KR100939592B1 - Black matrix composition and methods of forming the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Black matrix compositions, black matrix forming methods, and apparatus for use in forming color filters for flat panel displays are disclosed. The compositions, methods and devices use an additive comprising polymerizable molecules, wherein the polymerizable molecules comprise polar portions and nonpolar portions, respectively. The nonpolar portions move toward the surface of the black matrix composition on the surface that is ink-incompatible and exposed to active energy. The polar portions of the polymerizable molecules are ink-friendly compared to the nonpolar portions. Many other features are disclosed.

Description

BLACK MATRIX COMPOSITION AND METHODS OF FORMING THE SAME

1 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method in accordance with some aspects of the present invention.

2 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of an exemplary substrate coated with a black matrix in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

3 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of an exemplary mask substrate coated with a black matrix composition exposed to energy in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

4 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary black matrix pixel well in accordance with some aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of an exemplary black matrix pixel well with ink phobic top surface and ink philic sidewall surfaces in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure. FIG.

6 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a black matrix pixel well filled with ink in accordance with some aspects of the present invention.

7 is an enlarged schematic diagram of a polymerizable additive molecule having an ink-affinity polar moiety in accordance with some aspects of the present invention.

8 is an enlarged schematic diagram of polymerizable additive molecules in a black matrix composition prior to application of activation energy in accordance with some aspects of the present invention.

9 is an enlarged schematic diagram of polymerizable additive molecules in a black matrix composition after application of activation energy in accordance with some aspects of the present invention.

10 is a structural formula of an exemplary wetting additive having a nonpolar tail portion in accordance with some aspects of the present invention.

11 is a structural formula of an exemplary wetting additive having a nonpolar body portion in accordance with some aspects of the present invention.

12 is a structural formula of an exemplary silicone polymer wetting additive in accordance with some aspects of the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

205 black matrix composition 503 black matrix composition upper layer

701: Molecule 705: Second End

901: post-curing direction

This application claims the priority of the following patent applications, which are incorporated herein by reference:

US Patent Application No. 11 / 733,665, filed April 10, 2007 and entitled "BLACK MATRIX COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS OF FORMING THE SAME" (Delegation Docket No. 11292);

US Provisional Patent Application 60 / 823,254, filed August 23, 2006 and entitled "BLACK MATRIX COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS OF FORMING THE SAME" (Delegation Docket No. 11292 / L);

US Patent Application 11 / 521,577, filed Sep. 13, 2006, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING A PIXEL MATRIX OF A COLOR FILTER FOR A FLAT PANEL DISPLAY” (Delegation Docket No. 10502); And

US Provisional Patent Application 60 / 834,076, filed Jul. 28, 2006, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING A PIXEL MATRIX OF A COLOR FILTER FOR A FLAT PANEL DISPLAY” (Delegation Docket No. 10502 / L2).

This application is directed to the following co-transferred and co-pending US patent applications incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes:

US Provisional Patent Application 60 / 625,550, filed November 4, 2004 and entitled "APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR FORMING COLOR FILTERS IN A FLAT PANEL DISPLAY BY USING INKJETTING";

US patent application Ser. No. 11 / 019,967, filed Dec. 22, 2004, entitled “APPARATUS AND METHODS OF AN INKJET HEAD SUPPORT HAVING AN INKJET HEAD CAPABLE OF INDEPENDENT LATERAL MOVEMENT” (Delegation Docket No. 9521-1);

US patent application Ser. No. 11 / 019,929, filed December 22, 2004 and entitled "METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR INKJET PRINTIG" (Delegation Docket No. 9521-2);

US Patent Application No. 11 / 019,930, filed December 22, 2004 and entitled "METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ANIGNING PRINT HEADS" (Delegation Docket No. 9521-3);

US Provisional Patent Application 60 / 703,146, filed Jul. 8, 2005 and entitled "METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUS INKJET PRINTING AND DEFECT INSPECTION" (Delegation Docket No. 9521-L02) (formerly 9521-7 / L); And

US patent application Ser. No. 11 / 493,861, filed Jul. 25, 2006, entitled "METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONCURRENT INKJET PRINTING AND DEFECT INSPECTION" (Delegation Docket No. 9521-10).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to flat panel displays, and in particular, to black matrix compositions for use in flat panel displays, and methods of forming them.

The flat panel display industry wanted to use inkjet printing to manufacture display devices, especially color filters. One problem with the effective use of inkjet printing is the difficulty in spraying ink or other materials onto the substrate with high throughput while having high throughput. In some cases, for example, ink drops may not land correctly in pixel wells on a substrate.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide methods and apparatuses for improving the quality of color filters manufactured using high throughput inkjet printing.

In certain aspects of the present invention, a black matrix composition is provided that is used to form a color filter for a flat panel display, and includes an additive with polymerizable molecules comprising polar portions and nonpolar portions, respectively. The nonpolar portions are ink-incompatible and migrate towards the surface of the black matrix composition when the surface is exposed to active energy. The polar portions of the polymerizable molecules are ink-friendly compared to the nonpolar portions. When used to form a pixel matrix, a structure is formed having ink-non-affinity top surfaces and ink-affinity sidewall surfaces.

In other aspects of the invention, an apparatus for use in forming a color filter for a flat panel display is provided, comprising a substrate and a layer of a black matrix composition formed on the substrate. The black matrix composition comprises an additive with polymerizable molecules, wherein the polymerizable molecules comprise polar portions and nonpolar portions, respectively. The nonpolar portions are ink-incompatible and migrate towards the surface of the black matrix composition when the surface is exposed to activation energy. The polar portions of the polymerizable molecules are ink-friendly compared to the nonpolar portions.

In other aspects of the invention, a method of forming a color filter for a flat panel display is provided. The method comprises forming a black matrix composition comprising polymerizable molecules, wherein the polymerizable molecules comprise polar portions and nonpolar portions, respectively; Providing a substrate; Forming a layer of a black matrix composition on the substrate; And applying active energy to the black matrix composition on the substrate. The nonpolar portions are ink-incompatible and move towards the surface of the black matrix composition in response to applying activation energy to the surface of the black matrix composition. The polar portions of the polymerizable molecules are ink friendly compared to the nonpolar portions.

Other features and aspects of the present invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings.

Flat panel display manufacturing can use color filters that include several color inks that are printed on a glass (or other material) substrate. The ink may be deposited using an inkjet printer configured to precisely inject at least one of the ink and other suitable material directly into specific pixel wells defined by a pixel matrix (commonly referred to as a “black matrix”). Before the ink is deposited, a black matrix of pixel wells can be formed on the substrate using lithography or any suitable process.

Materials in contact with the liquid have a response that attracts or repels the liquid. The composition of the material, the corresponding surface chemistry, and the chemistry of the liquid determine its interaction with the liquid. This phenomenon is called hydrophilic (similarly for example ink-affinity to liquid inks) and hydrophobicity (similarly for example ink-incompatible to liquid inks).

Hydrophilicity is a characteristic of materials that exhibit affinity for water. Hydrophilic literally means "affinity with water" and the materials readily absorb water. Surface chemistry wets these materials to form a liquid film or coating on their surface. Hydrophilic materials have high surface tension values and have the ability to form bonds with water.

Hydrophobicity is a characteristic of materials that have an opposite response to water interaction when compared to hydrophilic materials. Hydrophobic materials (“incompatible with water”) tend to absorb little or no water and water tends to “bead” on their surfaces (ie, forming independent droplets). . Hydrophobic materials have low surface tension values and lack active groups to form bonds with water in their surface chemistry.

In some cases, a single material may be "hydrophilic" relative to a liquid based on water and for example "hydrophobic" relative to a liquid based on oil, or vice versa. The words used in the present invention, hydrophilicity, ink-affinity, hydrophobicity, and ink-non-affinity, are relative terms and the material may be ink-friendly for some inks and ink-non-affinity for other inks. Moreover, because one material is hydrophobic, it does not mean that the material is ink-incompatible. As such, because one material is affinity, it does not mean that the material is ink-affinity. Thus, for example, the material may be hydrophilic and at the same time ink-friendly or hydrophilic and at the same time ink-incompatible, since the ink may be based on oil or water.

Wetability is the surface property for materials that yield a value for each compound. Wetting is the contact angle between a fluid and a surface when the fluid and the surface are in contact. When the liquid has a high surface tension (strong internal bonds), water droplets will form, whereas a liquid with a low surface tension will spread over a larger area (bonding with the surface). On the other hand, if the surface has a high surface energy (or surface tension), water droplets will spread to or wet the surface. If the surface has low surface energy, water droplets will form. This phenomenon is the result of minimization of interfacial energy. If the surface is high energy, you will want to be covered with liquid since this interface will lower its energy, and so on. The surface tension value of the material can be used to determine the wettability of the material by certain liquids. By measuring the contact angle between the solid surface and the droplets of liquid on the solid surface, the surface tension for the solid material can be calculated.

Surface tension (or energy) is considered to be the force generated by the imbalance of molecular forces that occur when two different materials (eg, liquid droplets on a solid surface) come into contact with each other to form an interface or boundary. The force is due to the propensity for all materials to reduce their surface area in response to the imbalance of molecular forces occurring at the contact points. The result of this force will vary for other systems of liquids and solids that exhibit wettability and contact angle between the droplet and the surface.

For droplets provided on a solid surface, the contact angle is a measure of the angle formed between the tangent of the droplet and the line tangent to the droplet radius from the point of contact with the solid. The contact angle is related to the surface tension by the equation of Young, from which the action of certain liquid-solid interactions can be calculated. A contact angle of zero causes wetting, while an angle between 0 and 90 degrees causes diffusion of droplets (due to molecular attraction). Angles greater than 90 degrees indicate that the liquid is to bead or shrink away from the solid surface. Contact angles of 90 ° or more generally have the properties of a non-wetting surface and an angle of less than 90 ° means that the surface is wettable. With regard to water, the wettable surface may also be ink-friendly and the non-wettable surface may be ink-incompatible. As such, with respect to inks, wettable surfaces are ink-compatible and non-wettable surfaces are ink-incompatible. The supernon-affinity surface has contact angles greater than 150 °, indicating little contact between the liquid drop and the surface. This is sometimes called the "Lotus effect". This property of spreading over a larger area is sometimes referred to as a 'wetting action'.

Due to variations in the ink-affinity / ink-non-affinity of at least one of the substrate and material used to form the black matrix, the cross-sectional profile (eg, distribution) of the ink droplets deposited in the pixel wells is determined by the color filter. It may not be optimal to form them. In some cases, irregular distribution of ink in the pixel well can cause defects in the color filter.

In general, black matrices include pigment dispersing additives, initiators, polymerizable monomers or oligomers or combinations thereof (eg, photo-polymerizable monomers, heat-polymerizable monomers, etc.), binding resins, epoxy-based monomers. And a solvent comprising a solvent. The methods and apparatuses of the present invention provide black matrix compositions further comprising a wetting additive that improves the wetting properties of the black matrix. For example, in some embodiments, the wetting additive may change (eg, decrease) (or change ink-affinity) of the ink-non-affinity of the sidewall surfaces of each pixel well formed by the black matrix. (E.g., increasing), the ink affinity of surfaces such as the top of each pixel well, i.e., the top flat surfaces of the black matrix, can be increased. This black matrix composition reduces the mixing of color inks during inkjetting and improves the distribution of ink in each pixel well, thereby improving color profiles of fill profiles and color filters. In particular, ink improperly landing on the top surface of the pixel matrix may fall into the pixel wells and wet the sidewalls. This tendency of ink to fall and diffuse into the pixel wells of the present invention reduces the accuracy or precision required by the printer in distributing the ink.

In one or more embodiments, the wetting additive may comprise any material having polymerizable molecules, each having both a relative ink-affinity polar portion and a relative ink-non-affinity nonpolar portion. For example, the material may comprise at least one of one or more hydrophobic-group-containing monomers and oligomers, such as at least one of fluorinated acrylate monomers and oligomers; At least one of silicon-group-containing acrylate monomers or oligomers, other acrylate monomers and oligomers; Reactive waxes; And fluorosilanes. Polymerization is the process of reacting with at least one molecule of monomer and oligomer in a chemical reaction to form three-dimensional networks or polymer chains. As further described later, these wetting additives are used instead of epoxy-based monomers, for example, and are "activated" by a curing step that aggregates the ink-non-affinity ends of the molecules of the additive at the top surface of the black matrix. Depending on the patterning, a black matrix can be formed having ink-non-affinity planar pixel well (top) surfaces and ink-affinity (eg, relative to the top planar surfaces of the black matrix) pixel well sidewall surfaces.

Exemplary black matrix compositions according to the present invention, the composition forming methods, and the black matrix manufacturing methods are described below with reference to FIGS. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates a method 101 of manufacturing a black matrix on a substrate in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, in step 105, a black matrix composition comprising a wetting additive may be formed. For example, the black matrix composition may be a hydrophobic-group-containing monomer or oligomer (eg, a fluorinated acrylate monomer or oligomer, a silicone-group-containing acrylate monomer or oligomer, another-group-containing) Wetting additives such as acrylate monomers or oligomers, etc.).

379 및 IRGACURE

907 이 포함된다. 색소 분산제는 블랙 매트릭스 조성물을 통하여 색소(예를 들어, 카본 블랙)를 분산하기 위하여 포함된다. 기폭제는 중합화 반응(예를 들어, 광-중합화 반응, 열 중합화 반응, 또는 다른 실현 가능한 반응)을 돕기 위하여 포함된다. 중합화가능 단량체(또는 소중합체)는 블랙 매트릭스를 형성하기 위하여 조성물을 중합화하기 위하여 포함된다. 상기 분자들의 예들은 아크릴레이트 단량체들/소중합체들, 에폭시 단량체들/소중합체들, 등등을 포함한다. 결합 수지는 블랙 매트릭스 구조에 경도 및 강도를 제공하기 위하여 포함될 수 있다. 상기 결합 수지의 예로는 아크릴레이트 결합제를 포함한다. 용매는 기판에 조성물을 인가(예를 들어, 스핀 코팅 또는 슬릿 코팅 방법을 사용함)하는데 도움을 주기 위하여 조성물의 점도를 일시적으로(예를 들어, 용매가 증발할 때까지) 낮추기 위하여 포함될 수 있다. 상기 용매들의 예들은 프로필렌 글리콜 모노메틸 에테르 아세테이트(PGMEA) 또는 유기 용매들 같은 임의의 적당한 용매를 포함한다.The black matrix composition can include other components such as, for example, pigment dispersants, initiators (eg, photo-initiators), polymerizable monomers, binding resins, solvents, and the like. For example, IRGACURE available from Ciba Inc. as a photo-initiator.

379 and IRGACURE

907 is included. Pigment dispersants are included to disperse the pigment (eg, carbon black) through the black matrix composition. Initiators are included to assist in the polymerization reaction (eg, photo-polymerization reaction, thermal polymerization reaction, or other feasible reactions). Polymerizable monomers (or oligomers) are included to polymerize the composition to form a black matrix. Examples of such molecules include acrylate monomers / polymers, epoxy monomers / polymers, and the like. Binding resins may be included to provide hardness and strength to the black matrix structure. Examples of the binder resin include an acrylate binder. Solvents may be included to temporarily lower the viscosity of the composition (eg, until the solvent evaporates) to assist in applying the composition to the substrate (eg, using a spin coating or slit coating method). Examples of such solvents include any suitable solvent, such as propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA) or organic solvents.

In at least some embodiments, the black matrix composition may contain a wetting additive (ink-affinity polar portion and ink-non-affinity non-polar portion) at a concentration of about 100 to 10,000 parts per million (ppm) per weight of the total composition without solvent. And polymerizable molecules having both). In some embodiments, the concentration of the wetting additive may range from about 500 ppm to 5,000 ppm per weight of the total composition without solvent. However, other concentration ranges of the wetting additive may be used. Exemplary additional wetting additives include one or more of CN4000, CN9800, CN990, manufactured by Sartomer Company Inc. of Ixton, Pennsylvania, TEGO ^® Rad 2000 series (eg, 2200n, 2250) manufactured by Degussa AG, Dozeldorf, Germany. At least one of, ..), the TEGO ^® Glide series and the TEGO ^® Flow series or the like. However, one or more additional and other additives, or one or more additional or other additives may be used.

The selection of suitable wetting additives can be based, for example, on the molecular weight, hydrophobic group concentration, reactivity of the wetting additive. In some embodiments, the wetting additive may have a molecular weight ranging from about 100 Mw to about 100,000 Mw. The weight average molecular weight may preferably range from 500 Mw to 10,000 Mw. Wetting additives with larger or smaller and different molecular weights, or larger or smaller or different molecular weights may be used.

In step 107, a substrate is provided. For example, the substrate may be glass, triacetyl cellulose (TAC), polycarbonate (PC), polyether sulfone (PES), polyethylene ether phthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyvinyl alcohol (PVC) , Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), cycloolefin polymer (COP) and other suitable materials. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a substrate 201 that may be processed according to the method 101.

In step 109, a layer 203 (FIG. 2) of the black matrix composition 205 may be formed on the substrate 201. Dipping methods, spray methods, rotational and spin coating methods, or other suitable methods may be used to form the black matrix composition layer 203 on the substrate 201. In this manner, substrate 201 may be coated with black matrix composition 205. The substrate 201 may be heated to dry the black matrix composition 205. As a result, the solvent of the black matrix composition 205 can be evaporated. The post-coating heating method is also referred to as a "soft-bake" process.

In step 111, activation energy may be applied to the black matrix composition 205 to polymerize the wetting additive so that the molecules of the wetting additives may be polarized such that the ink-non-affinity portions of the molecules move towards the active energy. Polymerization may be accomplished using any viable active energy source, depending on the composition 205. For example, at least one of ultraviolet light, electron beam radiation, laser light, and a lamp can be used as the activation energy source. Other activating energy sources or combinations can be used.

In some embodiments, in step 111, the black matrix composition layer 203 can be patterned. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, mask 301 may be disposed on (or formed over) black matrix composition layer 203. UV or other wavelength light or energy 303 may then be used to irradiate the black matrix composition layer 203 through the mask 301. Energy 303 may expose portions 305 of black matrix composition layer 203 but does not expose other portions 307 of black matrix composition layer 203. In other embodiments, a negative mask may be used to allow opposite portions 307 of the black matrix composition layer 203 to be exposed to the energy 303.

When light (or other energy) of the appropriate wavelength strikes a portion of the black matrix composition layer 203, the initiator of the black matrix composition 205 causes the light 303 (energy to form free radical molecules in the exposed portion). ) Can be absorbed. The initiator can function as a polymerization initiator for polymerizing the polymerizable monomers in the exposed portion of the black matrix composition layer 203. Therefore, the exposed portion of the black matrix composition layer 203 may comprise polymers resulting from the polymerization of polymerizable monomers. Polymerizable monomers of the wetting additive may be confined after the lithographic exposure.

Following exposure, a developing step may be performed on the substrate 201. For example, a developer may be used to develop the exposed or unexposed portions of the black matrix composition layer 203 so that the portions can be removed. For example, the binder resin included in the exposed portion may react with the developer. 4 is an example of a cross section of the substrate 201 according to the development step.

The voids resulting from the removal of the developed portions can be injected with ink when forming a color filter and used as pixel regions or wells 401 forming the black matrix 403.

The substrate 201 may be further cured. For example, the substrate 201 may be UV light, electron beam radiation, laser light, such that the black matrix composition of layer 203 can be crosslinked such that the black matrix composition layer 203 cures and forms a crosslinked resin in the black matrix composition layer 203. It may be heated or exposed to the back. As shown in FIG. 5, when the black matrix composition layer 203 is affected by the energy 501, the cross ink-non-affinity nonpolar portion of the wetting additive molecules is the top surface 503 of the black matrix composition layer 203. ), Forming an ink-incompatible layer 505 near the top surface 503 of the black matrix composition layer 203. Such ink-non-affinity layer 505 may be relatively ink-incompatible (eg, ink-incompatible than lower concentrations of wetting additive or black matrix material without wetting additive).

In this manner, the top surface 503 of the black matrix 403 is incompatible and the sidewall surfaces 507 of each pixel well formed in the black matrix (eg, adjacent to the pixel regions 401) are top surface. It is less ink-friendly than 503 and may even be ink-friendly in some embodiments. As a result, the top surface 503 of the black matrix can prevent bleeding of ink between adjacent pixel wells, preventing mixing of ink colors and improving filling of pixel wells during the spraying process (eg, More stable and full charge). As a result, an improved color filter can be formed. For example, FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the ink 601 in the pixel region 401 of the substrate 201 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, the wetting additive concentrated on the top surface 503 of the black matrix 403 following curing makes the top surface 503 ink-incompatible, and the sidewall surfaces 507 are less ink-filled. It is chemical and even ink-friendly. Thus, the ink 601 may be beaded off the top surface 503 of the black matrix 403 such that the ink 601 does not diffuse beyond the pixel region 401.

Indeed, the movement of the wetting additive may be a dynamic process that occurs during the entire pixel well formation process (eg, during the formation of a black matrix composition layer on a substrate, during soft bake, during any UV curing process, and the like). In at least one embodiment, the soft bake time may be about 1.5 minutes at a temperature of about 105 ° C. (in air). UV curing (exposure) is about 30-60 seconds in air and final curing can be about 10 minutes in air. At least one of the other soft bake, UV cure, and final cure times can be used as at least one of other bake and cure gas (eg, nitrogen, argon, etc.) environments.

7 illustrates an example molecule 701 that may be used as a wetting additive in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 7, the exemplary molecule 701 may include a first end 703 that may be at least one of ink-affinity and reactivity. In addition, the exemplary molecule 701 may include a second end 705 that may be ink-incompatible.

FIG. 8 illustrates a pre-curing (eg, prior to application of activation energy) orientation 801 of the exemplary molecules 701 of FIG. 7 in the black matrix composition 205 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 8, in the pre-curing orientation 801, the first and second ends 703, 705 of the molecules 701 are directed approximately randomly, and the molecules are directed to the black matrix composition 205. It can be distributed approximately uniformly through.

FIG. 9 illustrates a post-curing (eg, after application of activation energy) orientation 901 of the exemplary molecules 701 of FIG. 7 in the black matrix composition 205 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Illustrated. Referring to FIG. 9, while curing the black matrix material, molecules 701 are exposed to the top surface 503 (eg, activation energy) to form the ink-non-affinity layer 505 described previously. Surface)) to the top surface 503 of the black matrix composition 205 with the ink-incompatible end 705 of the molecules 701 disposed at or near the surface. Therefore, the upper surface 503 is ink-incompatible than any sidewalls formed in the black matrix material.

10-12, structural formulas of three specific embodiments of polymerizable molecules suitable for use as a wetting additive according to the present invention are shown. FIG. 10 shows the structural formula of an exemplary wetting additive molecule 1000 (eg, acrylate) with a nonpolar tail portion 1002 comprising CF ₂ chains that are ink-incompatible. Polar portion 1004 includes carbonyl carbon atoms double bonded to a second oxygen atom and single bonded to a second oxygen atom. Polar portion 1004 is ink-friendly. The molecule 1000 further includes a polymerizable portion 1006 attached directly to the carbonyl carbon atom of the polar portion 1004. The polymerizable portion 1006 includes two carbon atoms double bonded to each other. 11 shows the structural formula of an exemplary wetting additive molecule 1100 with a nonpolar body portion. 12 shows the structural formula of exemplary silicone polymer wetting additive molecule 1200.

Conventional black matrix material formulas may include conventional components such as monomers, oligomers / polymers, photoinitiators, pigments, solvents, and the like. Ink landing on the ink matrix material may generate an ink contact angle on the top surface of the black matrix, typically less than about 5 degrees. In contrast, the inclusion of the inventive agent (s) can be used to vary the ink contact angle on the black matrix top surface from approximately 10 degrees to approximately 75 degrees, more preferably approximately 25 degrees to approximately 60 degrees. The concentration and treatment conditions (eg activation / exposure time and energy, other components, etc.) of the additive used are more specific within these ranges (eg, approximately 28 degrees, approximately 35 degrees, etc.). It can be used to adjust the contact angle to the desired value.

The foregoing description discloses only exemplary embodiments of the invention. Modifications of the above described apparatus and methods which fall within the scope of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, at least one of the pigment dispersion concentration, initiator, polymerizable monomer, binding resin, and solvent of the black matrix composition can be varied. Further, in some embodiments, a black matrix can be formed directly on the thin film transistor (TFT) layer of the flat panel display. In addition, the present invention can be applied to spacer formation, polarizer coating, and processing for nanoparticle circuit formation.

Accordingly, the invention is disclosed in connection with exemplary embodiments, and other embodiments may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

The present invention has the effect of providing methods and apparatuses for improving the quality of color filters manufactured using high throughput inkjet printing.

Claims (24)

A black matrix composition for use in forming color filters for flat panel displays, An additive comprising polymerizable molecules, the polymerizable molecules each comprising polar portions and nonpolar portions, the nonpolar portions being ink-incompatible, When the surface of the black matrix composition is exposed to activation energy, the nonpolar portions of the polymerizable molecules migrate towards the surface of the black matrix composition. delete The method of claim 1, And the polar portions of the polymerizable molecules are ink-affinity relative to the nonpolar portions. The method of claim 1, The additives include fluorinated acrylate monomers; Fluorinated acrylate oligomers; Silicone-group-containing acrylate monomers; Silicone-group-containing acrylate oligomers; Hydrophobic-group-containing acrylate monomers; Hydrophobic-group-containing acrylate oligomers; Reactive waxes; And at least one of fluorosilanes. The method of claim 1, Pigment dispersants; Initiators; Polymerizable monomers or oligomers; Binding resins; And A black matrix composition further comprising at least one of a solvent. The method of claim 1, And the black matrix composition comprises the additive at a concentration ranging from 100 ppm to 10,000 ppm per weight of the black matrix composition free of solvent. The method of claim 1, The additive has a black matrix composition having a molecular weight ranging from 100 Mw to 100,000 Mw weight average molecular weight. A coated substrate for use in forming color filters for flat panel displays, Board; And A layer of a black matrix composition formed on said substrate, said black matrix composition comprising polymerizable molecules, said polymerizable molecules each comprising polar portions and nonpolar portions, said nonpolar portions being ink- Incompatible coating substrate. The method of claim 8, And when the surface of the black matrix is exposed to activation energy, the nonpolar portions of the polymerizable molecules move towards the surface of the black matrix. The method of claim 8, Wherein the polar portions of the polymerizable molecules are ink-friendly relative to the non-polar portions. The method of claim 8, The polymerizable molecules include fluorinated acrylate monomers; Fluorinated acrylate oligomers; Silicone-group-containing acrylate monomers; Silicone-group-containing acrylate oligomers; Hydrophobic-group-containing acrylate monomers; Hydrophobic-group-containing acrylate oligomers; Reactive waxes; And at least one of fluorosilanes. The method of claim 8, wherein the black matrix composition, Pigment dispersants; Initiators; Polymerizable monomers or oligomers; Binding resins; And Coating substrate further comprising at least one of the solvent. The method of claim 8, And the black matrix composition comprises the polymerizable molecules in a concentration ranging from 100 ppm to 10,000 ppm per weight of the black matrix composition free of solvent. The method of claim 8, The polymerizable molecules have a molecular weight ranging from 100 Mw to 100,000 Mw weight average molecular weight. As a method of forming a color filter for a flat panel display, Forming a black matrix composition comprising polymerizable molecules, the polymerizable molecules each comprising polar portions and nonpolar portions, wherein the nonpolar portions are ink-incompatible; Providing a substrate; Forming a black matrix composition layer on the substrate; And Applying activation energy to the black matrix composition on the substrate Color filter forming method comprising a. The method of claim 15, Forming the black matrix composition further comprises forming a black matrix composition in which the nonpolar portions of the polymerizable molecules migrate toward the surface of the black matrix composition in response to applying activation energy to the black matrix composition. Color filter formation method containing. The method of claim 15, And the method of forming the black matrix composition further comprises forming a black matrix composition in which the polar portions of the polymerizable molecules are ink-friendly when compared to the nonpolar portions. The method of claim 15, The forming of the black matrix composition may include: an acrylate monomer in which the polymerizable molecules are fluorinated; Fluorinated acrylate oligomers; Silicone-group-containing acrylate monomers; Silicone-group-containing acrylate oligomers; Hydrophobic-group-containing acrylate monomers; Hydrophobic-group-containing acrylate oligomers; Reactive waxes; And forming a black matrix composition comprising at least one of fluorosilanes. The method of claim 15, Forming the black matrix composition is the black matrix composition, Pigment dispersants; Initiators; Polymerizable monomers or oligomers; Binding resins; And menstruum And forming a black matrix composition further comprising at least one of the following. The method of claim 15, Forming the black matrix composition further comprises forming a black matrix composition wherein the polymerizable molecules are present at a concentration ranging from 100 ppm to 10,000 ppm per total weight of the black matrix composition free of solvent. Filter formation method. The method of claim 15, Forming the black matrix composition further comprises forming a black matrix composition in which the polymerizable molecules have a molecular weight ranging from 100 Mw to 100,000 Mw weight average molecular weight. The method of claim 15, And applying activation energy to the black matrix composition comprises applying electron beam radiation to the black matrix composition. The method of claim 15, And patterning a matrix in the black matrix composition. The method of claim 23, The step of applying activation energy to the black matrix composition comprises polymerizing the black matrix composition such that the top surface of the matrix is ink-incompatible and the side surfaces of the matrix are ink-compatible. .

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