition temperature. Components other than the compound (1) [polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound] of the layer-forming composition are adjusted.
Components capable of controlling the polymerization temperature include photopolymerization initiators, photosensitizers and polymerization inhibitors, which will be described later. The polymerization temperature of compound (1) can be controlled by appropriately adjusting the types and amounts of these. When a mixture of two or more compounds (1) [polymerizable smectic liquid crystal composition] is used in the polarizing layer-forming composition, the phase transition temperature of the mixture of two or more compounds (1) is obtained, the polymerization temperature is controlled in the same manner as in the case of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound.

Among the exemplified compounds (1), respectively, formula (1-2), formula (1-3), formula (1-4), formula (1-6), formula (1-7), formula (1- 8), preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of those represented by formula (1-13), formula (1-14) and formula (1-15). By mixing these compounds (1) or by interacting with the photopolymerization initiator used together, these compounds (1) can easily exhibit a high-order smectic phase liquid crystal state under temperature conditions below the phase transition temperature. The compound (1) can be polymerized because a supercooled state can be obtained while the temperature is maintained sufficiently. More specifically, by interacting with a photopolymerization initiator, these compounds (1) fully exhibit a high-order smectic phase liquid crystal state under temperature conditions of 70° C. or lower, preferably 60° C. or lower. It can be polymerized while being held.

As described above, the compound (1) contained in the composition for forming a polarizing layer may be of a single type or a plurality of types, preferably a plurality of types.

The content of compound (1) in the polarizing layer-forming composition is preferably 70 to 99.9% by mass, more preferably 90 to 99.9% by mass, based on the solid content of the polarizing layer-forming composition. preferable. If the content of compound (1) is within the above range, the orientation of compound (1) tends to be high. Here, the solid content refers to the total amount of components excluding volatile components such as solvents from the polarizing layer-forming composition. In addition, when multiple types of compounds (1) are contained in the composition for forming a polarizing layer, the total content may be within the above range.

The polarizing layer-forming composition preferably contains a leveling agent. The leveling agent has the function of adjusting the fluidity of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound and making the first coating film obtained by coating the polarizing layer-forming composition more flat. etc. can be mentioned. The leveling agent is more preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of a leveling agent containing a polyacrylate compound as a main component and a leveling agent containing a fluorine atom-containing compound as a main component.

Examples of leveling agents mainly composed of polyacrylate compounds include "BYK-350", "BYK-352", "BYK-353", "BYK-354", "BYK-355", "BYK-358N", BYK-361N", "BYK-380", "BYK-381" and "BYK-392" [BYK Chemie].

Leveling agents mainly composed of fluorine atom-containing compounds include "Megafac R-08", "R-30", "R-90", "F-410", "F-411", "F-443", "F-445", "F-470", "F-471", "F-477", "F-479", "F-482" and "F-483" [DIC Corporation]; "Surflon S-381", "S-382", "S-383", "S-393", "SC-101", "SC" -105", "KH-40" and "SA-100" [AGC Seimi Chemical Co., Ltd.]; "E1830", "E5844" [Daikin Fine Chemicals Laboratory]; ", "EF351" and "EF352" (Mitsubishi Materials Electronic Chemicals Co., Ltd.).

When the composition for forming a polarizing layer contains a leveling agent, the content thereof is preferably 0.3 parts by mass or more and 5 parts by mass or less, and 0.5 parts by mass or more with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound. 3 parts by mass or less is more preferable. When the content of the leveling agent is within the above range, it is easy to horizontally align the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound, and the obtained polarizing layer tends to be smoother. If the content of the leveling agent with respect to the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound exceeds the above range, the obtained polarizing layer tends to be uneven. The polarizing layer-forming composition may contain two or more leveling agents.

The polarizing layer-forming composition contains a dichroic dye. The term “dichroic dye” as used herein refers to a dye having a property that the absorbance in the long axis direction and the absorbance in the short axis direction of the molecule are different. The dichroic dye is not particularly limited as long as it has such properties, and may be either a dye or a pigment. A plurality of types of dyes may be used, a plurality of types of pigments may be used, and a combination of dyes and pigments may be used.

The dichroic dye preferably has a maximum absorption wavelength (λMAX) in the range of 300 to 700 nm. Such dichroic dyes include, for example, acridine dyes, oxazine dyes, cyanine dyes, naphthalene dyes, azo dyes and anthraquinone dyes, with azo dyes being preferred. Examples of azo dyes include monoazo dyes, bisazo dyes, trisazo dyes, tetrakisazo dyes and stilbenazo dyes, preferably bisazo dyes and trisazo dyes.

Examples of azo dyes include compounds represented by formula (2) (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "compound (2)").
A ¹ (-N=NA ² ) _p -N=NA ³ (2)
[In formula (2),
A ¹ and A ³ are each independently a phenyl group optionally having substituent(s), a naphthyl group optionally having substituent(s) or a monovalent heterocyclic group optionally having substituent(s) represents A ² is a p-phenylene group optionally having substituents, a naphthalene-1,4-diyl group optionally having substituents or a divalent heterocyclic ring optionally having substituents represents a group. p represents an integer of 1 to 4; When p is an integer of 2 or more, multiple A ² may be the same or different. ]

Monovalent heterocyclic groups include groups obtained by removing one hydrogen atom from heterocyclic compounds such as quinoline, thiazole, benzothiazole, thienothiazole, imidazole, benzimidazole, oxazole and benzoxazole. A group obtained by removing two hydrogen atoms from a heterocyclic compound corresponds to a divalent heterocyclic group, and specific examples of such a heterocyclic compound are as described above.

Optional substituents for the phenyl group, naphthyl group and monovalent heterocyclic group for A ¹ and A ³ and the p-phenylene group, naphthalene-1,4-diyl group and divalent heterocyclic group for A ² is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms such as a methoxy group, an ethoxy group and a butoxy group; a fluorinated alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms such as a trifluoromethyl group; a cyano group; nitro group; halogen atom; substituted or unsubstituted amino group such as amino group, diethylamino group and pyrrolidino group (substituted amino group means amino group having one or two alkyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or two It means an amino group in which substituted alkyl groups are bonded together to form an alkanediyl group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and an unsubstituted amino group is —NH ₂ .). Specific examples of the alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms are the same as the substituents arbitrarily included in the phenylene group of compound (1).

Among compounds (2), compounds represented by any one of the following formulas (2-1) to (2-6) are preferred.

［式（２－１）～（２－６）中、
Ｂ^１～Ｂ^２０は、互いに独立に、水素原子、炭素数１～６のアルキル基、炭素数１～４のアルコキシ基、シアノ基、ニトロ基、置換又は無置換のアミノ基（置換アミノ基及び無置換アミノ基の定義は前記のとおり）、塩素原子又はトリフルオロメチル基を表す。
ｎ１、ｎ２、ｎ３及びｎ４は、互いに独立に０～３の整数を表す。
ｎ１が２以上である場合、複数のＢ^２は互いに同一でも異なっていてもよく、
ｎ２が２以上である場合、複数のＢ^６は互いに同一でも異なっていてもよく、
ｎ３が２以上である場合、複数のＢ^９は互いに同一でも異なっていてもよく、
ｎ４が２以上である場合、複数のＢ¹⁴は互いに同一でも異なっていてもよい。］

[In formulas (2-1) to (2-6),
B ¹ to B ²⁰ each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a cyano group, a nitro group, a substituted or unsubstituted amino group (substituted amino group and The definition of unsubstituted amino group is as described above), chlorine atom or trifluoromethyl group.
n1, n2, n3 and n4 each independently represents an integer of 0 to 3;
When n1 is 2 or more, the plurality of ^B2 may be the same or different,
When n2 is 2 or more, the plurality of ^B6 may be the same or different,
When n3 is 2 or more, multiple ^B9 may be the same or different,
When n4 is 2 or more, the plurality of B ¹⁴ may be the same or different. ]

［式（２－７）中、
Ｒ^１～Ｒ^８は、互いに独立に、水素原子、－Ｒ^ｘ、－ＮＨ_２、－ＮＨＲ^ｘ、－ＮＲ^ｘ _２、－ＳＲ^ｘ又はハロゲン原子を表す。
Ｒ^ｘは、炭素数１～４のアルキル基又は炭素数６～１２のアリール基を表す。］ As the anthraquinone dye, a compound represented by formula (2-7) is preferable.

[In formula (2-7),
R ¹ to R ⁸ each independently represent a hydrogen atom, —R ^x , —NH ₂ , —NHR ^x , —NR ^x ₂ , —SR ^x or a halogen atom.
R ^x represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms. ]

［式（２－８）中、
Ｒ^９～Ｒ^１５は、互いに独立に、水素原子、－Ｒ^ｘ、－ＮＨ_２、－ＮＨＲ^ｘ、－ＮＲ^ｘ _２、－ＳＲ^ｘ又はハロゲン原子を表す。
Ｒ^ｘは、炭素数１～４のアルキル基又は炭素数６～１２のアリール基を表す。］ As the acridine dye, a compound represented by formula (2-8) is preferable.

[In formula (2-8),
R ⁹ to R ¹⁵ each independently represent a hydrogen atom, —R ^x , —NH ₂ , —NHR ^x , —NR ^x ₂ , —SR ^x or a halogen atom.
R ^x represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms. ]

［式（２－９）中、
Ｒ^１６～Ｒ^２３は、互いに独立に、水素原子、－Ｒ^ｘ、－ＮＨ_２、－ＮＨＲ^ｘ、－ＮＲ^ｘ _２、－ＳＲ^ｘ又はハロゲン原子を表す。
Ｒ^ｘは、炭素数１～４のアルキル基又は炭素数６～１２のアリール基を表す。］ As the oxazone dye, a compound represented by formula (2-9) is preferable.

[In formula (2-9),
R ¹⁶ to R ²³ each independently represent a hydrogen atom, —R ^x , —NH ₂ , —NHR ^x , —NR ^x ₂ , —SR ^x or a halogen atom.
R ^x represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms. ]

In the above formulas (2-7), (2-8) and (2-9), the alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms of R ^x means a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group, pentyl group, hexyl group and the like, and examples of the aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms include phenyl group, toluyl group, xylyl group and naphthyl group.

［式（２－１０）中、
Ｄ^１及びＤ^２は、互いに独立に、式（２－１０ａ）～式（２－１０ｄ）のいずれかで表される基を表す。

ｎ５は１～３の整数を表す。］ As the cyanine dye, a compound represented by formula (2-10) and a compound represented by formula (2-11) are preferable.

[In formula (2-10),
D ¹ and D ² each independently represent a group represented by any one of formulas (2-10a) to (2-10d).

n5 represents an integer of 1-3. ]

［式（２－１１）中、
Ｄ^３及びＤ^４は、互いに独立に、式（２－１１ａ）～式（２－１１ｈ）のいずれかで表される基を表す。

ｎ６は１～３の整数を表す。］

[In formula (2-11),
D ³ and D ⁴ each independently represent a group represented by any one of formulas (2-11a) to (2-11h).

n6 represents an integer of 1-3. ]

The content of the dichroic dye in the polarizing layer-forming composition can be appropriately adjusted according to the type of the dichroic dye. 1 to 50 parts by mass is preferable, 0.1 to 20 parts by mass is more preferable, and 0.1 to 10 parts by mass is even more preferable. If the content of the dichroic dye is within this range, the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound can be polymerized without disturbing the orientation of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound. If the content of the dichroic dye is too high, the orientation of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound may be inhibited. Therefore, the content of the dichroic dye can be determined within a range in which the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound can maintain the liquid crystal state of the smectic phase of higher order.

The polarizing layer-forming composition contains a solvent. A preferable solvent can be appropriately selected in consideration of the solubility of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound to be used. However, it is preferably an inert solvent that does not significantly hinder the progress of the polymerization reaction of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound. Examples of such a solvent are the same as those exemplified as the solvent for preparing the polarizing layer-forming composition. The solvent for preparing the composition for forming the polarizing layer may also be used alone, or may be used in combination.

The content of the solvent is preferably 50 to 98% by mass with respect to the total amount of the polarizing layer-forming composition. In other words, the solid content in the polarizing layer-forming composition is preferably 2 to 50% by mass. When the solid content is 2% by mass or more, dichroism necessary for the polarizing layer of the present polarizing element can be obtained.
On the other hand, when the solid content is 50% by mass or less, the viscosity of the polarizing layer-forming composition is low, so that the thickness of the polarizing layer becomes substantially uniform, which tends to make the polarizing layer less uneven. There is Moreover, such a solid content can be determined so as to form the thickness of the polarizing layer, which will be described later.

The polarizing layer-forming composition preferably contains a polymerization initiator. The polymerization initiator is a compound capable of initiating the polymerization reaction of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound, and is preferably a photopolymerization initiator because it can initiate the polymerization reaction under lower temperature conditions. Specifically, a compound capable of generating an active radical or an acid by the action of light under this temperature condition is used as the photopolymerization initiator. Among the photopolymerization initiators, those that generate radicals by the action of light are more preferable.

Examples of the photopolymerization initiator include benzoin compounds, benzophenone compounds, alkylphenone compounds, acylphosphine oxide compounds, triazine compounds, iodonium salts and sulfonium salts.

Specific examples of this photopolymerization initiator are given below.
Examples of benzoin compounds include benzoin, benzoin methyl ether, benzoin ethyl ether, benzoin isopropyl ether and benzoin isobutyl ether.

Examples of benzophenone compounds include benzophenone, methyl o-benzoylbenzoate, 4-phenylbenzophenone, 4-benzoyl-4′-methyldiphenylsulfide, 3,3′,4,4′-tetra(tert-butylperoxycarbonyl ) benzophenone and 2,4,6-trimethylbenzophenone.

Examples of alkylphenone compounds include diethoxyacetophenone, 2-methyl-2-morpholino-1-(4-methylthiophenyl)propan-1-one, 2-benzyl-2-dimethylamino-1-(4-morpholinophenyl ) butan-1-one, 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenylpropan-1-one, 1,2-diphenyl-2,2-dimethoxyethane-1-one, 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1 -[4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl]propan-1-one, 1-hydroxycyclohexylphenyl ketone and 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-[4-(1-methylvinyl)phenyl]propane-1- On oligomers, and the like.

Acylphosphine oxide compounds include 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide and bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phenylphosphine oxide.

Examples of triazine compounds include 2,4-bis(trichloromethyl)-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine, 2,4-bis(trichloromethyl)-6-(4-methoxy naphthyl)-1,3,5-triazine, 2,4-bis(trichloromethyl)-6-(4-methoxystyryl)-1,3,5-triazine, 2,4-bis(trichloromethyl)-6- [2-(5-methylfuran-2-yl)ethenyl]-1,3,5-triazine, 2,4-bis(trichloromethyl)-6-[2-(furan-2-yl)ethenyl]-1 ,3,5-triazine, 2,4-bis(trichloromethyl)-6-[2-(4-diethylamino-2-methylphenyl)ethenyl]-1,3,5-triazine and 2,4-bis(trichloro methyl)-6-[2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethenyl]-1,3,5-triazine and the like.

Photopolymerization initiators that are readily available on the market can also be used. Commercially available photopolymerization initiators include "Irgacure 907", "Irgacure 184", "Irgacure 651", "Irgacure 819", "Irgacure 250", and "Irgacure 369" (Ciba Japan Co., Ltd.); "Seikuol BZ", "Seikuol Z", "Seikuol BEE" (Seiko Chemical Co., Ltd.); "Kayacure BP100" (Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.); "Kayacure UVI-6992" (manufactured by Dow); "Adeka Optomer SP-152", "Adeka Optomer SP-170" (ADEKA Co., Ltd.); "TAZ-A", "TAZ-PP" (Nihon SiberHegner); and "TAZ-104" (Sanwa chemical company) and the like.

When the polarizing layer-forming composition contains a polymerization initiator, the content thereof can be appropriately adjusted according to the type and amount of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound contained in the polarizing layer-forming composition. For example, the content of the polymerization initiator with respect to the total 100 parts by mass of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound is preferably 0.1 to 30 parts by mass, more preferably 0.5 to 10 parts by mass, and 0.5 to 8 parts by mass. More preferred. When the content of the polymerizable initiator is within this range, polymerization can be performed without disturbing the orientation of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound, so that the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound exhibits a high-order smectic phase liquid crystal state. It can be polymerized while being held.

When the polarizing layer-forming composition contains a photopolymerization initiator, the polarizing layer-forming composition may contain a photosensitizer. Examples of the photosensitizer include xanthone compounds such as xanthone and thioxanthone (eg, 2,4-diethylthioxanthone, 2-isopropylthioxanthone, etc.); anthracene compounds; phenothiazines and rubrenes;

When the polarizing layer-forming composition contains a photopolymerization initiator and a photosensitizer, the polymerization reaction of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound contained in the polarizing layer-forming composition can be further promoted. . The amount of the photosensitizer used can be appropriately adjusted according to the type and amount of the photopolymerization initiator and polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound used in combination. , preferably 0.1 to 30 parts by mass, more preferably 0.5 to 10 parts by mass, even more preferably 0.5 to 8 parts by mass.

It has been described that the polymerization reaction of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound can be promoted by including a photosensitizer in the polarizing layer-forming composition. A suitable amount of a polymerization inhibitor may be contained in the composition for use. By containing a polymerization inhibitor, the degree of progress of the polymerization reaction of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound can be controlled.

Examples of the polymerization inhibitor include radicals such as hydroquinone, alkoxy group-containing hydroquinone, alkoxy group-containing catechol (eg, butylcatechol), pyrogallol, and 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy radical. Supplementary agents; thiophenols; β-naphthylamines and β-naphthols.

When the composition for forming a polarizing layer contains a polymerization inhibitor, the content thereof can be appropriately adjusted according to the type and amount of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound used, the amount of the photosensitizer used, and the like. For example, the content of the polymerization inhibitor with respect to a total of 100 parts by mass of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound is preferably 0.1 to 30 parts by mass, more preferably 0.5 to 10 parts by mass, and 0.5 to 8 parts by mass. More preferred. If the content of the polymerization inhibitor is within this range, the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound contained in the polarizing layer-forming composition can be polymerized without disturbing the orientation of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound. can be polymerized while maintaining the liquid crystal state of the higher-order smectic phase better.

The composition for forming a polarizing layer described above is coated on the photo-alignment layer 2 of the second laminate to obtain a second coating film, and the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound contained in the second coating film is The second dry film 3A is formed by drying under conditions that do not polymerize. As a result, the third laminate 103 is obtained.

As a method (coating method) for applying the composition for forming a polarizing film onto the photo-alignment layer 2 of the first laminate, for example, in the step A1, the composition for forming a photo-alignment layer is applied onto the transparent substrate. The same methods as those exemplified as the method of applying to .

<Step A5>
Subsequently, in step A5, the second coating film of the second laminate is dried to remove the solvent from the second coating film, thereby forming the second dry film 3A. As the method for removing the solvent, the same method as described in forming the first dry film from the first coating film in step A2 can be generally employed, but the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound contained in the second coating film can be used. Set the drying conditions so that the polymer does not polymerize.

<Step A6>
In step A6, the polarizing layer 3 is formed by polymerizing the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound while maintaining the liquid crystal state of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound contained in the second dry film 3A as smectic liquid crystal (laminate 104). to form In this laminate 104, the layer in which the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound in the second dry film 3A is brought into a smectic phase liquid crystal state is referred to as "layer 3B".

For forming the layer 3B by changing the liquid crystal state of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound contained in the second dry film 3A to a smectic liquid crystal state (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "smectic phase" or "smectic phase liquid crystal state"). For this purpose, the second dry coating should be kept at an appropriate temperature. good. In forming the layer 3B in the liquid crystal state of the smectic phase, once the liquid crystal state of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal composition contained in the second dry film 3A is changed to the nematic phase (nematic liquid crystal state), Preferably, the nematic phase is transformed into a smectic phase. In order to form a smectic phase via a nematic phase in this way, for example, the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound contained in the second dry film is heated to a temperature higher than the phase transition temperature of the liquid crystal state of the nematic phase, and then the polymerization is performed. A method is adopted in which the liquid crystal compound is cooled to a temperature at which the smectic liquid crystal compound exhibits a liquid crystal state of the smectic phase.

When the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound in the second dry film is in a smectic liquid crystal state, or when the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound is in a smectic liquid crystal state via a nematic liquid crystal state, the phase of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound to be used By measuring the transition temperature, the conditions (heating conditions) for controlling the liquid crystal state can be easily obtained. The measurement conditions for this phase transition temperature measurement will be described in Examples of the present application.

A composition for forming a polarizing layer containing two or more polymerizable liquid crystal smectic compounds as the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound in order to maintain the liquid crystal state of the smectic phase well when polymerizing the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound. is preferably used. When a composition for forming a polarizing layer in which the content ratio of each polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound in the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal composition is adjusted is used, after the liquid crystal state of the smectic phase is formed via the nematic phase, the It is possible to form a supercooled state, and has the advantage of easily maintaining a liquid crystal state of a high-order smectic phase.

Here, a photopolymerization initiator is added to the polarizing layer-forming composition to change the liquid crystal state of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound in the second dry film to a smectic phase, and then the liquid crystal state of the smectic phase is maintained. , a method for photopolymerizing the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound will be described in detail. In the photopolymerization, the light beam irradiated to the second dry film includes the type of the photopolymerization initiator contained in the second dry film, or the type of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound (in particular, the light possessed by the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound It can be carried out with light selected from the group consisting of visible light, ultraviolet light and laser light, or active electron beams, depending on the type of polymerizable group) and its amount. Among these, ultraviolet light is preferable in that it is easy to control the progress of the polymerization reaction and that devices widely used in the field of photopolymerization can be used. Therefore, it is preferable to select the types of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound and the photopolymerization initiator contained in the polarizing layer-forming composition so that they can be photopolymerized by ultraviolet light. Moreover, when polymerizing, the polymerization temperature can be controlled by cooling the second dry film with an appropriate cooling means while irradiating with ultraviolet light. If the polymerization of the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound can be carried out at a lower temperature by adopting such a cooling means, even if the transparent substrate 1 and the photo-alignment layer 2 described above have relatively low heat resistance, they are suitable. There is also the advantage that the polarizing layer 3 can be formed on the substrate. It should be noted that the patterned polarizing layer 3 can also be obtained by performing masking or development during the photopolymerization.

By performing photopolymerization as described above, the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound is polymerized while maintaining the liquid crystal state of the smectic phase, preferably the higher-order smectic phase as already exemplified, and the polarizing layer 3 is formed. and the present polarizing element 100 is obtained. The polarizing layer 3 obtained by polymerizing a polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound while maintaining the liquid crystal state of the smectic phase is a conventional polarizing layer, that is, by polymerizing a polymerizable liquid crystal compound while maintaining the liquid crystal state of the nematic phase. It has the advantage that the polarizing performance is much higher than that of the polarizing layer obtained by the method.

The thickness of the polarizing layer 3 thus formed is preferably in the range of 0.5 to 10 μm, more preferably in the range of 0.5 to 3 μm. Therefore, the thickness of the second coating film is determined in consideration of the thickness of the polarizing layer 3 to be obtained. The thickness of the polarizing layer 3 is obtained by measurement with an interference film thickness meter, a laser microscope, or a stylus type film thickness meter.

Moreover, it is particularly preferable that the polarizing layer 3 formed in this way gives a Bragg peak in X-ray diffraction measurement. Examples of the polarizing layer 3 capable of obtaining such a Bragg peak include a polarizing layer 3 exhibiting a diffraction peak derived from a hexatic phase or a crystal phase. The measurement conditions for such X-ray diffraction measurement include, for example, the conditions described in Examples of the present application.

<Continuous production method of the present polarizing element>
The outline of the manufacturing method of the present polarizing element (present manufacturing method A) has been described above, but when the present polarizing element is manufactured commercially, a method capable of continuously manufacturing the present polarizing element is required. Such a continuous manufacturing method is of the Roll to Roll type and is sometimes referred to as "this manufacturing method B".

For example, this production method B is
preparing a first roll in which a transparent substrate is wound around a first winding core;
continuously feeding the transparent substrate from the first roll;
a step of continuously forming a first coating film on the transparent substrate by applying a composition containing the polymer having a photoreactive group and a solvent;
A step of continuously obtaining a first laminate by forming a first dry film on the transparent substrate by removing the solvent from the first coating film by drying;
By irradiating the first dry film with polarized UV, a photo-alignment layer having an orientation direction at an angle of approximately 45° with respect to the conveying direction of the first laminate is formed, and the second laminate is continuously formed. and
applying a composition containing a polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound, a dichroic dye and a solvent on the photo-alignment layer to continuously form a second coating film on the photo-alignment layer; By drying the coating film under conditions in which the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound contained in the second coating film is not polymerized, a second dry coating is formed on the photo-alignment layer to continuously form a third laminate. a step of obtaining to
After converting the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound contained in the second dry film into a smectic liquid crystal state, the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound is polymerized while maintaining the smectic liquid crystal state to obtain the third laminate. a step of continuously obtaining polarizing elements by forming a polarizing layer having an absorption axis at an angle of 45° with respect to the transport direction;
and a step of winding the continuously obtained polarizing element around a second winding core to obtain a second roll. Here, with reference to FIG. 4, the main part of this manufacturing method B will be described.

The first roll 210 in which the transparent substrate is wound around the first winding core 210A is readily available on the market, for example. Transparent substrates commercially available in the form of such rolls include, among the transparent substrates already exemplified, films made of cellulose ester, cyclic olefin resin, polyethylene terephthalate, or polymethacrylic acid ester. In addition, when using the present polarizing element as a circularly polarizing plate, a transparent substrate to which a retardation property has been imparted in advance is also easily available from the market. be done.

Subsequently, the transparent substrate is unwound from the first roll 210 . The method of unwinding the transparent base material is carried out by installing a suitable rotating means on the winding core 210A of the first roll 210 and rotating the first roll 210 by the rotating means. Alternatively, a suitable auxiliary roll 300 may be installed in the direction in which the transparent base material is conveyed from the first roll 210, and the transparent base material may be unwound by rotating means of the auxiliary roll 300. FIG. Furthermore, by installing rotating means for both the first winding core 210A and the auxiliary roll 300, the transparent base material may be unwound while applying an appropriate tension to the transparent base material.

The transparent substrate unwound from the first roll 210 is coated with the alignment film-forming composition on the surface thereof by the coating device 211A when passing through the coating device 211A. As described above, the coating device 211A is a printing method such as a gravure coating method, a die coating method, or a flexographic method in order to continuously apply the alignment film forming composition.

The film that has passed through the coating device 211A corresponds to the laminate of the above-described transparent base material and the first coating film. The transparent base material on which the first coating film is thus formed (laminated) is conveyed to the drying furnace 212A and heated by the drying furnace 212A to form a first laminate composed of the transparent base material and the first dried film. transforms into As the drying oven 212A, for example, a hot air drying oven is used. The set temperature of the drying oven 212A is determined according to the type of solvent contained in the alignment film forming composition applied by the coating device 211A. Moreover, the drying furnace 212A may be divided into appropriate zones, and the set temperature may be different for each of the plurality of divided zones. The film may be transported sequentially through the plurality of drying ovens while the ovens are in operation.

The first laminate, which is continuously formed by passing through the heating furnace 212A, is then irradiated with a polarized UV irradiation device 213A to apply polarized light to the surface of the laminate on the first dry film side or the surface on the transparent substrate side. UV irradiation converts the first dry coating into a light polarizing layer. At that time, the angle formed by the transport direction D1 of the film and the alignment direction D2 of the photo-alignment layer to be formed is approximately 45°. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the relationship between the alignment direction D2 of the photo-alignment layer formed after polarized UV irradiation and the transport direction D1 of the film. That is, FIG. 5 shows that when the surface of the first laminate after passing through the polarized UV irradiation device 213A is viewed from the film transport direction D1 and the orientation direction D2 of the photo-alignment layer, the angle formed by them is approximately 45°. This symbol indicates that the

The thus continuously formed first laminate is then passed through a coating device 211B to apply a polarizing layer-forming composition onto the photo-alignment layer of the first laminate, followed by a drying oven 212B. By passing through the second laminate, the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound contained in the second laminate or the second dry film of the second laminate becomes a laminate in which a smectic liquid crystal state is formed. The drying oven 212B serves to dry and remove the solvent from the polarizing layer-forming composition applied on the photo-alignment layer, and also changes the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound contained in the second dry film into a smectic phase liquid crystal state. and to provide thermal energy to the second dry coating. Further, as already explained, in order to change the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound into the liquid crystal state of the smectic phase, in order to change the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound into the liquid crystal state of the nematic phase, It is necessary to subject the first laminate to multi-stage heat treatment under different heating conditions. Therefore, the drying furnace 212B is composed of a plurality of zones with different set temperatures, or a plurality of drying furnaces with different set temperatures are prepared, and the plurality of drying furnaces are connected in series. It is preferable that it is in the form of being installed.

After passing through the drying oven 212B, the solvent contained in the composition for forming the polarizing layer is sufficiently removed, and the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound in the second dry film is irradiated with light while maintaining the liquid crystal state of the smectic phase. It is transported to device 213B. By light irradiation from the light irradiation device 213B, the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound is photopolymerized while maintaining the liquid crystal state to form a polarizing layer, and the present polarizing element is continuously formed.

The thus continuously formed polarizing element is wound around a second winding core 220A to obtain a form of a second roll 220. As shown in FIG. When winding up the formed polarizing element to obtain a second roll, co-winding using an appropriate spacer may be performed.

In this way, the transparent substrate passes through the coating device 211A, the drying furnace 212A, the polarized UV irradiation device 213A, the coating device 211B, the drying furnace 212A, and the light irradiation device 213A in this order from the first roll. A photo-alignment layer and a polarizing film are formed on the material in the same manner as steps A2 to A6 of the present manufacturing method A, and the present polarizing element is continuously manufactured.

Further, in the present manufacturing method B shown in FIG. 4, a method of continuously manufacturing from the transparent substrate to the present polarizing element is shown. 212A and the polarized UV irradiation device 213A in this order, the continuously formed first laminate is wound around a core to manufacture the first laminate in the form of a roll, and the first laminate is produced from the roll. The present polarizing element may be manufactured by unwinding one laminate and passing the unwound first laminate through the coating device 211B, the drying oven 212A and the light irradiation device 213A in this order.

The present polarizing element obtained by the present production method B has a film-like and elongated shape. When this polarizing element is used in a liquid crystal display device or the like, which will be described later, it is used after being cut into a desired size according to the scale of the liquid crystal display device.

In the above, the configuration and manufacturing method of the present polarizing element have been described mainly in the form of a laminate of transparent substrate/photo-alignment layer/polarizing layer, but the present polarizing element may include layers or films other than these. It may be laminated. As already mentioned, the present polarizing element may further comprise a retardation film, or may further comprise an antireflection layer or a brightness enhancement film. Moreover, as will be described later, it can be combined with a retardation film (preferably a 1/4λ wavelength plate) to form a circularly polarizing plate. The quarter-wave plate used in manufacturing the circularly polarizing plate preferably has the property that the in-plane retardation value for visible light decreases as the wavelength becomes shorter.

<Advantageous effects of the present polarizing element>
The present polarizing element can be manufactured more advantageously than conventional polarizing elements in that the manufacturing method can easily form a polarizing layer having a desired polarization direction by photo-alignment operation during formation of the photo-alignment layer. Further, even if the long polarizing element is manufactured by the manufacturing method B, it is possible to form a polarizing layer having an absorption axis that is not horizontal to the longitudinal direction of the polarizing element. For example, by setting the absorption axis of the polarizing layer of the present polarizing element to 45°, the present polarizing element and a quarter-wave plate are bonded together by roll-to-roll bonding as described later to form a circularly polarizing plate (the main circle polarizing plate), and the productivity of the present circularly polarizing plate is greatly improved.

<Application of this polarizing element>
This polarizing element can be used in various display devices. A display device is a device having a display element, and includes a light-emitting element or a light-emitting device as a light source. Examples of display devices include liquid crystal displays, organic electroluminescence (EL) displays, inorganic electroluminescence (EL) displays, electron emission displays (e.g., field emission displays (FED), surface field emission displays (SED), )), electronic paper (display devices using electronic ink or electrophoretic elements, plasma display devices, projection display devices (e.g., grating light valve (GLV) display devices, display devices having a digital micromirror device (DMD)), and Examples include piezoelectric ceramic displays, etc. The liquid crystal display device includes any of a transmissive liquid crystal display device, a transflective liquid crystal display device, a reflective liquid crystal display device, a direct view liquid crystal display device, a projection liquid crystal display device, and the like. These display devices may be display devices that display two-dimensional images, or may be stereoscopic display devices that display three-dimensional images.
On the other hand, the present circular change plate can be effectively used in a display device such as an organic electroluminescence (EL) display device or an inorganic electroluminescence (EL) display device.

6 and 9 are schematic diagrams schematically showing the cross-sectional structure of a liquid crystal display device (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "the present liquid crystal display device") 10 using the present polarizing element. The liquid crystal layer 17 is sandwiched between two substrates 14a and 14b.
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a cross-sectional structure of an EL display device using the present polarizing element (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "the present EL display device").
FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the structure of a projection-type liquid crystal display device using this polarizing element.

First, the present liquid crystal display device 10 shown in FIG. 6 will be described.
A color filter 15 is arranged on the liquid crystal layer 17 side of the substrate 14a. A color filter 15 is arranged at a position facing the pixel electrode 22 with the liquid crystal layer 17 interposed therebetween, and a black matrix 20 is arranged at a position facing the boundary between the pixel electrodes. A transparent electrode 16 is arranged on the liquid crystal layer 17 side so as to cover the color filter 15 and the black matrix 20 .
An overcoat layer (not shown) may be provided between the color filter 15 and the transparent electrode 16 .

Thin film transistors 21 and pixel electrodes 22 are regularly arranged on the liquid crystal layer 17 side of the substrate 14b. The pixel electrode 22 is arranged at a position facing the color filter 15 with the liquid crystal layer 17 interposed therebetween. An interlayer insulating film 18 having a connection hole (not shown) is arranged between the thin film transistor 21 and the pixel electrode 22 .

A glass substrate and a plastic substrate are used as the substrate 14a and the substrate 14b.
Such glass substrates and plastic substrates can be made of the same materials as those exemplified as the transparent base material of the present polarizing element. Further, the transparent substrate 1 of the present polarizing element may also serve as the substrate 14a and the substrate 14b. A glass substrate or a quartz substrate is preferable if a process of heating to a high temperature is required when manufacturing the color filter 15 or the thin film transistor 21 formed on the substrate.

An optimum thin film transistor can be adopted according to the material of the substrate 14b. The thin film transistor 21 includes a high temperature polysilicon transistor formed on a quartz substrate, a low temperature polysilicon transistor formed on a glass substrate, and an amorphous silicon transistor formed on a glass substrate or a plastic substrate. A driver IC may be formed on the substrate 14b in order to make the present liquid crystal display device more compact.

A liquid crystal layer 17 is arranged between the transparent electrode 16 and the pixel electrode 22 . Spacers 23 are arranged in the liquid crystal layer 17 to keep the distance between the substrates 14a and 14b constant. Although FIG. 2 shows a columnar spacer, the spacer is not limited to a columnar shape, and may have any shape as long as the distance between the substrates 14a and 14b can be kept constant.

Among the layers formed on the substrates 14a and 14b, an orientation layer for orienting the liquid crystal in a desired direction may be disposed on the surface in contact with the liquid crystal layer 17, respectively. The polarizing element can be arranged inside the liquid crystal cell, that is, the polarizing element can be arranged on the surface side in contact with the liquid crystal layer 17 . Such a format is hereinafter referred to as an "in-cell format". Details of this in-cell format will be described later.

Each member is laminated in the order of substrate 14a, color filter 15 and black matrix 20, transparent electrode 16, liquid crystal layer 17, pixel electrode 22, interlayer insulating film 18 and thin film transistor 21, and substrate 14b.

Of the substrates 14a and 14b sandwiching the liquid crystal layer 17, polarizers 12a and 12b are provided outside the substrate 14b, and at least one of these is the present polarizing element.
Further, retardation layers (for example, quarter wave plate or optical compensation film) 13a and 13b are preferably laminated. Of the polarizers 12a and 12b, by disposing the polarizing element in the polarizer 12b, the liquid crystal display device 10 can be provided with the function of converting incident light into linearly polarized light. The retardation films 13a and 13b may not be arranged depending on the structure of the liquid crystal display device and the type of liquid crystal compound contained in the liquid crystal layer 17, and the present polarizing element in which the transparent substrate is a retardation film When a (circularly polarizing plate) is used, the retardation film can be used as a retardation layer, so the retardation layers 13a and/or 13b in FIG. 6 can be omitted. A polarizing film may be further provided on the light exit side (outside) of the present polarizing element.
In addition, an antireflection film for preventing reflection of external light may be disposed outside the present polarizing element (if the present polarizing element is further provided with a polarizing film, outside the polarizing film).

As described above, the present polarizing element can be used for the polarizer 12a or 12b of the present liquid crystal display device 10 of FIG. By providing the present polarizing element in the polarizers 12a and/or 12b, there is an effect that the present liquid crystal display device 10 can be made thinner.

When this polarizing element is used for the polarizer 12a or 12b, the lamination order is not particularly limited.
This will be described with reference to enlarged views of the portions A and B enclosed by dotted lines in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the portion A in FIG. (A1) of FIG. 7 shows that when the present polarizing element 100 is used as a polarizer 12a, the present It shows that the polarizing element 1 is provided. Further, (A2) of FIG. 7 shows that the present polarizing element 1 is provided such that the transparent substrate 1, the photo-alignment layer 2 and the polarizing layer 3 are arranged in this order from the retardation layer 13a side. show.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged schematic diagram of the portion B of FIG. (B1) of FIG. 8 shows that when the present polarizing element 100 is used as a polarizer 12b, the present A polarizing element 100 is provided. (B2) of FIG. 8 shows that when the present polarizing element 100 is used as a polarizer 12b, the present A polarizing element 100 is provided.

A backlight unit, which is a light source, is arranged outside the polarizer 12b. A backlight unit includes a light source, a light guide, a reflector, a diffusion sheet, and a viewing angle adjustment sheet.
Light sources include electroluminescence, cold cathode tubes, hot cathode tubes, light emitting diodes (LEDs), laser light sources and mercury lamps. Also, the type of the polarizing element can be selected according to the characteristics of such a light source.

When the liquid crystal display device 10 is a transmissive liquid crystal display device, the white light emitted from the light source in the backlight unit enters the light guide, is diverted by the reflector and diffused by the diffusion sheet. The diffused light is adjusted to have desired directivity by the viewing angle adjustment sheet, and then enters the polarizer 12b from the backlight unit.

Of the non-polarized incident light, only one linearly polarized light is transmitted through the polarizer 12b of the liquid crystal panel. This linearly polarized light is converted into circularly polarized light or elliptically polarized light by the retardation layer 13 b , and sequentially transmitted through the substrate 14 b , the pixel electrode 22 , etc., and reaches the liquid crystal layer 17 .

Depending on whether or not there is a potential difference between the pixel electrode 22 and the transparent electrode 16 facing the pixel electrode 22, the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules contained in the liquid crystal layer 17 changes, and the brightness of the light emitted from the liquid crystal display device 10 is controlled. be done. When the liquid crystal layer 17 is in an orientation state in which polarized light is transmitted as it is, the polarized light is transmitted through the liquid crystal layer 17 and the transparent electrode 16, and light in a specific wavelength range is transmitted through the color filter 15 and reaches the polarizer 12a. Therefore, the liquid crystal display device displays the color determined by the color filter the brightest.

Conversely, when the liquid crystal layer 17 is in an orientation state in which polarized light is converted and transmitted, the light transmitted through the liquid crystal layer 17, the transparent electrode 16 and the color filter 15 is absorbed by the polarizer 12a. This causes this pixel to display black. In an alignment state intermediate between these two states, the brightness of light emitted from the liquid crystal display device 10 is also intermediate between the above two states, so this pixel displays an intermediate color.

When the present liquid crystal display device 10 is a transflective liquid crystal display device, it is preferable to use a polarizing element (circularly polarizing plate) in which a 1/4 wavelength plate is further laminated on the polarizing layer side of the present polarizing element. At this time, the pixel electrode 22 has a transmissive portion made of a transparent material and a reflective portion made of a material that reflects light. Is displayed. On the other hand, in the reflective portion, external light enters the liquid crystal display device, and circularly polarized light transmitted through the polarizing element passes through the liquid crystal layer 17 due to the action of the 1/4 wavelength plate further provided in the polarizing element, and passes through the pixel electrode. 22 and used for display.

Next, a suitable in-cell type liquid crystal display device (the present liquid crystal display device 24) using the present polarizing element will be described with reference to FIG.
In this liquid crystal display device 24, the substrate 14a, the polarizer 12a, the retardation film 13a, the color filter 15 and the black matrix 20, the transparent electrode 16, the liquid crystal layer 17, the pixel electrode 22, the interlayer insulating film 18 and the thin film transistor 21, the retardation film 13b, the polarizer b, the substrate 14b, and the backlight unit 19 are laminated in this order, and in this configuration, the present polarizing element is preferably used as the polarizer 12a. In this configuration, the present polarizing element may have the transparent substrate 1, the photo-alignment layer 2 and the polarizing layer 3 arranged in this order so that the transparent substrate in the present polarizing element also serves as the substrate 14a. The present liquid crystal display device 24 having the present polarizing element with such a configuration is provided with a function of linearly polarizing incident light. As in the present liquid crystal display device 10 , the retardation layers 13 a and 13 b may not be arranged depending on the type of liquid crystal compound contained in the liquid crystal layer 17 .

Next, the present EL display device 30 using the present polarizing element will be described with reference to FIG. When the present polarizing element is used in the present EL display device, it is preferable to use the present polarizing element after making the present circularly polarizing plate. There are two embodiments of this circularly polarizing plate. Therefore, two embodiments of the circularly polarizing plate will be described with reference to FIG. 10 before describing the configuration of the EL display device 30 and the like.

FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a first embodiment of the circularly polarizing plate 110. FIG. The first embodiment is the present circularly polarizing plate 110 in which a retardation layer (retardation film) 4 is further provided on the polarizing layer 3 of the present polarizing element 100 . FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a second embodiment of the circularly polarizing plate 110. As shown in FIG. In the second embodiment, a transparent substrate 1 (retardation film 4) to which a retardation property is imparted in advance is used as the transparent substrate 1 used when manufacturing the present polarizing element 100. This circularly polarizing plate 110 is such that the material 1 itself also functions as the retardation layer 4 .

Here, a method for manufacturing the circularly polarizing plate 110 will be described. As described above, the second embodiment of the present circularly polarizing plate 110 is a transparent substrate to which a retardation property has been imparted in advance as the transparent substrate 1 in the present manufacturing method A or the present manufacturing method B for manufacturing the present polarizing element 100. 1, that is, it can be produced by using a retardation film. In the first embodiment of the present circular polarizing plate 110, a retardation layer 4 is formed by laminating a retardation film on the polarizing layer 3 of the present polarizing element 1 manufactured by the present manufacturing method A or the present manufacturing method B. should be formed. When the present polarizing element 100 is manufactured in the form of the second roll 220 by the present manufacturing method B, the present polarizing element 100 is unwound from the second roll 220, cut into a predetermined size, and then cut. Although the phase difference film may be attached to the present polarizing element 100, the shape is film-like and elongated by preparing a third roll in which the phase difference film is wound around the core. The present circularly polarizing plate 110 can also be manufactured continuously.

A method for continuously manufacturing the first embodiment of the circularly polarizing plate 110 will be described with reference to FIG. Such a manufacturing method is
A step of continuously unwinding the present polarizing element 100 from the second roll 220 and continuously unwinding the retardation film from the third roll 230 on which the retardation film is wound;
The polarizing layer provided in the present polarizing element 100 unwound from the second roll 220 and the retardation film unwound from the third roll are continuously bonded to form the present circularly polarizing plate 110. forming;
and a step of winding the formed circularly polarizing plate 110 around a fourth winding core 240A to obtain a fourth roll 240. This method is so-called Roll to Roll bonding.

The manufacturing method of the first embodiment of the circularly polarizing plate 110 has been described above. The polarizing layer 3 and the retardation film may be bonded via an adhesive layer formed from an adhesive.

Next, the EL display device including the circularly polarizing plate 110 will be described with reference to FIG.
The EL display device 30 has an organic functional layer 36 as a light emitting source and a cathode electrode 37 laminated on a substrate 33 on which a pixel electrode 35 is formed. A circularly polarizing plate 31 is disposed on the side opposite to the organic functional layer 36 with the substrate 33 interposed therebetween, and the present circularly polarizing plate 110 is used as the circularly polarizing plate 31 . By applying a positive voltage to the pixel electrode 35 and a negative voltage to the cathode electrode 37 and applying a DC current between the pixel electrode 35 and the cathode electrode 37, the organic functional layer 36 emits light. The organic functional layer 36, which is a light source, is composed of an electron transport layer, a light emitting layer, a hole transport layer, and the like. Light emitted from the organic functional layer 36 passes through the pixel electrode 35, the interlayer insulating film 34, the substrate 33, and the circular polarizer 31 (this circular polarizer 110). Although the organic EL display device having the organic functional layer 36 will be described, it may also be applied to an inorganic EL display device having an inorganic functional layer.

To manufacture the EL display device 30, first, the thin film transistor 40 is formed on the substrate 33 in a desired shape. Then, an interlayer insulating film 34 is formed, and then a pixel electrode 35 is formed by sputtering and patterned. After that, the organic functional layer 36 is laminated.

Next, the circularly polarizing plate 31 (the main circularly polarizing plate 110) is provided on the surface of the substrate 33 opposite to the surface on which the thin film transistor 40 is provided.

When the circularly polarizing plate 110 is used as the circularly polarizing plate 31, the lamination order will be described with reference to the enlarged view of the portion C surrounded by the dotted line in FIG. When the present circularly polarizing plate 110 is used as the circularly polarizing plate 31, the retardation layer 4 in the present circularly polarizing plate 110 is arranged on the substrate 33 side. (C1) of FIG. 12 is an enlarged view using the first embodiment of the present circularly polarizing plate 110 as the circularly polarizing plate 31, and (C2) of FIG. 12 is the second embodiment of the present circularly polarizing plate 110. 3 is an enlarged view of a circularly polarizing plate 31. FIG.

Next, members other than the polarizing element 31 (circularly polarizing plate 110) of the EL display device 30 will be briefly described.

Examples of the substrate 33 include a sapphire glass substrate, a quartz glass substrate, a soda glass substrate, a ceramic substrate such as alumina; a metal substrate such as copper; and a plastic substrate.
Although not shown, a thermally conductive film may be formed on the substrate 33 . A diamond thin film (DLC etc.) etc. are mentioned as a heat conductive film|membrane. When the pixel electrode 35 is of a reflective type, light is emitted in the opposite direction to the substrate 33 . Therefore, not only transparent materials but also non-transmissive materials such as stainless steel can be used. The substrate may be formed as a single substrate, or may be formed as a laminated substrate by bonding a plurality of substrates together with an adhesive. Moreover, these substrates are not limited to plate-like ones, and may be films.

As the thin film transistor 40, for example, a polycrystalline silicon transistor or the like may be used. The thin film transistor 40 is provided at the end of the pixel electrode 35 and has a size of about 10 to 30 μm. The size of the pixel electrode 35 is about 20 μm×20 μm to 300 μm×300 μm.

Wiring electrodes of the thin film transistor 40 are provided on the substrate 33 . The wiring electrode has a low resistance and has a function of keeping the resistance value low by electrically connecting to the pixel electrode 35. Generally, the wiring electrode is made of Al, Al, transition metals (excluding Ti), Ti or A material containing one or more of titanium nitride (TiN) is used.

An interlayer insulating film 34 is provided between the thin film transistor 40 and the pixel electrode 35 . The interlayer insulating film 34 is made of inorganic material such as silicon oxide such as SiO ₂ or silicon nitride by sputtering or vacuum deposition, silicon oxide layer formed by SOG (spin on glass), photoresist, polyimide. Any material may be used as long as it has insulating properties, such as a coating film of a resin-based material such as an acrylic resin.

A rib 41 is formed on the interlayer insulating film 34 . The rib 41 is arranged in the peripheral portion (between adjacent pixels) of the pixel electrode 35 . Materials for the ribs 41 include acrylic resin and polyimide resin. The thickness of the rib 41 is preferably 1.0 μm or more and 3.5 μm, more preferably 1.5 μm or more and 2.5 μm or less.

Next, an EL element composed of a pixel electrode 35 as a transparent electrode, an organic functional layer 36 as a light emitting source, and a cathode electrode 37 will be described. The organic functional layer 36 has at least one hole-transport layer and one light-emitting layer, for example, an electron-injection-transport layer, a light-emitting layer, a hole-transport layer and a hole-injection layer in sequence.

Examples of the pixel electrode 35 include ITO (tin-doped indium oxide), IZO (zinc-doped indium oxide), IGZO, ZnO, SnO ₂ and In ₂ O ₃ , and ITO and IZO are particularly preferable. The thickness of the pixel electrode 35 may be a certain thickness or more that can sufficiently inject holes, and is preferably about 10 to 500 nm.
The pixel electrode 35 can be formed by a vapor deposition method (preferably a sputtering method). The sputtering gas is not particularly limited, and an inert gas such as Ar, He, Ne, Kr and Xe, or a mixed gas thereof may be used.

Metal elements such as K, Li, Na, Mg, La, Ce, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Ag, In, Sn, Zn and Zr may be used as the constituent material of the cathode electrode 37. In order to improve the operational stability of the electrode, it is preferable to use a binary or ternary alloy system selected from the exemplified metal elements. Examples of alloy systems include Ag-Mg (Ag: 1 to 20 at%), Al-Li (Li: 0.3 to 14 at%), In-Mg (Mg: 50 to 80 at%) and Al-Ca (Ca: 5 to 20 at %) and the like are preferable.
The cathode electrode 37 is formed by a vapor deposition method, a sputtering method, or the like. The thickness of the cathode electrode 37 is preferably 0.1 nm or more, preferably 1 to 500 nm or more.

The hole injection layer has a function of facilitating the injection of holes from the pixel electrode 35. The hole transport layer has a function of transporting holes and a function of blocking electrons. Also called transport layer.
The thickness of the light-emitting layer, the combined thickness of the hole injection layer and the hole transport layer, and the thickness of the electron injection transport layer are not particularly limited, and vary depending on the formation method, but should be about 5 to 100 nm. is preferred. Various organic compounds can be used for the hole injection layer and the hole transport layer. A vacuum vapor deposition method can be used for forming the hole injection transport layer, the light emitting layer and the electron injection transport layer, since a homogeneous thin film can be formed.

The organic functional layer 36, which is a light emitting source, may be one that utilizes light emission (fluorescence) from singlet excitons, one that utilizes light emission (phosphorescence) from triplet excitons, or one that utilizes light emission (phosphorescence) from singlet excitons. Those using light emission (fluorescence) and those using light emission from triplet excitons (phosphorescence), those formed by organic substances, those formed by organic substances and those formed by inorganic substances , high-molecular-weight materials, low-molecular-weight materials, and high-molecular-weight materials and low-molecular-weight materials. However, it is not limited to this, and the EL display device 30 can use the organic functional layer 36 using various known materials for EL elements.

A desiccant 38 is placed in the space between the cathode electrode 37 and the sealing lid 39 . This is because the organic functional layer 36 is sensitive to humidity. The desiccant 38 absorbs moisture and prevents deterioration of the organic functional layer 36 .

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a cross-sectional configuration of another embodiment of the EL display device 30. As shown in FIG. This EL display device 30 has a sealing structure using a thin film sealing film 41, and can obtain emitted light from the opposite side of the array substrate.
As the thin film sealing film 41, it is preferable to use a DLC film obtained by vapor-depositing DLC (diamond-like carbon) on a film of an electrolytic capacitor. A DLC film has a characteristic of extremely poor moisture permeability, and has high moisture resistance. Alternatively, a DLC film or the like may be directly deposited on the surface of the cathode electrode 37 to form it. Alternatively, the thin film encapsulating film 41 may be formed by laminating a resin thin film and a metal thin film in multiple layers.

As described above, a novel polarizing element (the present polarizing element) according to the present invention and a novel display device (the present liquid crystal display device and the present EL display device) provided with the present polarizing device are provided.

Finally, a projection type liquid crystal display device using the polarizing element 100 will be described.
FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a projection-type liquid crystal display device using the polarizing element 100. As shown in FIG.
The polarizing element 100 is used as the polarizer 142 and/or the polarizer 143 of this projection type liquid crystal display device.

A light beam emitted from a light source (for example, a high-pressure mercury lamp) 111, which is a light source, first passes through a first lens array 112, a second lens array 113, a polarization conversion element 114, and a superimposing lens 115. Brightness homogenization and polarization are achieved in the anti-ray beam cross-section.

Specifically, a light beam emitted from a light source 111 is divided into a large number of minute light beams by a first lens array 112 in which minute lenses 112a are formed in a matrix. The second lens array 113 and the superimposing lens 115 are provided so that each of the split light beams illuminates the entire three liquid crystal panels 140R, 140G, and 140B to be illuminated. The entire incident surface of the liquid crystal panel has a substantially uniform illuminance.

The polarization conversion element 114 is composed of a polarization beam splitter array and arranged between the second lens array 113 and the superimposing lens 115 . As a result, random polarized light from the light source is converted into polarized light having a specific polarization direction in advance, thereby reducing light amount loss in the incident-side polarizer, which will be described later, and improving the brightness of the screen.

The light whose luminance is uniformed and polarized as described above passes through a reflecting mirror 122 and is sequentially divided into red, green, and blue channels by dichroic mirrors 121, 123, and 132 for separating into the three primary colors of RGB. They are separated and enter liquid crystal panels 140R, 140G, and 140B, respectively.

The liquid crystal panels 140R, 140G, and 140B are provided with a polarizer 142 on the incident side and a polarizer 143 on the exit side. The present polarizing element 100 can be used for the polarizers 142 and 143 .

The polarizers 142 and 143 arranged in the RGB optical paths are arranged so that their absorption axes are orthogonal to each other. Each of the liquid crystal panels 140R, 140G, and 140B arranged on each optical path has a function of converting the polarization state controlled for each pixel by the image signal into the amount of light.

This polarizing element 100 is useful as a polarizing film with excellent durability in any of the optical paths of the blue channel, green channel and red channel by selecting the type of dichroic dye suitable for the corresponding channel.

An optical image created by transmitting incident light with a different transmittance for each pixel according to the image data of the liquid crystal panels 140R, 140G, and 140B is synthesized by the cross dichroic prism 150, and projected onto the screen 180 by the projection lens 170. magnified and projected.

As electronic paper, there are those displayed by molecules such as optical anisotropy and dye molecule orientation, those displayed by particles such as electrophoresis, particle movement, particle rotation, and phase change, and one end of the film moves display by color development/phase change of molecules; display by light absorption by molecules; More specifically, microcapsule type electrophoresis, horizontal movement type electrophoresis, vertical movement type electrophoresis, spherical twist ball, magnetic twist ball, cylindrical twist ball system, charged toner, electronic liquid powder, magnetophoresis, magnetic thermosensing formula, electrowetting, light scattering (transparent/cloudy change), cholesteric liquid crystal/photoconductive layer, cholesteric liquid crystal, bistable nematic liquid crystal, ferroelectric liquid crystal, dichroic dye/liquid crystal dispersion type, movable film, leuco dye coloring, photochromic, electrochromic, electrodeposition, flexible organic EL, and the like. Electronic paper may be used not only for personal use of text and images, but also for advertisement display (signage) and the like. According to this polarizing element, the thickness of the electronic paper can be reduced.

As a stereoscopic display device, for example, a method of arranging different retardation films alternately, such as a micropole method, has been proposed (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-185983). Since patterning is easy by printing, inkjet, photolithography, or the like, the manufacturing process of the display device can be shortened, and the retardation film becomes unnecessary.

The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples. Unless otherwise specified, "%" and "parts" in the examples are % by mass and parts by mass.

Synthesis example 1 of a polymer having a photoreactive group
Polymer 1 and polymer 2 were synthesized as polymers having photoreactive groups.

Synthesis Example 1: Synthesis of Polymer 1 Polymer 1 consists of the following structural units.
[Polymer 1]

[Synthetic scheme of polymer 1]

[Synthesis of compound (a1-1-1)]
50 g (258 mmol) of ferulic acid was dissolved in 360 g of methanol. To the resulting solution, 10 g of sulfuric acid was added at room temperature, the temperature was raised until the solvent was refluxed, and the reaction was allowed to proceed for 2 hours under reflux. After cooling the resulting reaction solution, 150 g of ice and 150 g of water were added. The supernatant was removed by decantation, and 150 g of water at 5° C. was added for crystallization. The obtained white crystals were filtered, and the filtered white crystals were further washed with a 1M aqueous sodium hydrogencarbonate solution and water, and then vacuum dried to obtain 22.2 g of compound (a1-1-1). Yield was 83% based on ferulic acid.

[Synthesis of compound (b1-1-1)]
25 g (120 mmol) of compound (a1-1-1) was dissolved in 250 g of dimethylacetamide. 33.19 g (240 mmol) of potassium carbonate and 1.99 g (12 mmol) of potassium iodide were added to the resulting solution. 6-Chlorohexanol was added dropwise to the resulting dispersion, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour and then at 70° C. for 8 hours. The resulting reaction solution was filtered to remove insoluble matter. 200 g of methyl isobutyl ketone and 300 g of water were added to the filtrate, and the mixture was stirred, allowed to stand, and separated to recover an organic layer. 200 g of water was added to the collected organic layer, and the water washing operation of stirring, standing, and liquid separation was repeated twice. The solvent was removed from the recovered organic layer by distillation under reduced pressure using an evaporator to obtain a crude product of compound (b1-1-1).

[Synthesis of compound (c1-1-1)]
The entire crude product of compound (b1-1-1) was dissolved in 185 g of ethanol.
92 g of water and 14.41 g (360 mmol) of sodium hydroxide were added to the obtained solution, and the mixture was stirred at 80° C. for 1 hour. After cooling the reaction solution to about 3° C., the pH was adjusted to 2 by adding 2 M hydrochloric acid aqueous solution while keeping the temperature at 5° C. or less. The acid deposited white precipitate was collected by filtration, washed twice with a mixed solution of 100 g of water and 80 g of methanol, and vacuum dried to obtain 30.4 g of compound (c1-1-1). The yield was 86% based on compound (a1-1-1).

[Synthesis of compound (M1-1-1)]
27.46 g (93 mmol) of compound (c1-1-1) was dissolved in 280 g of chloroform. To the resulting solution, 2.06 g of BHT (di-t-butyl-hydroxytoluene) and 37.73 g (373 mmol) of triethylamine were added as polymerization inhibitors, and the mixture was stirred under ice cooling. 29.26 g (260 mmol) of methacrylic acid chloride was added dropwise to the reaction solution, and the mixture was stirred for 5 hours while keeping the temperature below 5°C. 5.7 g of dimethylaminopyridine and 190 g of water were added to the resulting reaction solution, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 12 hours. After allowing to stand, the organic layer was recovered, 100 g of a 2N hydrochloric acid aqueous solution was added to this organic layer, and the washing operation of stirring, standing and liquid separation was repeated twice. The organic layer was recovered, 300 g of n-heptane was added, and the precipitated crystals were collected by filtration. After washing twice with a mixed solvent of 100 g of water and 80 g of methanol, it was dried under vacuum to obtain 22.0 g of compound (M1-1-1). The yield was 65% based on compound (c1-1-1).

[Synthesis of polymer 1]
1.00 g (2.76 mmol) of the compound (M1-1-1) and 10 g of tetrahydrofuran were added to a Schlenk tube, and after deoxygenation, 2.27 mg of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) was added while flowing nitrogen. was added and stirred at 60° C. for 72 hours. The resulting reaction solution was added to 200 g of toluene. The precipitate was collected by filtration, washed with heptane, and dried in vacuum to obtain 0.75 g of Polymer 1. The yield was 75% based on compound (M1-1-1). GPC measurement revealed that the obtained polymer 1 had a number average molecular weight of 28200, Mw/Mn of 1.82, and a monomer content of 0.5%.

（なお、括弧に付した数値は、ポリマー２の全構造単位に対する各構造単位のモル分率を表す。） Synthesis Example 2: Synthesis of polymer 2 Macromolecules, Vol. 39, No. 26 (2006), a polymer 2 having the following structure was synthesized.

(The numbers in parentheses represent the mole fraction of each structural unit with respect to all the structural units of Polymer 2.)

Synthesis of Polymerizable Smectic Liquid Crystal Compounds As polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compounds (in the following description, polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compounds are abbreviated as "polymerizable liquid crystal compounds"), compound (1-6), compound (1- 7), compound (1-8), compound (1-13) and compound (1-14) were synthesized.

Synthesis Example 3: Compound (1-6) (compound represented by the following formula (1-6))
Compound (1-6) was prepared according to Lub et al. Recl. Trav. Chim. It was synthesized by the method described in Pays-Bas, 115, 321-328 (1996).

Synthesis Examples 4-7: Synthesis of compound (1-7), compound (1-8), compound (1-13) and compound (1-14) Compound (1-7) (in the following formula (1-7) compound represented by), compound (1-8) (compound represented by formula (1-8) below), compound (1-13) (compound represented by formula (1-13) below), compound ( 1-14) (a compound represented by the following formula (1-14)) was synthesized with reference to the method for synthesizing compound (1-6).

Example 1
[Adjustment of Composition for Forming Polarizing Layer]
A composition for forming a polarizing layer was obtained by mixing the following components and stirring at 80° C. for 1 hour.

Polymerizable liquid crystal compound; compound (1-6) 75 parts
Compound (1-7) 25 parts dichroic dye; azo dye (G205; manufactured by Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratory) 3.0 parts polymerization initiator; 1-hydroxycyclohexylphenyl ketone (Irgacure 184; manufactured by Ciba Specialty Chemicals) 6 Part leveling agent; polyacrylate compound (BYK-361N; manufactured by BYK-Chemie) 1.5 parts solvent; cyclopentanone 250 parts

[Measurement of phase transition temperature]
The phase transition temperature was confirmed by texture observation with a polarizing microscope. The polymerizable liquid crystal compound contained in the composition for forming a polarizing layer is heated to 120°C to remove the solvent and dried. When the temperature is lowered, the phase transitions to a nematic phase at 110°C and to a smectic A phase at 104°C. It was confirmed that the phase transition to the smectic B phase occurred at 83°C.

[Preparation of photo-alignment layer]
A solution of a polymer having a photoreactive group (polymer 1 or polymer 2) at a concentration of 5% by weight dissolved in cyclopentanone (composition for forming a photo-alignment layer) was bar-coated on a polyethylene terephthalate substrate (PET substrate). and dried at 60° C. for 1 minute to form a first dry film with a thickness of 100 nm. Subsequently, the surface of the obtained first dry film was subjected to polarized UV irradiation treatment to form a photo-alignment layer. The polarized UV treatment was performed using a UV irradiation device (SPOT CURE SP-7; manufactured by Ushio Inc.) under the condition that the intensity measured at a wavelength of 365 nm was 100 mJ.

[Preparation of polarizing layer]
The composition for forming a polarizing layer was applied onto the photo-alignment film by a bar coating method, dried by heating in a drying oven at 120° C. for 1 minute, and then cooled to room temperature to obtain a second dry film. Using a UV irradiation device (SPOT CURE SP-7; manufactured by Ushio Inc.), a polarizing layer is formed by irradiating the second dry film with ultraviolet rays at an exposure amount of 1200 mJ/cm ² (365 nm standard), and polarized light is applied. device was manufactured. When the film thickness of the polarizing layer at this time was measured with a laser microscope (OLS3000 manufactured by Olympus Corporation), it was 1.6 μm.

[X-ray diffraction measurement]
The obtained polarizing layer was subjected to X-ray diffraction measurement using an X-ray diffractometer X'Pert PRO MPD (manufactured by Spectris Inc.). Using Cu as a target, X-rays generated under the conditions of an X-ray tube current of 40 mA and an X-ray tube voltage of 45 kV were incident from the rubbing direction through a fixed divergence slit 1/2°, and the scanning range 2θ = 4.0 to 40. As a result of scanning at 2θ = 0.01671° steps in the range of 0° and measuring, a sharp diffraction peak with a peak half width (FWHM) = about 0.187° was observed near 2θ = 20.22° ( Bragg peak) was obtained. Similar results were also obtained with incident light perpendicular to the rubbing direction. The ordered period (d) obtained from the peak position is about 4.4 Å, and it is found that the structure reflects a higher-order smectic phase.

[Measurement of dichroic ratio]
The absorbance (A ¹ ) in the direction of the transmission axis and the absorbance (A ² ) in the direction of the absorption axis at the maximum absorption wavelength were measured using a spectrophotometer (UV-3150 manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation) with a folder with a polarizer set. Measured by the double beam method. The folder was provided with a mesh that cuts the amount of light by 50% on the reference side. The ratio (A ² /A ¹ ) was calculated from the measured absorbance (A ¹ ) in the direction of the transmission axis and the absorbance (A ² ) in the direction of the absorption axis to obtain the dichroic ratio. The results are shown in the table. It can be said that the higher the dichroic ratio, the more useful the polarizing layer. Table 1 shows the measurement results of the dichroic ratio.

[Observation of Orientation State]
The orientation state of the obtained polarizing layer was confirmed by observing with a polarizing microscope. The sample was inserted in a direction of about 45° between crossed polarizing microscopes, and observation was carried out in the state of light leakage. When oriented in the vertical direction, a dark field state is observed without light leakage, and when oriented horizontally, light passage occurs and a bright field state is observed. Evaluation was made on the basis of two levels: "O" when a bright field was obtained over the entire screen, and "X" when a dark field was obtained over the entire screen. Table 1 shows the results.

[Measurement of Haze value]
The haze value of the obtained polarizer was measured using a haze meter (HZ-2; manufactured by Suga Test Instruments Co., Ltd.). A haze value is represented by the following formula.
Haze value (%) = scattering transmittance (%)/total light transmittance (%) x 100
If the alignment control force of the polarizing layer by the photo-alignment layer is insufficient, discontinuous defects occur in the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal, which is the main component of the polarizing layer. Since light scattering occurs at this discontinuity defect interface, the haze value becomes a large value. That is, it can be said that the smaller the haze value, the better the orientation. Here, 3% or less was considered good. Table 1 shows the results.

Example 2
A polarizing element was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the azo dye (G205; manufactured by Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories) was changed to the azo dye (NKX2029; manufactured by Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories) as the dichroic dye.

[Measurement of phase transition temperature]
In the same manner as in Example 1, the phase transition behavior of the polymerizable liquid crystal composition contained in the polarizing layer-forming composition of Example 2 was measured. After heating to 120°C to remove the solvent and dry, it was confirmed that when the temperature was lowered, the phase transitioned to the nematic phase at 113°C, to the smectic A phase at 107°C, and to the smectic B phase at 83°C. bottom.

In the same manner as in Example 1, the dichroic ratio measurement, alignment state observation, and haze value measurement of the manufactured polarizing element were performed. Table 1 shows the results.

Example 3
The polymerizable liquid crystal compound contained in the composition for forming a polarizing layer, from a mixture of 75 parts of compound (1-6) and 25 parts of compound (1-7), 75 parts of compound (1-6) and compound (1-8) ) A polarizing element was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that 25 parts of the mixture was used.

[Measurement of phase transition temperature]
In the same manner as in Example 1, the phase transition behavior of the polymerizable liquid crystal composition contained in the composition for forming a polarizing layer of Example 3 was measured. After heating to 120°C to remove the solvent and dry, it was confirmed that the phase transitioned to a nematic phase at 111°C, a phase transition to a smectic A phase at 105°C, and a smectic B phase at 82°C when the temperature was lowered. bottom.

In the same manner as in Example 1, the dichroic ratio measurement, alignment state observation, and haze value measurement of the manufactured polarizing element were performed. Table 1 shows the results.

Example 4
The polymerizable liquid crystal compound contained in the composition for forming a polarizing layer, from a mixture of 75 parts of compound (1-6) and 25 parts of compound (1-7), 75 parts of compound (1-6) and compound (1-13) ) A polarizing element was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that 25 parts of the mixture was used.

[Measurement of phase transition temperature]
In the same manner as in Example 1, the phase transition behavior of the polymerizable liquid crystal composition contained in the polarizing layer-forming composition of Example 4 was measured. After heating to 130°C to remove the solvent and dry, it was confirmed that when the temperature was lowered, the phase transitioned to the nematic phase at 119°C, to the smectic A phase at 111°C, and to the smectic B phase at 82°C. bottom.

In the same manner as in Example 1, the dichroic ratio measurement, alignment state observation, and haze value measurement of the manufactured polarizing element were performed. Table 1 shows the results.

Example 5
The polymerizable liquid crystal compound contained in the composition for forming a polarizing layer, from a mixture of 75 parts of compound (1-6) and 25 parts of compound (1-7), 75 parts of compound (1-6) and compound (1-14) ) A polarizing element was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that 25 parts of the mixture was used.

[Measurement of phase transition temperature]
In the same manner as in Example 1, the phase transition behavior of the polymerizable liquid crystal composition contained in the composition for forming a polarizing layer of Example 5 was measured. After the temperature was raised to 130°C to remove the solvent and dried, when the temperature was lowered, it was confirmed that the phase transitioned to the nematic phase at 118°C, the phase transition to the smectic A phase at 109°C, and the smectic B phase at 79°C. bottom.

In the same manner as in Example 1, the dichroic ratio measurement, alignment state observation, and haze value measurement of the manufactured polarizing element were performed. Table 1 shows the results.

Example 6
A polarizing element was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the polymer having a photoreactive group contained in the composition for forming a photo-alignment layer was changed from polymer 1 to polymer 2.

In the same manner as in Example 1, the dichroic ratio measurement, alignment state observation, and haze value measurement of the manufactured polarizing element were performed. Table 1 shows the results.

The polarizing element and circularly polarizing plate of the present invention are useful for manufacturing liquid crystal display devices, (organic) EL display devices and projection type liquid crystal display devices.

1 transparent substrate 2 photo-alignment layer 3 polarizing layer 100 main polarizing element 110 main circular polarizing plate 101 first laminate 102 second laminate 103 third laminate 210 first roll 210A winding core 220 second roll 220A winding core 211A , 211B Coating device 212A, 212B Drying furnace 213A Polarized UV irradiation device 213B Light irradiation device 300 Auxiliary roll 10 Liquid crystal display device 12a, 12b Polarizer (present polarizing element)
13a, 13b retardation layer (retardation film)
14a, 14b substrate 15 color filter 16 transparent electrode 17 liquid crystal layer 18 interlayer insulating film 20 black matrix 21 thin film transistor 22 pixel electrode 23 spacer 24 liquid crystal display device 30 EL display device 31 circularly polarizing plate 33 substrate 34 interlayer insulating film 35 pixel electrode 36 light emission Layer 37 Cathode 38 Drying Agent 39 Sealing Lid 40 Thin Film Transistor 41 Rib 42 Thin Film Plate 44 EL Display Device 111 Light Source 112 First Lens Array 112a Lens 113 Second Lens Array 114 Polarization Conversion Element 115 Superimposed Lenses 121, 123, 132 Dichroic mirror 122 Reflecting mirrors 140R, 140G, 140B Liquid crystal panels 142, 143 Polarizer 150 Cross dichroic prism 170 Projection lens 180 Screen

Claims (7)

preparing a first roll in which a transparent substrate is wound around a first winding core;
continuously feeding the transparent substrate from the first roll;
a step of continuously forming a first coating film on the transparent substrate by applying a composition containing the polymer having a photoreactive group and a solvent;
A step of continuously obtaining a first laminate by forming a first dry film on the transparent substrate by removing the solvent from the first coating film by drying;
irradiating the first dry film with polarized UV to form a photo-alignment layer to continuously obtain a second laminate;
A composition containing two or more polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compounds, a dichroic dye, a leveling agent and a solvent is applied onto the photo-alignment layer, and a second coating film is continuously formed on the photo-alignment layer. forming a second dry film on the photo-alignment layer by drying the second coating film under conditions in which the two or more polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compounds contained in the second coating film are not polymerized; a step of continuously obtaining a third laminate by forming
After converting the two or more polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compounds contained in the second dry film into a smectic liquid crystal state, polymerizing the two or more polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compounds while maintaining the smectic liquid crystal state. forming a polarizing layer in which the two or more types of polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compounds are horizontally aligned to continuously obtain a film-like and elongated polarizing element;
A continuously obtained polarizing element is wound around a second winding core to obtain a second roll.
The leveling agent is a leveling agent containing a polyacrylate compound and/or a leveling agent containing a fluorine atom-containing compound,
The polymer having a photoreactive group is a polymer having a cinnamoyl group,
The polarizing element has a haze value of 3% or less and a dichroic ratio of 25 or more.
A method for manufacturing a polarizing element. 2. The manufacturing method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of cutting the film-like elongated polarizing element into desired dimensions. A step of preparing a first roll in which a retardation film is wound around a first core;
A step of continuously feeding the retardation film from the first roll;
A step of continuously forming a first coating film on the retardation film by applying a composition containing a polymer having a photoreactive group and a solvent;
A step of removing the solvent from the first coating film by drying to form a first dry coating on the retardation film to continuously obtain a first laminate;
irradiating the first dry film with polarized UV to form a photo-alignment layer to continuously obtain a second laminate;
A composition containing two or more polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compounds, a dichroic dye, a polymerization initiator, a leveling agent and a solvent is applied onto the photo-alignment layer, and a second coating film is formed on the photo-alignment layer. continuously forming a
The second coating film is dried under conditions in which the two or more polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compounds contained in the second coating film are not polymerized to form a second dry film on the photo-alignment layer. a step of continuously obtaining a third laminate;
After converting the two or more polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compounds contained in the second dry film into a smectic liquid crystal state, polymerizing the polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compounds while maintaining the two or more smectic liquid crystal states. A method for continuously producing a polarizing element by roll-to-roll formation, comprising a step of continuously obtaining a circularly polarizing plate by forming a polarizing layer in which the two or more kinds of polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compounds are horizontally aligned ,
The leveling agent is a leveling agent containing a polyacrylate compound and/or a leveling agent containing a fluorine atom-containing compound,
The polymer having a photoreactive group is a polymer having a cinnamoyl group,
The circularly polarizing plate is laminated such that the angle formed by the slow axis of the retardation film and the absorption axis of the polarizing layer is approximately 45°, and is film-like and elongated,
The ellipticity value measured with light having a wavelength of 550 nm is 80% or more,
A haze value of 3% or less and a dichroic ratio of 25 or more,
The method for producing a circularly polarizing plate, wherein the retardation film has a front retardation value of 100 to 150 nm measured with light having a wavelength of 550 nm. 4. The manufacturing method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of cutting the film-like elongated circularly polarizing plate into desired dimensions. A film-like elongated polarizing element comprising a transparent substrate, a photo-alignment layer, and a polarizing layer provided in this order,
The polarizing layer contains a polymer of two or more polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compounds, a leveling agent, and a dichroic dye, and the leveling agent contains a polyacrylate compound and/or contains a fluorine atom. a leveling agent containing a compound, wherein the two or more polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compounds in the polarizing layer are horizontally aligned;
The photo-alignment layer is a layer formed from a composition containing a polymer having a cinnamoyl group and a solvent,
A polarizing element having a haze value of 3% or less and a dichroic ratio of 25 or more. A film-shaped and elongated circularly polarizing plate in which a retardation film, a photo-alignment layer, and a polarizing layer are provided in this order,
The polarizing layer contains a polymer of two or more polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compounds, a leveling agent, and a dichroic dye, and the leveling agent contains a polyacrylate compound and/or contains a fluorine atom. a leveling agent containing a compound, wherein the two or more polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compounds in the polarizing layer are horizontally aligned;
The photo-alignment layer is a layer formed from a composition containing a polymer having a cinnamoyl group and a solvent,
A circularly polarizing plate having a haze value of 3% or less and a dichroic ratio of 25 or more. The ellipticity value measured with light having a wavelength of 550 nm is 80% or more,
7. The circularly polarizing plate according to claim 6, wherein the retardation film has a front retardation value of 100 to 150 nm measured with light having a wavelength of 550 nm.

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