KR20180099250A - A flexible functional film - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flexible functional film. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the flexible functional film comprises a first alignment layer formed on a base film; a polarized coating layer formed on the first alignment layer; a separation layer formed on the polarized coating layer; a common electrode layer formed on the separation layer; and a second alignment layer formed on the common electrode layer. According to the present invention, the flexible functional film can be thinned, and crack and curl can be reduced in a high temperature process.

Description

A FLEXIBLE FUNCTIONAL FILM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly to a flexible functional film usable in a liquid crystal display device.

As the touch input method is popularized as a next generation input method, attempts have been made to introduce a touch input method to a wider range of electronic devices. Accordingly, research and development on a touch sensor which can be applied to various environments, .

For example, in the case of an electronic device having a touch-type display, an ultra-thin flexible display which achieves light weight, low power and improved portability has been attracting attention as a next generation display, and development of a touch sensor applicable to such a display has been required. Flexible display means a display made on a flexible substrate that can bend, bend or twist without loss of characteristics, and technology development is under way in the form of flexible LCD, flexible OLED and electronic paper.

Particularly, in recent years, a thinner and lighter display has been required, and a polarizer included in a display is also required to be thinner and lighter. However, when a conventional polarizer using a stretched PVA is thinned, cracks and delamination have.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2013-0106664 discloses an example of a flexible LCD. The invention disclosed in Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2013-0106664 is a method of manufacturing a flexible liquid crystal display device, comprising: attaching a first film layer on a first substrate; Comprising the steps of: forming a thin film transistor (TFT) array on a first substrate; depositing a second film layer on a second substrate; forming a color filter array on the second film layer; Forming a liquid crystal layer on the thin film transistor array, attaching the first substrate and the second substrate so that the liquid crystal layer of the first substrate and the color filter array of the second substrate face each other, And separating the second substrate from the first film layer and the second film layer, respectively.

However, the disclosed invention does not suggest that a thin polarizing plate is necessary. A film layer is attached to each of the first substrate and the second substrate, and a thin film transistor array or a color filter array (For example, deposition of an inorganic insulating layer, a semiconductor layer (active layer, ohmic contact layer)) for forming a thin film transistor array or a color filter array is applied, . Furthermore, the step of forming the thin film transistor array or the color filter array on each of the film layers and forming the alignment film to maintain the initial alignment state of the liquid crystal layers and the step of bonding the first substrate and the second substrate require a high temperature process The film layer is likely to be deformed and a plurality of functional films (or layers) must be formed on the respective film layers through various processes, so that the process is complicated and there is a restriction in improving the product production yield.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2013-0106664 (2013.09.30.)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a flexible functional film capable of improving cracking and curling in a high-temperature process,

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible functional film which can be thinned by providing a polarizer contained in a flexible functional film in the form of a coating layer.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flexible functional film comprising: a first alignment layer formed on a base film; A polarizing coating layer formed on the first alignment layer; A separation layer formed on the polarizing coating layer; A common electrode layer formed on the isolation layer; And a second alignment layer formed on the common electrode layer.

A flexible functional film according to another embodiment of the present invention is manufactured by sequentially forming a separation layer, a common electrode layer, and a second alignment layer on a substrate, wherein the substrate is separated from the common electrode layer A first alignment layer formed on the base film and a polarizing coating layer formed on the first alignment layer,

A flexible functional film according to still another embodiment of the present invention is manufactured by sequentially forming a separation layer, a common electrode layer, and a second alignment layer on a substrate, wherein in the separation process, the substrate and the separation layer are separated from each other A first orientation layer formed on the base film; And a polarizing coating layer formed on the first alignment layer.

A flexible functional film according to still another embodiment of the present invention is manufactured by sequentially forming a protective layer, a common electrode layer, and a second alignment layer on a substrate, wherein the protective film is formed on one surface of the protective layer A first orientation layer formed on the base film; And a polarizing coating layer formed on the first alignment layer.

The present invention also relates to an image display apparatus including the above-described flexible functional film.

According to the above-mentioned object, the flexible functional film according to the embodiment of the present invention has excellent heat resistance because it includes a coating polarizing layer, and therefore, even when a high-temperature process is applied, the generation of cracks and curls is suppressed, have.

The present invention also has the advantage that the overall thickness of the color filter array manufactured by directly forming the coating film layer on the base film can be minimized.

1 to 4 are cross-sectional views of a flexible functional film that can be manufactured according to various embodiments of the present invention and cross-sectional views of a liquid crystal display device.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail.

When a member is referred to as being " on "another member in the present invention, this includes not only when a member is in contact with another member but also when another member exists between the two members.

Whenever a part is referred to as "including " an element in the present invention, it is to be understood that it may include other elements as well, without departing from the other elements unless specifically stated otherwise.

One aspect of the present invention is a liquid crystal display comprising: a first alignment layer (120) formed on a base film (110); A polarizing coating layer 130 formed on the first alignment layer 120; A separation layer 140 formed on the polarizing coating layer 130; A common electrode layer 150 formed on the isolation layer 140; And a second alignment layer (160) formed on the common electrode layer (150).

In the present invention, the first alignment layer 120 formed on the base film 110 and the polarizing coating layer 130 formed on the first alignment layer 120 may be used in combination with the "optical film".

In other words, the optical film is a substrate, a first alignment layer 120 formed on the base film 110, and a polarizing coating layer 130 formed on the first alignment layer 120, In the flexible functional film according to the present invention, the polarizing coating layer 130 is provided so as to be in contact with the separation layer 140.

In the present invention, the "polarizing plate" may be mixed with the polarizing coating layer 130 formed on the first alignment layer 120, or may be used in combination with the first alignment layer 120 formed on the base film 110 And may be mixed with the polarizing coating layer 130 formed on the first alignment layer 120.

In the present invention, the optical film includes a base film 110 and a polarizing coating layer 130 formed on the base film 110.

The base film 110 is not limited as long as it is excellent in mechanical strength, thermal stability, moisture shielding property, isotropy and the like, and the base film 110 is formed of the first orientation layer 120, the polarizing coating layer 130, And serves as a substrate for coating.

For example, the base film 110 may be formed of a material selected from the group consisting of polyolefin, cycloolefin resin, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, polymethacrylic acid ester, polyacrylic acid ester, cellulose ester, polyethylene naphthalate, polycarbonate, polysulfone; Polyethersulfone; Polyether ketone, polyphenylene sulfide, polyphenylene oxide, and the like.

Specifically, polyethylene terephthalate, polymethacrylic acid ester, polyimide, cellulose ester, cyclic olefin resin or polycarbonate are preferable from the viewpoints of coatability and transparency of the coating polarizing layer on the base film 110.

The coating polarizing layer converts incident natural light into a single polarized state (linearly polarized light), and is formed on one surface of the base film 110. The method of producing the coated polarizing layer includes the steps of applying a composition for forming the first alignment layer 120 on one side of the base film 110 and forming a first alignment layer by imparting alignment properties to the first alignment layer, A liquid crystal compound and a composition for forming a polarizing coating layer 130 including a dichroic dye, and forming a liquid crystal coating layer.

The first alignment layer has an alignment regulating force for orienting the dichroic dye and the polymerizable liquid crystal compound in a desired direction. The first alignment layer preferably has a solvent resistance that is not dissolved by application of the coating layer forming composition and has heat resistance in a heat treatment for removing a solvent or for orienting a dichroic dye.

The first alignment layer may be a groove alignment layer having a concave-convex pattern or a plurality of grooves on its surface, and may be a photo alignment layer.

The film thickness of the first alignment layer is usually from 10 nm to 10000 nm, preferably from 10 nm to 1000 nm, and more preferably from 10 nm to 500 nm. Within the above range, the alignment regulating force is sufficiently expressed.

The first alignment layer 120 may be formed of a composition for forming a photo alignment layer. Specifically, the first alignment layer 120 may be formed of a composition for forming the first alignment layer 120 containing a polymer or monomer having a photoreactive group and a solvent.

The photoreactive group refers to a group that exhibits an alignment ability upon irradiation of light. Specifically, the photoreactive group undergoes a photoreaction, which is the origin of the aligning ability, such as orientation or isomerization of molecules, dimerization reaction, photo-crosslinking reaction, or photodegradation reaction by irradiation of light. Of these photoreactive groups, it is preferable to cause a dimerization reaction or a photo-crosslinking reaction in view of excellent orientation. As the photoreactive group capable of generating the above-described reaction, it is preferable to have an unsaturated bond, particularly a double bond, and a carbon-carbon double bond (C═C bond), a carbon-nitrogen double bond (C═N bond) A group having at least one selected from the group consisting of nitrogen-nitrogen double bonds (N = N bonds), and carbon-oxygen double bonds (C = O bonds) is particularly preferable.

Examples of the photoreactive group having a C = C bond include a vinyl group, a polyene group, a stilbene group, a stilbazol group, a stilbazoly group, a chalcone group and a cinnamoyl group. Examples of the photoreactive group having a C = N bond include a group having a structure such as an aromatic sip base and an aromatic hydrazone. Examples of the photoreactive group having an N = N bond include those having an azobenzene group, an azonaphthalene group, an aromatic heterocyclic azo group, a bisazo group and a formamide group, and azoxybenzene as a basic structure. Examples of the photoreactive group having a C = O bond include a benzophenone group, a coumarin group, an anthraquinone group and a maleimide group. These groups may have a substituent such as an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group, an allyloxy group, a cyano group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a hydroxyl group, a sulfonic acid group and a halogenated alkyl group.

Of these, a photoreactive group which reacts with light dimerization is preferable, and the first alignment layer 120, which has a relatively small amount of polarized light necessary for photo alignment and is excellent in thermal stability and stability with time, And chalcone groups are preferable. As the polymer having a photoreactive group, it is particularly preferable that the polymer has a nenamoyl group in which the terminal portion of the side chain of the polymer is a cinnamic acid structure.

As the solvent of the composition for forming the first alignment layer 120, it is preferable to dissolve the polymer and the monomer having the photoreactive group. The solvent may be an alcohol such as water, methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol, methyl cellosolve, butyl cellosolve or propylene glycol monomethyl ether; Ester solvents such as ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, ethylene glycol methyl ether acetate, gamma butyrolactone, propylene glycol methyl ether acetate or ethyl lactate; Ketone solvents such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone, methyl amyl ketone or methyl isobutyl ketone; Non-chlorine based aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents such as pentane, hexane or heptane; Non-chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbon solvents such as toluene or xylene; nitrile solvents such as acetonitrile; Ether solvents such as tetrahydrofuran or dimethoxyethane; Chlorinated solvents such as chloroform or chlorobenzene, and the like. These solvents may be used alone or in combination.

The content of the polymer or monomer having a photoreactive group in the composition for forming the first alignment layer 120 is appropriately determined depending on the kind of the polymer or monomer having the photoreactive group and the thickness of the first alignment layer 120 to be produced But it is preferably at least 0.2 part by weight, particularly preferably 0.3 to 10 parts by weight. In addition, a polymer material such as polyvinyl alcohol or polyimide, or a photosensitizer may be contained within a range in which the properties of the first alignment layer 120 are not significantly impaired.

The method of manufacturing the first alignment layer 120 is not particularly limited in the present invention and can be manufactured through a commonly used method. For example, the first alignment layer 120 may be formed on the base film 110 by using a bar coating method, a gravure coating method, a die coating method, an applicator method, a flexo printing method, or the like, followed by drying.

The liquid crystal compound is a compound having a polymerizable group and exhibiting liquid crystallinity. In short, the liquid crystal compound may be a polymerizable liquid crystal compound, and in this case, the strength is improved and the color unevenness is reduced. The polymerizable group means a group participating in the polymerization reaction, and is preferably a photopolymerizable group. Here, the photopolymerizable group means a group capable of undergoing a polymerization reaction with an active radical or an acid generated from a photopolymerization initiator described later. Examples of the polymerizable group include vinyl group, vinyloxy group, 1-chlorovinyl group, isopropenyl group, 4-vinylphenyl group, acryloyloxy group, methacryloyloxy group, oxiranyl group and oxetanyl group have. Among them, an acryloyloxy group, a methacryloyloxy group, a vinyloxy group, an oxiranyl group and an oxetanyl group are preferable, and an acryloyloxy group is more preferable. The compound exhibiting liquid crystallinity may be a thermotropic liquid crystal, a lyotropic liquid crystal, or a nematic liquid crystal or a smectic liquid crystal in a thermotropic liquid crystal.

The polymerizable liquid crystal compound is preferably a smectic liquid crystal compound in that higher polarization characteristics can be obtained, and a higher order smectic liquid crystal compound is more preferable. Among them, there are a stymatic B phase, a smectic D phase, a smectic E phase, a smectic F phase, a smectic G phase, a smectic H phase, a smectic I phase, a smectic I phase, A higher order smectic liquid crystal compound forming the L phase is more preferable, and a higher order smectic liquid crystal compound forming the smectic B phase, the smectic F phase or the smectic I phase is more preferable.

The liquid crystal compound may be contained in an amount of usually 1 to 70 parts by weight, preferably 10 to 40 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the total solid content of the composition for forming the polarizing coating layer 130. When the content of the liquid crystal compound is within the above range, it is preferable to suppress the occurrence of so-called dripping at the time of coating or the occurrence of unevenness in the obtained polarizing coating layer 130.

The dichroic dye refers to a dye having a property that the absorbance in the major axis direction of the molecule is different from the absorbance in the minor axis direction. It is preferable that the dichroic dye has an absorption maximum wavelength (λ _MAX ) 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, among which azo dyes are preferred. Examples of the azo dyes include monoazo dyes, bisazo dyes, trisazo dyes, tetrakisazo dyes and stilbenazo dyes, and preferably are bisazo dyes and trisazo dyes. The dichroic dye may be used singly or in combination, but it is preferable that three or more dyes are used in combination. In particular, it is preferable to combine three or more azo compounds.

The content of the dichroic dye in the composition for forming the polarizing coating layer 130 is preferably 0.1 part by weight or more per 100 parts by weight of the solid content of the composition for forming the polarizing coating layer 130 from the viewpoint of improving the alignment of the dichroic dye More preferably not less than 30 parts by weight, more preferably not less than 0.1 parts by weight nor more than 20 parts by weight, even more preferably not less than 0.1 parts by weight nor more than 10 parts by weight, particularly preferably not less than 0.1 parts by weight nor more than 5 parts by weight. Here, the solid content refers to the total amount of components excluding the solvent from the composition for forming the polarizing coating layer 130.

The composition for forming the polarizing coating layer 130 may further include at least one selected from the group consisting of a solvent, a polymerization initiator, a sensitizer, a polymerization inhibitor, a leveling agent, and a polymerizable non-liquid crystal compound.

The solvent is preferably one which is capable of completely dissolving the polymerizable liquid crystal compound and is inert to the polymerization reaction of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound. The solvent may be, for example, an alcohol solvent such as methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, isopropyl alcohol, 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,? -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 such as acetonitrile; Ether solvents such as tetrahydrofuran and dimethoxyethane; Chlorine-containing solvents such as chloroform and chlorobenzene, but are not limited thereto. These solvents may be used alone or in combination.

The content of the solvent is preferably 50 to 98 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the total amount of the composition for forming the polarizing coating layer (130). In other words, the amount is preferably 2 to 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the solid content in the composition for forming the polarizing coating layer 130. If the solids content is less than 50 parts by weight, the viscosity of the composition for forming the polarizing coating layer 130 is lowered. Therefore, since the thickness of the polarizing coating layer 130 becomes substantially uniform, unevenness in the polarizing coating layer 130 hardly occurs There is a tendency to lose. Such a solid content can be determined in consideration of the thickness of the polarizing coating layer 130 to be produced.

The polymerization initiator is a compound capable of initiating polymerization reaction of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound and the like. The polymerization initiator is preferably a photopolymerization initiator that generates an active radical by the action of light. The polymerization initiator includes, for example, benzoin compounds, benzophenone compounds, alkylphenone compounds, acylphosphine oxide compounds, triazine compounds, iodonium salts, and sulfonium salts. When the polymerizable liquid crystal compound is contained in the composition for forming the polarizing coating layer 130, the polymerization initiator is preferably included in the composition for forming the polarizing coating layer 130. The content of the polymerization initiator in the composition for forming the polarizing coating layer 130 in the case where the composition for forming the polarizing coating layer 130 includes the polymerizable liquid crystal compound is preferably in a range from the viewpoint that the orientation of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound is difficult to be disturbed Is generally 0.1 to 30 parts by weight, preferably 0.5 to 10 parts by weight, more preferably 0.5 to 8 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound.

The photosensitizer is preferably a photosensitizer. Examples of the sensitizer include xanthene compounds such as xanthone and thioxanthone (for example, 2,4-diethylthioxanthone, 2-isopropylthioxanthone and the like); Anthracene compounds such as anthracene and alkoxy group-containing anthracene (for example, dibutoxyanthracene and the like); Phenothiazine, rubrene, and the like. The sensitizer is preferably included in the composition for forming a polarizing film when the composition for forming the polarizing coating layer 130 contains a polymerizable liquid crystal compound. The content of the sensitizer in the composition for forming the polarizing coating layer (130) when the composition for forming the polarizing coating layer (130) contains the polymerizable liquid crystal compound is preferably such that the content of the sensitizing agent But it is usually 0.1 to 30 parts by weight, preferably 0.5 to 10 parts by weight, more preferably 0.5 to 8 parts by weight, but is not limited thereto.

The polymerization inhibitor may be at least one selected from the group consisting of hydroquinone, alkoxy group-containing hydroquinone, alkoxy group-containing catechol (e.g., butyl catechol), pyrogallol, 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy radical Radical scavengers; Thiophenols; ? -naphthyl amines,? -naphthyl amines,? -naphthols, and the like. The polymerization inhibitor is preferably included in the composition for forming the polarizing coating layer 130 when the composition for forming the polarizing coating layer 130 contains the polymerizable liquid crystal compound. The degree of progress of the polymerization reaction of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound can be controlled by the polymerization inhibitor. The content of the sensitizer in the composition for forming the polarizing coating layer 130 when the polymerizable liquid crystal compound is contained in the composition for forming the polarizing coating layer 130 is preferably 100 parts by weight or more per 100 parts by weight of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound Is usually 0.1 to 30 parts by weight, preferably 0.5 to 10 parts by weight, more preferably 0.5 to 8 parts by weight.

The leveling agent has a function of adjusting the fluidity of the composition for forming the polarizing coating layer 130 to make the coating film of the composition for forming the polarizing coating layer 130 more flat, for example, a surfactant. Preferred leveling agents include 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 the leveling agent containing a polyacrylate compound as a main component include "BYK-350, BYK-352, BYK-353, BYK-354, BYK-355, BYK-358N, BYK-361N, BYK- The leveling agent may be used to form the polarizing coating layer 130 when the polymerizable liquid crystal compound is contained in the composition for forming the polarizing coating layer 130. [ The content of the leveling agent in the composition for forming the polarizing coating layer 130 is usually 0.3 parts by weight or more and 5 parts by weight or less based on 100 parts by weight of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound, Preferably 0.5 parts by weight or more and 3 parts by weight or less.

The thickness of the polarizing coating layer 130 coated on the optical film, that is, the first alignment layer 120 formed on the base film 110 and the base film 110 is 50 μm or less, specifically 35 μm or less Specifically, it may be 30 mu m or less. The thickness may further include the thickness of the adhesive layer or the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. For example, the thickness of the polarizing coating layer 130 coated on the first alignment layer 120 formed on the base film 110, the base film 110, the adhesive layer formed on the polarizing coating layer 130 or the pressure- It may be 50 탆 or less, specifically 35 탆 or less, more specifically 30 탆 or less.

Conventionally, a polyvinyl alcohol film is usually stretched as a polarizer, and then a dichroic dye is dyed and used. However, in this case, since cracks are generated in the high-temperature process, the thickness must be more than 50 탆, which is a limitation in applying to a thin display. When the thickness is 50 탆 or less, .

However, since the flexible functional film according to the present invention includes the polarizing coating layer 130 formed on the first alignment layer 120 formed on the base film 110, the flexible functional film has a thickness of 50 탆 or less, specifically 35 탆 or less, There is an advantage that cracks are not generated in the high-temperature process and curl is improved even if the thickness is 30 mu m or less.

The flexible functional film according to the present invention can be manufactured by the following method, but is not limited thereto.

The separation layer 140 may be formed by applying a polymer organic film on a carrier substrate, that is, a glass substrate 230. The isolation layer 140 is formed to separate the functional film (common electrode, second alignment layer) formed on the glass substrate 230 from the glass substrate 230, have. As the method of applying the separation layer 140, a known coating method such as spin coating, die coating, spray coating and the like can be used.

The peeling force of the separation layer 140 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 0.01 to 1 N / 25 mm, preferably 0.01 to 0.2 N / 25 mm. When the above range is satisfied, the glass substrate 230 can be easily peeled off without residue, and curl and cracks due to the tensile force generated when peeling can be reduced.

The thickness of the separation layer 140 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 10 to 1,000 nm, preferably 50 to 500 nm. When the above range is satisfied, the peeling force can be stabilized and a uniform pattern can be formed.

As the material of the separation layer 140, a polyimide polymer, a polyvinyl alcohol polymer, a polyamic acid polymer, a polyamide polymer, a polyethylene polymer, a polystyrene polymer, a polynorbornene polymer, a phenylmaleimide copolymer ( phenylmaleimide copolymer-based polymers, and polyazobenzene-based polymers. These may be used singly or in combination of two or more.

On the other hand, it is preferable that the glass substrate 230 be made of a material having heat resistance so as not to be deformed even at a high temperature, that is, to maintain flatness so as to withstand the process temperature at the time of forming the common electrode and the second alignment layer.

The curing process for forming the separation layer 140 may be performed using heat curing or UV curing alone, or a combination of thermal curing and UV curing.

A protective layer 170 may further be formed on the isolation layer 140. This protective layer 170 is an optional component that can be omitted if necessary. The glass substrate 230 may be peeled off from the separation layer 140 and the separation layer 140 may be peeled from the protection layer 170 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

For reference, the protective layer 170 protects the common electrode and the second alignment layer, which will be described later, together with the isolation layer 140 to protect the common electrode and the second alignment layer. The protective layer 170 may be formed of an organic material such as a polymer resin, an inorganic material such as a nitride film or an oxide film, and may be formed of one or more layers.

When the isolation layer 140 (and the protection layer 170) is formed, a common electrode is formed on the isolation layer 140 on the protection layer. The common electrode may be formed using an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that formation of such a common electrode is only one example, and can be formed in various known ways.

When the common electrode is formed, a second alignment layer may be formed on the common electrode. This is because the second alignment layer is applicable to a liquid crystal display device as an example of the flexible functional film according to the embodiment of the present invention. That is, the second alignment layer is formed for arranging the liquid crystal contained in the liquid crystal layer, and is rubbed in a predetermined direction so as to maintain the initial alignment state of the liquid crystal layer.

When the second alignment layer is formed, a protective film coated on one side of the pressure sensitive adhesive layer 210 is bonded onto the second alignment layer through a transfer process.

When the protective film is bonded through the transfer process, the glass substrate 230 as the carrier substrate and the separation layer 140 are separated from each other or the glass substrate 230 and the separation layer 140 are separated from the protective layer 170 Separate. The separation method may be a lift-off method or a peel-off method, but is not limited thereto.

After separating the glass substrate 230 from the separation layer 140, an optical film coated with an adhesive is adhered to one surface. In short, the adhesive is applied to one surface of the coating polarizing layer formed on the first alignment layer 120 formed on the base film 110. Subsequently, when the bonded protective film is removed, a flexible functional film having a sectional structure as shown in (a) of each of Figs. 1 to 4 can be produced.

More specifically, FIG. 1 (a) illustrates a method of forming a separation layer 140, a common electrode 150, and a second alignment layer on a glass substrate 230 without a protective layer 170, 2 (a) illustrates a cross-sectional structure of a flexible functional film manufactured by separating a glass substrate 230 from a glass substrate 230. FIG. 2 (a) 2 shows a cross-sectional structure of a flexible functional film manufactured by separating a glass substrate 230 and a separation layer 140 from a common electrode after forming an orientation layer. 3 (a) is a sectional view of a flexible functional film manufactured by separating a glass substrate 230 from a separation layer 140 after sequentially forming a separation layer 140 and a protective layer 170 on a glass substrate 230 4A is a sectional view of a glass substrate 230 in which a separation layer 140 and a protective layer 170 are sequentially formed on a glass substrate 230, And the separation layer 140 are separated from each other.

As described above, the flexible functional film according to the embodiment of the present invention partially changes the manufacturing process sequence according to the sales policy of the manufacturer or the demand of the consumer, A functional film can be produced. Of course, FIGS. 1 to 4 show a state in which the protective film is removed. The protective film may be removed as needed when the product of the flexible functional film is applied.

As described above, since the flexible functional film according to the embodiment of the present invention is manufactured on the glass substrate 230, there is no fear of deformation of the base material even if a high-temperature process is applied, which is advantageous in manufacturing a reliable functional film .

Hereinafter, a cross-sectional structure of a flexible functional film manufactured by the above-described manufacturing method will be described.

1 to 4 each illustrate a cross-section of a flexible functional film that can be manufactured according to various embodiments of the present invention and a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display device, respectively.

First, the cross-sectional structure of the flexible functional film manufactured according to one embodiment of the present invention is such that the separation layer 140, the common electrode, and the second alignment layer 160 are sequentially stacked as shown in FIG. 1 (a) And a coating polarizing layer formed on a first alignment layer 120 formed on the base film 110 at a position where the glass substrate 230 is removed is adhered to the separating layer 140, the flexible functional film may be bonded to the color filter 220 and used as one color filter film.

1 (b), a substrate (glass) or a film 230 on which a color filter layer 220 is formed is adhered to one surface of an optical film of a flexible functional film to form an independent type A color filter film (which is referred to as a color filter array 200 for convenience) can be manufactured.

1 (c), when the color filter array 200 is positioned so as to face the thin film transistor (TFT) array 300 with the liquid crystal 340 therebetween, the thin film transistor array And the color filter array 200 are integrated with each other.

For reference, it is preferable that a third alignment layer 330 is provided on the thin film transistor array for imparting orientation to the liquid crystal 340. The second alignment layer and the third alignment layer may be the same or different, but are not limited thereto. The third orientation layer can be applied to the above-mentioned second orientation layer.

In the same manner as above, a substrate having a color filter 220 layer formed on one surface of the optical film of the flexible functional film having the sectional structure shown in FIG. 2A, FIG. 3A, and FIG. The color filter array 200 having the sectional structure as shown in Figs. 2B, 3B and 4B can be manufactured by adhering the film 230 or the film,

When the color filter array 200 manufactured as described above is positioned so as to face the thin film transistor array 300 with the liquid crystals 340 therebetween and bonded to each other as shown in FIG. 2C, FIG. 5C, it is possible to manufacture a liquid crystal display device having a sectional structure as shown in FIGS.

As a result, if a color filter 220 layer is formed on a film and the thin film transistor array 300 is also formed on a flexible film, a flexible liquid crystal display device can be manufactured as a result.

As described above, the flexible functional film according to the embodiment of the present invention can be used as a color filter array 200 by being bonded to a substrate or a film 230 on which a color filter layer 220 is formed. In the thin film transistor array 300, And the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween to form a single liquid crystal display device.

In addition, the present invention does not use a separate film layer but also uses a common electrode and a second alignment layer 160, which are to be formed between the color filter 220 layer and the liquid crystal 340 of the liquid crystal display, as a functional film Thus, there is an advantage that the production yield can be improved by a general liquid crystal display device manufacturing method.

In addition, the present invention can form a common electrode and a second alignment layer 160 on a flexible film without using a hard substrate, and can be used with a substrate or a film 230 on which a color filter layer 220 is formed Therefore, there is an advantage that the entire thickness of the color filter array 200 can be minimized.

In particular, the present invention can overcome the drawbacks of the stretch type polarizer by using a coated polarizer formed on the first alignment layer 120 formed on the base film 110, rather than the stretch-type polarizer conventionally used. Specifically, the flexible functional film according to the present invention is advantageous in that it can be applied to a thin film device, but cracks are suppressed in a process heat-resistant environment and curling is improved.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to an image display apparatus including the above-described flexible functional film. Specific examples of the image display device include a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic EL display (organic EL display), a liquid crystal projector, a display device for a game machine, a display device for a portable terminal such as a mobile phone, A display device such as a display device for car navigation, and the like, but is not limited thereto.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, a structure may be considered in which a barrier layer for preventing the diffusion of moisture or impurities and protecting the stacked functional films upon peeling is additionally formed on the flexible functional film as needed. Accordingly, the true scope of the present invention should be determined only by the appended claims.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Examples (Production Examples). However, the embodiments according to the present disclosure can be modified in various other forms, and the scope of the present specification is not construed as being limited to the above-described embodiments. Embodiments of the present disclosure are provided to more fully describe the present disclosure to those of ordinary skill in the art. In the following, "%" and "part" representing the content are by weight unless otherwise specified.

Flexible  Preparation of functional films

Manufacturing example  One

(1) First Orientation layer  Preparation of composition for forming

The following components were mixed, and the resulting mixture was stirred at 80 占 폚 for 1 hour to obtain a composition for forming a first alignment layer. The following material for forming the first alignment layer was synthesized by the method described in JP-A-2013-33248.

Photo Orientation Materials (Part 2):

Solvent (98 parts): o-xylene

(2) Preparation of composition for forming polarizing coating layer

The following components were mixed and stirred at 80 占 폚 for 1 hour to obtain a composition for forming a polarizing coating layer. As the dichroic dye, the azo dye described in the example of JP-A-2013-101328 was used.

[Polymerizable liquid crystal compound]

75부

75 parts

25부

25

[Dichroic dye]

2.5부

2.5 parts

2.5부

2.5 parts

2.5부

2.5 parts

[Other Ingredients]

6 parts of 2-dimethylamino-2-benzyl-1- (4-morpholinophenyl) butan-1-one (Irgacure 369; BASF Japan)

Leveling agent: Polyacrylate compound (BYK-361N; manufactured by BYK-KEMISA) 1.2 parts

solvent; o-xylene 250 parts

(3) Production of optical films and flexible functional films

As a base film, a composition for forming a first orientation layer was applied on one side of a 25 탆 thick triacetyl cellulose film (TAC) (Konica Minolta Opto) by a bar coating method, and dried in a drying oven at 100 ° C Followed by heating and drying for 2 minutes. The obtained dried coating film was subjected to polarized UV irradiation treatment to form a first orientation layer. Was then examined by polarized UV 0 ° direction relative to the coating direction by 20mJ / cm ² (313nm reference) strength.

Then, the composition for forming a polarizing coating layer was coated on the first alignment layer by a bar coating method, heated and dried in a drying oven at 120 캜 for one minute, and then cooled to room temperature. (Polarizing plate) was prepared by forming a 0.10 mu m first orientation layer and a 2.1 mu m thick polarizing coating layer by irradiating ultraviolet rays onto the dried coating with an exposure amount of 1000 mJ / cm2 (365 nm standard) using a UV irradiation apparatus. Thereafter, an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive (non-carrier film with a separator film made by Lintec Co., Ltd.) having a thickness of 5 占 퐉 was applied to the surface of the polarizing coating layer to form a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, cut to 10 占 10 cm and bonded with glass to produce a flexible functional film.

Manufacturing example  2

An optical film and a flexible functional film were prepared in the same manner as in Production Example 1 except that a triacetyl cellulose film (TAC) (Konica Minolta Opto Corporation) having a thickness of 40 탆 was used as a base film.

Manufacturing example  3

A polyvinyl alcohol film having an average degree of polymerization of about 2,400 and a degree of saponification of 99.9 mol% or more and having a thickness of 75 탆 was immersed in pure water at 30 캜 and immersed in an aqueous solution having a mass ratio of iodine / potassium iodide / water of 0.02 / Followed by iodine staining. Subsequently, boric acid treatment was carried out by immersing in an aqueous solution having a mass ratio of potassium iodide / boric acid / water of 12/5/100 at 56.5 캜. Subsequently, the film was washed with pure water at 8 占 폚 and then dried at 65 占 폚 to prepare a polarizing layer (thickness after stretching: 18 占 퐉) in which iodine was adsorbed and oriented in polyvinyl alcohol. The stretching was carried out mainly in the steps of iodine dyeing and boric acid treatment, and the total stretching magnification was 5.3 times. The obtained polarizing layer and a 25-μm thick triacetyl cellulose film (TAC) (Konica Minolta Opto) as a base film were bonded with a nip roll via an aqueous adhesive. Thereafter, it was dried at 60 ° C for 2 minutes to produce a polarizing plate having a protective film on one side. 3 parts of a carboxyl group-modified polyvinyl alcohol (KURAREGEGURALOPOVAL KL318) and 1.5 parts of a water-soluble polyamide epoxy resin (aqueous solution of Sumirez resin 650 solid content concentration of 30%) were added to 100 parts of water . Thereafter, an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive (non-carrier film with a separator film made by Lintec Co., Ltd.) having a thickness of 5 占 퐉 was coated on the surface of the polarizing layer to form a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer was cut to a size of 10x10 cm and then bonded to glass to produce an optical film and a flexible functional film Respectively.

Manufacturing example  4

An optical film and a flexible functional film were produced in the same manner as in Production Example 3, except that the base film was bonded with a water-based adhesive using two 25 mu m-thick cellulose ester films (Konica Minolta Opto Corporation) .

Optical film and Flexible  Performance evaluation of functional films

The structure and performance of the flexible functional film according to Production Example were evaluated and shown in Table 1 below.

Production Example 1 Production Example 2 Production Example 3 Production Example 4 rescue

Thickness (㎛) 32.2 (⊚) 47.2 (O) 48 (O) 73 (xx) Heat crack
(120 ° C, 2 hr) ◎ ◎ Xx ○ Early curl ○ ○ Xx ○ Curl after heat ○ ○ Xx ○

(1) Thickness

The thickness of the constitution in the flexible functional film was measured using a contact type film thickness meter (NIKON Model: MS-5C), and a polarizing plate, that is, a base film, a first alignment layer and a polarizing coating layer And the thickness of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer were evaluated according to the following measurement standards.

?: Polarizer thickness less than 40,?: Less than 50,?: Less than 60,?: 60 or more

(2) Heat crack

Three optical films were prepared according to the manufacturing examples, and heat resistance (120 degrees 2 hours) was applied, and cracks on the polarizing coating layer were observed after the heat resistance test. The evaluation criteria are as follows.

◎: No crack

○: 10 mm or less crack present

×: 1 or more front cracks

××: All three cracks

(3) Curl

The polarizing plate, that is, the optical film, prepared according to the above Preparation Examples, was cut into a size of 10 cm × 10 cm and left for 24 hours at 25 ° C. and 48 RH%, and initial curl was measured from the bottom to the height average of four corners. Then, after 5 minutes at 120 ° C, the heat-resistant curl was measured as the average height of four corners from the bottom at normal temperature.

?:? 10 mm,?:? 30 mm,?:? 50 mm,?: 50 mm

In Table 1, it was found that Production Examples 1 and 2 suppressed cracks and curls in a heat-resistant environment in spite of keeping the thin film. In Production Example 3, the heat cracks, initial curl, In the case of Production Example 4, cracking was prevented only in the case of Production Example 4, and curl suppression was possible due to the symmetrical structure based on polarizers, but the thin film of the polarizer was not achieved.

110: base film
120: first orientation layer
130: polarizing coating layer
140: separation layer
150: common electrode layer
160: second orientation layer
170: protective layer
210: pressure-sensitive adhesive layer or adhesive layer
220: Color filter
230: substrate (glass or film)
310: substrate (glass or film)
320: TFT
330: third orientation layer
340: liquid crystal

Claims (9)

A first orientation layer formed on the base film;
A polarizing coating layer formed on the first alignment layer;
A separation layer formed on the polarizing coating layer;
A common electrode layer formed on the isolation layer;
And a second alignment layer formed on the common electrode layer. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the thickness of the base film, the first alignment layer, and the polarizing coating layer is 50 占 퐉 or less. The method according to claim 1,
And a protective layer formed between the separation layer and the common electrode layer. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising a substrate or a film adhered to the other surface of the base film and having a color filter layer formed thereon. A polarizing coating layer formed on a first alignment layer formed on a base film is adhered to one surface of a separation layer from which the substrate is separated in a separation step by sequentially forming a separation layer, a common electrode layer and a second alignment layer on the substrate ≪ / RTI > A polarizing coating layer formed on a first alignment layer formed on a base film on one surface of a common electrode layer from which the substrate and the separating layer are separated in the separating step, the separating layer, the common electrode layer and the second alignment layer being sequentially formed on the substrate, Wherein the flexible functional film is produced by adhering the flexible functional film. A polarizing coating layer formed on a first alignment layer formed on a base film on one side of a protective layer on which the substrate and the separating layer are separated in a separating step, wherein a protective layer, a common electrode layer and a second alignment layer are sequentially formed on the substrate, Wherein the flexible functional film is produced by adhering the flexible functional film. The method according to claim 1,
And a barrier layer is further formed between the common electrode layer and the second alignment layer. An image display device comprising the flexible functional film according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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