KR20210000887A - Liquid crystal cell - Google Patents

Abstract

The application provides a liquid crystal cell with excellent linearity of a sealant line, height adjustment of the sealant, prevention of contamination between the sealant and liquid crystal, and color adjustment of a bezel by applying a side dam to the liquid crystal cell. In addition, it is possible to ensure the uniformity of the height of the side dam and the spacer pattern.

Description

Liquid crystal cell {LIQUID CRYSTAL CELL}

The present application relates to a liquid crystal cell.

The liquid crystal cell may be manufactured by a vacuum alignment method (VALC; Vacuum Alignment with Liquid Cristal Process or ODF; One Drop Filling). The vacuum bonding method may be performed in the following order: a process of applying a sealant on a first substrate, a process of doting a liquid crystal, a process of vacuum bonding the second substrate, and a process of curing the sealant.

At this time, the outermost portion of the liquid crystal cell is formed of the interface between the sealant and the liquid crystal, and there are several problems to be solved. The first is the straightness of the sealant line. If the straightness of the sealant line is not good, the volume filled with liquid crystal in the accelerator cell will also fluctuate, and there is a possibility that a liquid crystal flow spot due to an excess of liquid crystal or a void problem due to insufficient liquid crystal may occur. The second is the height adjustment of the sealant. In order to maintain the sealant line as much as possible, a high-viscosity sealant must be used. In this case, the sealant area increases in height compared to the height of the liquid crystal area because it is not easily pressed during vacuum bonding, causing problems during the rear bonding process. The third is contamination between the sealant and the liquid crystal. Since the sealant contacts the liquid crystal before curing, problems such as elution of the sealant into the liquid crystal or contamination of the liquid crystal into the sealant may occur. Fourth, bezel color adjustment. Since only the sealant is located in the bezel part of the liquid crystal cell, the color of the sealant must be adjusted to adjust the color of the bezel part. In that case, problems such as a decrease in sealant adhesion may occur. In addition, in order to apply the film substrate to the liquid crystal cell, the uniformity of the height of the spacer pattern maintaining the distance between the first substrate and the second substrate is also important.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2013-0052974

This application provides a liquid crystal cell with excellent linearity of the sealant line, height adjustment of the sealant, prevention of contamination between the sealant and liquid crystal, and color adjustment of the bezel by applying a side dam to the liquid crystal cell. In addition, it provides a liquid crystal cell capable of securing uniformity in heights of side dams and spacer patterns.

The present application relates to a liquid crystal cell. 1 and 2 each exemplarily show the structure of a liquid crystal cell of the present application. The liquid crystal cell of the present application includes a first substrate 101, a sealant 200 formed on an outer portion of the first substrate, a side dam 300 formed to contact the inner side of the sealant, and a column spaced apart from the side dam. A spacer 400, a ball spacer 500 attached to the side dam or column spacer, a second substrate 102 stacked on the sealant, the side dam, and the column spacer; And a liquid crystal 600 filled between the first and second substrates. In the present specification, the inner surface of A may mean a surface in a direction in which a liquid crystal is present based on A. Each of the column spacers and the side dam may have a color. Transmittances measured for light having a wavelength of 400 nm to 700 nm of the column spacer and the side dam may be in a range of 1% to 20%, respectively.

In the present specification, transmittance and haze may be values measured according to ASTM D1003 standards using a haze meter and NDH-5000SP. In other words, the light is transmitted through the object to be measured and is incident into the integrating sphere. In this process, the light is diffused by the object to be measured (DT, meaning the sum of all the light that has been diffused and emitted) and straight light (PT, the front side excluding diffused light) (Meaning the outgoing light in the direction), the light is condensed by the light receiving element in the integrating sphere, and the transmittance and haze are measured through the condensed light. The total transmitted light (TT) by the above process is the sum of the diffused light (DT) and the straight light (PT) (DT + PT), and the haze is the percentage of the diffused light to the total transmitted light (Haze (%) = 100XDT/TT ) Can be specified. In this specification, transmittance refers to a% ratio of the total transmitted light (TT), and haze refers to a% ratio of the diffused light (DT).

The liquid crystal cell of the present application can improve the accuracy of the liquid crystal doting amount by improving the linearity of the sealant line, and the height of the sealant can be adjusted because the sealant of low viscosity can be used, and contamination between the sealant and the liquid crystal can be prevented. In addition, color control of the bezel part is possible by giving a color to the side dam, and a pattern of the side dam and the column spacer can be formed with a uniform height.

[Sealant]

The sealant is formed on an outer portion of the first substrate, more specifically, an outermost portion, and may function to attach the first substrate and the second substrate. The inner area divided by the sealant may be referred to as an active area. Side dams, column spacers, ball spacers, and liquid crystals may be present in the active region.

The line width of the sealant may be in the range of 1 mm to 5 mm, for example. The line width may be more specifically 1 mm or more, 1.5 mm or more, or 2 mm or more, and may be 5 mm or less, 4.5 mm or less, 4 mm or less, 3.5 mm or less, or 3 mm or less.

The sealant may include a curable resin. The sealant may include 50% by weight or more, 60% by weight or more, 70% by weight or more, 80% by weight or more, or 90% by weight or more based on the total weight of the curable resin.

The sealant is a curable resin, and may include a photocurable resin, a thermosetting resin, or a mixture of a photocurable resin and a thermosetting resin. The photocurable resin may be, for example, an ultraviolet curable resin. The photocurable resin may be a polymer of photocurable monomers. The thermosetting resin may be a polymer of a thermosetting monomer.

As the curable resin, for example, an acrylate resin, an epoxy resin, a urethane resin, a phenol resin, or a mixture of the above resins may be used. In one example, the curable resin may be an acrylate-based resin, and the acrylate-based resin may be a polymer of an acrylic monomer. The acrylic monomer may be, for example, a polyfunctional acrylate. In one example, the sealant may further include a monomer component in the curable resin. The monomer component may be, for example, a monofunctional acrylate. In the present specification, monofunctional acrylate may mean a compound having one acrylic group, and polyfunctional acrylate may mean a compound having two or more acrylic groups. The curable resin may be cured by irradiation and/or heating of ultraviolet rays. The ultraviolet irradiation conditions or heating conditions may be appropriately performed within a range not impairing the object of the present application. If necessary, the sealant may further include an initiator, for example, a photo initiator or a thermal initiator.

The room temperature viscosity of the curable resin included in the sealant may be in the range of 10,000 cP to 500,000 cP, for example. In the present specification, the normal temperature may mean a temperature in which temperature is not artificially controlled. Room temperature may mean, for example, a temperature of 20°C to 40°C, 20°C to 30°C, specifically, about 25°C.

The sealant may include a low viscosity curable resin having a room temperature viscosity of 10,000 cP to 100,000 cP, or a high viscosity curable resin having a room temperature viscosity of 100,000 cP to 500,000 cP. According to the liquid crystal cell of the present application, due to the side dam, a sealant can be formed using a curable resin having a low viscosity. Accordingly, the liquid crystal cell of the present application is hardly pressed during vacuum bonding due to the use of a curable resin having a high viscosity, so that the height of the sealant area is increased compared to the liquid crystal area, thereby solving the problem during the rear bonding process.

The viscosity of the sealant can be adjusted by methods known in the art. In one example, the viscosity of the sealant may be adjusted by using a curable resin exhibiting a desired viscosity or by adding a viscosity modifier to the curable resin. The viscosity modifier may be a viscosity increasing agent or a viscosity reducing agent, and an appropriate amount of a viscosity modifier may be added according to the viscosity of the sealant to be implemented. As the viscosity modifier, a viscosity modifier known in the art may be used, for example, silica, potassium carbonate, talc, aluminum oxide, alumina, loess or glass powder.

The sealant can be transparent. The curable resin included in the sealant may be a transparent curable resin. In this case, the sealant may not include a shading degree control agent to be described later. The transmittance of the sealant for light having a wavelength of 400 nm to 700 nm may be 30% or more. The sealant may exhibit a haze of a predetermined range or more as needed. When the sealant hazes, the haze measured for light having a wavelength of 400 nm to 700 nm while satisfying the transmittance may be in the range of 10% to 90%, for example. In the case of the transparent sealant, the haze measured for light having a wavelength of 400 nm to 700 nm may be in the range of about 1% to 10%.

In order to adjust the color of the bezel part of the liquid crystal cell, in the case of imparting color to the sealant, for example, when a light blocking agent is included, there is a problem that the adhesion of the sealant decreases, but the liquid crystal cell of the present application By imparting a color, the sealant can be made transparent, so that the above problem can be solved.

[Side dam and column spacer]

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the liquid crystal cell may include a side dam 300 formed to contact the inner surface of the sealant 200. In addition, the liquid crystal cell may include a column spacer 400 spaced apart from the side dam.

The inner side of the side dam can contact the liquid crystal. When the side dam has a patterned structure as shown in FIG. 2, the inner surface of the side dam present at the innermost side may contact the liquid crystal.

When manufacturing the liquid crystal cell, the side dam and the column spacer may be formed by a single process. Accordingly, some numerical values or physical properties of the side dam and the column spacer may be similar to each other.

The heights of the side dams and the column spacers may be in the range of 3 μm to 20 μm or 6 μm to 15 μm. The heights of the side dams and column spacers can be approximately the same. For example, the difference (H _A -H _B ) between the height H _A of the column spacer and the height H _B of the side dam may be 0.5 μm or less.

The side dam can have an appropriate line width depending on the purpose. The line width of the side dam may be in the range of 10 μm to 1000 μm, for example.

The column spacer may have a column shape. The columnar shape of the column spacer is not particularly limited, and includes, for example, an elliptical columnar shape, a cylindrical shape, a square columnar shape, a triangular columnar shape, other polygonal columnar shape, and an irregular columnar shape.

The column spacer may have an appropriate range of dimensions depending on the purpose. The diameter of the column spacer may be, for example, in the range of 10 μm to 50 μm. The diameter of the column spacer is the length of the major axis or minor axis when the cross section of the column spacer is elliptical, the diameter when it is circular, and the largest or the smallest dimension among the measured dimensions when it is of other polygonal or irregular shapes. May be average.

The liquid crystal cell may include a plurality of column spacers. The plurality of column spacers may be spaced apart from each other. The pitch of the plurality of column spacers may be in the range of 50 μm to 500 μm, for example.

The side dams and column spacers may exhibit color, eg black. Transmittances of the side dams and the column spacers for light having a wavelength of 400 nm to 700 nm may be in the range of 1% to 20%, respectively. The colors of the side dams and column spacers can be almost the same. For example, the difference (T _A -T _B ) between the transmittance of the column spacer (T _A ) and the transmittance of the side dam (T _B ) may be 5% or less.

The side dam and the column spacer may each include a photocurable resin and a light blocking agent. The side dam and the column spacer may each contain a cured product of a composition including a photocurable resin and a light blocking agent. In the present specification, a composition including a photocurable resin and a shading degree control agent may be referred to as a black resin composition.

The shading modifier may cause the side dams and column spacers to exhibit color, for example black. The shading control agent may include a pigment or dye representing black. Specifically, the light-shielding modifier may include a metal oxide, a metal nitride, a metal oxynitride, a carbon black, graphite, an azo pigment, a phthalocyanine pigment, or a carbon material. As the light-shielding modifier that can be applied in the above, examples of the metal oxide include chromium oxide (CrxOy, etc.) or copper oxide (CuxOy, etc.), and examples of the metal oxynitride include aluminum oxynitride (AlxOyNz, etc.). May be, but is not limited thereto. In addition, examples of the carbon-based material include, but are not limited to, carbon nanotubes (CNT), graphene, and porous carbon such as activated carbon.

The type of pigment or dye that can be used in the present application is not limited to the above, and an appropriate type may be selected according to the desired color or transmittance, and the ratio in the curable composition, side dam or column spacer is also the color To the transmittance and the like.

The light blocking degree control agent may have an average particle size in the range of, for example, 100 nm to 300 nm. The black resin composition may include, for example, the shading degree control agent in a ratio of 1% to 5% by weight.

The photocurable resin may be a polymer of photocurable monomers. In the present specification, "curable monomer" may mean a monomer having at least one or more curable functional groups. The curable monomer includes a photocurable monomer or a heat curable monomer. In the present specification, the "photocurable monomer" may mean a monomer having at least one photocurable functional group. In the present specification, "thermosetting monomer" may mean a monomer having at least one thermosetting functional group. Examples of the photocurable functional group include a vinyl group, a (meth)acryl group, a (meth)acryloyloxy group, a (meth)acrylamide group, a vinyloxy group, or a maleimide group. Examples of the thermosetting functional group include an epoxy group, an oxetane group, an alkenyl group, a hydrogen atom bonded to a silicon atom, an isocyanate group, a hydroxy group, a phthalonitrile group, or a carboxyl group.

The black resin composition may further include an additive. Examples of such additives include curing agents, initiators, thixotropic agents, leveling agents, defoaming agents, antioxidants, radical generating substances, organic/inorganic pigments or dyes, dispersants, thermally conductive fillers, insulating fillers, etc. Various fillers, functional polymers, light stabilizers, and the like may be exemplified, but are not limited thereto. The curable composition may include about 1 to 10% by weight of the above additives.

Room temperature viscosity of the photocurable resin included in the side dam and/or the column spacer may be in the range of 300 cP to 5,000 cP, respectively. When the room temperature viscosity is within the above range, it may be advantageous in terms of securing the uniformity of the height of the side dam and/or the column spacer. When the viscosity of the photocurable resin is too high, as in the manufacturing method described later, when a resin composition is placed between the first substrate and the pattern mask and lamination, for example, squeezing lamination is performed, it is not well pressed. It may cause non-uniformity in height due to the occurrence of a non-uniform part.

[Ball spacer]

The liquid crystal cell may further include a ball spacer attached to the side dam and/or the column spacer. In order to apply a film substrate, the uniformity of the heights of the column spacers and side dams is important. Since the liquid crystal cell includes a ball spacer, the height of the column spacer and the side dam can be made uniform.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the entire ball shape of the ball spacer may exist in a state included in the side dam and/or the column spacer, or a part of the ball shape may exist in a state included in the side dam or the column spacer. have. In one example, the liquid crystal cell may include a plurality of ball spacers, some of which are present in a state in which the entire ball shape is included in the side dam and/or the column spacer, and some of the ball spacers A part of the ball shape may be included in the side dam or the column spacer.

The main component of the ball spacer may be a polymer. In the present specification, the material of the main component may mean that the material of the main component is included in about 80% by weight or more, about 85% by weight or more, about 90% by weight, or about 95% by weight or more, based on the total weight of the ball. .

The ball spacer may include, for example, polystyrene (PS), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), or a mixture of polystyrene (PS) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA).

In one example, the ball spacer may represent black. In the case of black balls, carbon particles, dyes or pigments representing black may be further included. In the case of a black ball, for example, a black ball in which the entire ball is made black, or a black ball coated with black on the outside of the ball can be used. In the above, the coating material is carbon black or CNT (Carbon Nano Tube) or Carbon-based materials such as graphene or various known dyes or pigments are applied.

The height of the side dam and the column spacer can be adjusted according to the particle diameter of the ball spacer. The particle diameter of the ball spacer can be appropriately adjusted in consideration of the cell gap of the desired liquid crystal cell. The particle diameter of the ball spacer may be, for example, in the range of 3 μm to 20 μm or 6 μm to 15 μm.

[Liquid crystal]

1 and 2, the liquid crystal cell may further include a liquid crystal 600 filled between the first substrate 101 and the second substrate 102. The liquid crystal may be filled in a region between the first substrate 101 and the second substrate 102 where the sealant 200, the side dam 300, the column spacer 400, and the ball spacer 500 do not exist .

The kind and physical properties of the liquid crystal are not particularly limited, and may be appropriately selected and used according to the intended use of the liquid crystal cell. The liquid crystal cell may have a light modulation function. For example, the liquid crystal cell may change transmittance, haze, reflectance, color, and the like by application of external energy, for example, an electric field. The liquid crystal cell may further include an anisotropic dye as necessary in a region where the liquid crystal is present.

[First substrate and second substrate]

The first substrate may include a first substrate layer, and the second substrate may include a second substrate layer. As the first and/or second substrate layer, any substrate layer used for a substrate in a configuration of a known optical device such as, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), without particular limitation, may be applied. For example, the base layer may be an inorganic base layer or an organic base layer. As the inorganic substrate layer, a glass substrate layer and the like may be exemplified, and as the organic substrate layer, various plastic films may be exemplified. As a plastic film, a triacetyl cellulose (TAC) film; Cycloolefin copolymer (COP) films such as norbornene derivatives; Acrylic film such as PMMA (poly(methyl methacrylate)); PC (polycarbonate) film; Polyolefin film such as PE (polyethylene) or PP (polypropylene); PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) film; DAC (diacetyl cellulose) film; Pac (Polyacrylate) Film; PES (polyether sulfone) film; PEEK (polyetheretherketon) film; PPS (polyphenylsulfone) film, PEI (polyetherimide) film; PEN (polyethylenemaphthatlate) film; PET (polyethyleneterephtalate) film; PI (polyimide) film; PSF (polysulfone) A film or a polyarylate (PAR) film may be exemplified, but is not limited thereto. Meanwhile, a functional film such as a super retardation film (SRF) or an optical-axis control film (OCF) may be used as the base layer. .

The first substrate may further include a first electrode layer, and the second substrate may further include a second electrode layer. In this case, the electrode layer may be formed on the inner surface of the base layer. The inner surface of the base layer may mean a surface in the direction in which the liquid crystal layer of the base layer is formed.

As the electrode layer, a known material may be applied. For example, the electrode layer may include a metal alloy, an electrically conductive compound, or a mixture of two or more of the above. Such materials include metals such as gold, CuI, Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), Indium Zinc Oxide (IZO), Zinc Tin Oxide (ZTO), zinc oxide doped with aluminum or indium, magnesium indium oxide, nickel tungsten oxide, An oxide material such as ZnO, SnO2 or In ₂ O ₃ , a metal nitride such as gallium nitride, a metal serenide such as zinc serenide, and a metal sulfide such as zinc sulfide may be exemplified.

The electrode layer may be formed by any means such as vapor deposition, sputtering, chemical vapor deposition, or electrochemical means. Patterning of the electrode layer is also possible in a known manner without any particular limitation, and for example, it may be patterned through a process using a known photolithography or a shadow mask.

The first substrate may further include a first alignment layer, and the second substrate may further include a second alignment layer. In this case, the alignment layer may be formed on the inner surface of the electrode layer. The inner surface of the electrode layer may mean a surface in the direction in which the liquid crystal layer of the electrode layer is formed. As such, the first substrate may sequentially include a first base layer, a first electrode layer, and a first alignment layer, and the second substrate may sequentially include a second base layer, a second electrode layer, and a second alignment layer. . The type of alignment layer is not particularly limited, and a known alignment layer, for example, a known rubbing alignment layer or a photo alignment layer may be applied.

The lower surfaces of the sealant and the side dam may each contact the first substrate, and the upper surfaces of the sealant and the side dam may each contact the second substrate. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, the upper surface and the lower surface of the side dam may be continuously, for example, not patterned and in contact with the first substrate and the second substrate. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2, the side dam may have a patterned structure to include a region where a dam exists and a region where a dam does not exist. The patterned structure may be in the form of a mesh or a dot. The area where the dam does not exist may be filled with a sealant.

The present application also relates to a method of manufacturing the liquid crystal cell. Unless otherwise specified while describing the following manufacturing method, the description of the liquid crystal cell may be equally applied.

The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal cell of the present application includes forming a side dam and a column spacer including a cured product of a first resin composition including a photocurable resin and a ball spacer on a first substrate; Forming a sealant on the outer portion of the first substrate so as to contact the outer surface of the side dam; And placing and laminating the liquid crystal composition between the first substrate and the second substrate. In this case, the transmittance of the side dam and the column spacer to light in the range of 400 nm to 700 nm may be in the range of 1% to 20%.

The first resin composition may further include a shading degree control agent. Therefore, the first resin composition may be referred to as a black composition. The transmittance of the first resin composition to light in the range of 400 nm to 700 nm may also be in the range of 1% to 20%.

The step of forming the side dam and the column spacer may be performed by a photolithography method.

The photolithography method is. Positioning and laminating a first resin composition including a photocurable resin and a ball spacer between the first substrate and the pattern mask; Irradiating light toward the pattern mask; Peeling the pattern mask from the first substrate; And it may be carried out by the step of developing the light-irradiated resin composition.

The step of placing and laminating the first resin composition between the first substrate and the pattern mask is performed by laminating or laminating a pattern mask after, for example, applying the first resin composition on the first substrate. Can be. A known coating method may be used as the coating method, and for example, spin coating, bar coating, roll coating, gravure coating, and blade coating may be used.

The pattern mask may have a light transmitting area and a light blocking area. When the pattern mask is laminated on the first resin composition, the resin composition corresponding to the light-transmitting region of the pattern mask may be a cured region, and the resin composition corresponding to the light blocking region of the pattern mask has an uncured region. Can be. The light transmitting area of the pattern mask may have a shape corresponding to a desired side dam and column spacer, and other areas may have a light blocking area.

The material of the pattern mask is not particularly limited, and for example, a light-blocking pattern formed on a light-transmitting substrate to correspond to a blocking area may be used. As the light-transmitting substrate, a light-transmitting plastic film may be used. The light blocking pattern may be, for example, metal or ink. The metal may include at least one of copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), aluminum (Al), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), gold (Au), and silver (Ag), but is now limited It is not. Examples of the ink may include inorganic pigments such as carbon black, graphite or iron oxide, or organic pigments such as azo pigments or phthalocyanine pigments, but are not limited thereto.

The step of irradiating light toward the pattern mask film may be performed, for example, by irradiating ultraviolet rays. The irradiation condition of the ultraviolet rays may be appropriately selected within a range in which the resin composition is cured.

In the step of peeling the pattern mask, a release treatment may be applied to the pattern mask, or a release paper may be positioned between the resin composition and the pattern mask to facilitate peeling.

By the developing step, since the region to which light is not irradiated from the first resin composition is removed, a side dam and a column spacer can be formed. The development may be performed using, for example, a developer. For example, the first may be performed by dissolving and removing an uncured region by contacting a developer with the layer of the resin composition from which the pattern mask has been peeled off. As the developer, an appropriate solvent capable of dissolving the uncured region may be used. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present application, a basic solvent may be used as a developer, but is not limited thereto.

The step of forming the sealant on the first substrate may be performed by drawing a resin composition for forming the sealant in contact with the outer surface of the side dam. In the present specification, a resin composition for forming a sealant may be referred to as a second resin composition. Like the sealant, the second resin composition may have a transmittance of 30% or more measured for light having a wavelength of 400 nm to 700 nm, and the haze may be in the range of 1% to 10% or in the range of 10% to 90%. have. Drawing of the second resin composition may be performed through a dispenser equipped with a nozzle. The diameter of the nozzle, the discharge amount of the sealant composition, and the drawing speed may be appropriately selected according to the desired sealant line width and shape.

Positioning and laminating the liquid crystal composition between the second substrate and the first substrate may be performed by applying the liquid crystal composition on the first substrate and then laminating the second substrate or by squeezing lamination. A known coating method may be used as the coating method, and for example, spin coating, bar coating, roll coating, gravure coating, and blade coating may be used.

After lamination of the first and second substrates, a step of curing the sealant may be further included. The curing of the sealant may be appropriately selected according to the curing type of the curable resin included in the sealant. When the sealant contains a photocurable resin, it can be cured by irradiating light, and when a thermosetting resin is included, it can be cured by applying heat, and when a mixture of a photocurable resin and a thermosetting resin is included, It can be hardened by performing both irradiation and application of heat. The curing conditions may be appropriately selected within a range to cure the curable resin included in the sealant.

In addition, the liquid crystal cell may further include an additional known functional layer, for example, a polarizing layer, a hard coating layer, and/or an antireflection layer, if necessary.

This application provides a liquid crystal cell with excellent linearity of the sealant line, height adjustment of the sealant, prevention of contamination between the sealant and liquid crystal, and color adjustment of the bezel by applying a side dam to the liquid crystal cell. In addition, it provides a liquid crystal cell capable of securing uniformity in heights of side dams and spacer patterns.

1 and 2 exemplarily show the structure of a liquid crystal cell.
3 and 4 are images of a liquid crystal cell after contamination evaluation of the sealant in the liquid crystal.

Hereinafter, the present application will be specifically described through examples according to the present application and comparative examples not according to the present application, but the scope of the present application is not limited by the examples presented below.

Example One.

A first resin composition including a photocurable resin and a ball spacer was positioned between the first substrate and the pattern mask and laminated. Subsequently, ultraviolet rays were irradiated to the side of the pattern mask (ultraviolet irradiation amount: 1,200 mJ/cm ² ). Subsequently, after peeling the pattern mask from the first substrate, the layer of the first resin composition irradiated with ultraviolet rays was developed and washed to form a side dam and a column spacer on the first substrate. The side dam and the column spacer are formed according to the pattern shape of the light transmitting region of the pattern mask.

As the first substrate, a substrate in which an amorphous ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) layer was formed on one surface of a PC (Polycarbonate) film was used. As the first resin composition, a mixture of an ultraviolet-curable acrylate monomer, an initiator, and a dispersant is mixed with carbon black as a light-shielding modifier in an amount of about 3% by weight, and black balls are mixed in an amount of about 2% by weight. One resin composition was used. The transmittance of the resin composition for light having a wavelength of 400 nm to 700 nm is about 10%. Accordingly, the transmittance measured for light having a wavelength of 400 nm to 700 nm of the side dam and the column spacer is also approximately 10%. The particle diameter of the ball spacer is 9 μm. Accordingly, the height of the side dam and the column spacer is also formed to be approximately 9 μm.

As the pattern mask, a mask having a structure in which a light blocking layer (AlOxNy) and a release layer patterned on a transparent base film (body), a PET (poly(ethylene terephthalate)) film, are sequentially formed was used. The light-shielding layer is patterned so that the width is in the range of approximately 24 μm to 26 μm, and the pitch of the light-shielding layer pattern is 125 μm. The area where the light blocking layer is formed on the PET film is the light blocking area, and the area where the light blocking layer is not formed is the light transmitting area.

Subsequently, by drawing a second resin composition (a UVF-006 product of Sekisui, a room temperature viscosity: about 100,000 cP) on the outer periphery of the first substrate so as to contact the outer surface of the side dam, the line width is about 3 mm Formed.

Subsequently, a liquid crystal composition was placed between the second substrate and the first substrate, followed by lamination, and irradiating ultraviolet rays to cure the drawn second resin composition, thereby preparing a liquid crystal cell. As the second substrate, a substrate in which an amorphous ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) layer was formed on one surface of a PC (polycarbonate) film, similarly to the first substrate, was used.

Comparative example One.

In Example 1, a liquid crystal cell was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the ball spacer was not included in the first resin composition.

Comparative example 2.

In Example 1, except that the first resin composition did not contain a shading degree control agent, and the second resin composition contained a shading degree control agent in a ratio of about 3% by weight of carbon black , A liquid crystal cell was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1.

Comparative example 3.

In Example 1, a liquid crystal cell was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the side dam pattern was not formed and only the column spacers were formed.

Comparative example 4.

In Example 1, except that the second resin composition (made by Sekisui's UVF-004) having a room temperature viscosity of 220,000 cP was used when the side dam pattern was not formed, only column spacers were formed, and the sealant was formed. , A liquid crystal cell was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1.

Hereinafter, the main differences between Example 1, Comparative Example 1, Comparative Example 2, Comparative Example 3, and Comparative Example 4 are shown in Table 1.

Ball spacer Sealant
Room temperature viscosity Shading control agent Side dam
Example 1 O 100,000 cP Side dam/column spacer O Comparative Example 1 X 100,000 cP Side dam/column spacer O Comparative Example 2 O 100,000 cP Sealant O Comparative Example 3 O 100,000 cP Column spacer X Comparative Example 4 O 220,000 cP Column spacer X

Evaluation example One. column Spacer Height uniformity evaluation

For Example 1 and Comparative Example 1, the height uniformity of the column spacers was evaluated. The height of the column spacer was confirmed using a measuring device (Optical profiler, Nano System, Nano View-E1000). As a result of the evaluation, Example 1 showed a distribution in which the height of the column spacer was 9 μm±0.4 μm. On the other hand, Comparative Example 1 showed a distribution of 9㎛ ± 1.3㎛ height of the column spacer.

Evaluation example 2. Sealant Adhesion evaluation

For Example 1 and Comparative Example 2, the adhesion of the sealant was evaluated. Specifically, the peel force was measured while pulling the second substrate from the first substrate at a peel angle of 90° and a peel rate of 300 mm/min using a tensile tester. As a result of the evaluation, the peel force of Example 1 was 2.1 N/cm, and the peel force of Comparative Example 2 was 1 N/cm or less.

Evaluation example 3. Sealant Height, Edge part Line straightness, Bezel Color evaluation

For Example 1, Comparative Example 3, and Comparative Example 4, the sealant height, edge line straightness, and bezel color were evaluated, and the results are shown in Table 2 below.

The height of the sealant was confirmed using a measuring device (Optical profiler, Nano System, Nano View-E1000). If the height of the sealant is adjusted to a height similar to the height of the side dam and the column spacer (approximately 9 μm), it is evaluated as "O" and is not adjusted to a height similar to the height of the side dam and the column spacer. The case was evaluated as "X".

The straightness of the edge part line is measured by measuring the difference (W1-W2) between the maximum width (W1) and the minimum width (W2) of the seal line by steel ruler evaluation, and is evaluated as "O" when the difference between the width is 1 mm or less. , When the deviation of the width was 2 mm or more, it was evaluated as "X".

The bezel color was evaluated as "O" when the color could be displayed on the outer part of the liquid crystal cell, and was evaluated as "X" when the color was not displayed and is transparent.

As a result of the evaluation, in Comparative Example 3, due to the use of the low viscosity sealant, the height of the sealant portion can be adjusted to a level similar to that of the side dam and the column spacer, but the straightness of the edge portion is not secured due to the sealant spreadability.

In Comparative Example 4, due to the use of the high-viscosity sealant, straightness of the sealant line could be ensured, but since the height of the sealant part greatly deviates from the height of the side dam and the column spacer, the height cannot be adjusted.

In addition, in the case of Comparative Examples 3 and 4, as found in Evaluation Example 2, due to adhesion problems, it is difficult to add a shading degree control agent, and accordingly, the bezel color cannot be displayed.

In the case of Example 1, not only can the height of the sealant portion be adjusted due to the use of the low viscosity sealant, but also the straightness of the line edge line of the sealant can be secured due to the use of the side dam. In addition, since the shading degree control agent is applied to the side dam, not the sealant, the bezel color can be displayed without deteriorating the adhesion of the liquid crystal cell.

Sealant viscosity Sealant height Edge line straightness Bezel color Example 1 100,000 cP 9~11㎛ O O Comparative Example 3 100,000 cP 9~11㎛ X X Comparative Example 4 220,000 cP 15~20㎛ O X

Evaluation example 4. Inside the LCD Sealant Pollution assessment

After high-temperature heat treatment and thermal shock were applied to Example 1 and Comparative Example 3, contamination of the sealant in the liquid crystal was evaluated. The high temperature heat treatment is performed by holding the liquid crystal cell in an oven at 130° C. for 30 minutes. The thermal shock is performed by repeating the cycle of holding the liquid crystal cell at 60° C. for 30 minutes, and holding again at -20° C. for 30 minutes for 96 hours. 3 shows an image of a liquid crystal cell after high temperature heat treatment (A) and thermal shock (B) of Example 1, and FIG. 4 is an image of a liquid crystal cell after high temperature heat treatment (A) and thermal shock (B) of Comparative Example 3 Show.

As a result of the evaluation, even after applying high-temperature heat treatment and thermal shock in Example 1, no contamination of the sealant into the liquid crystal was observed. On the other hand, in Comparative Example 1, contamination of the uncured sealant into the liquid crystal was observed after applying high-temperature heat treatment and thermal shock, and accordingly, an alignment defect of the liquid crystal occurred (indicated as NG in FIG.

101: first substrate, 102: second substrate, 200: sealant, 300: side dam, 400: column spacer, 500: ball spacer, 600: liquid crystal

Claims (24)

A first substrate, a sealant formed on an outer portion of the first substrate, a side dam formed to be in contact with an inner surface of the sealant, a column spacer spaced apart from the side dam, a ball spacer attached to the side dam or the column spacer, the A second substrate stacked on the sealant, the side dam, and the column spacer; And a liquid crystal filled between the first and second substrates, wherein transmittances measured for light having a wavelength of 400 nm to 700 nm of the side dam and the column spacer are in a range of 1% to 20%, respectively. The liquid crystal cell according to claim 1, wherein the line width of the sealant is in the range of 1 mm to 5 mm. The liquid crystal cell according to claim 1, wherein the sealant comprises a photocurable resin, a thermosetting resin, or a mixture of a photocurable resin and a thermosetting resin. The liquid crystal cell according to claim 1, wherein the sealant has a transmittance of 30% or more for light having a wavelength of 400 nm to 700 nm. The liquid crystal cell of claim 1, wherein the sealant comprises a curable resin having a room temperature viscosity of 10,000 cP to 100,000 cP or 100,000 cP to 500,000 cP. The liquid crystal cell of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the side dam is in contact with the liquid crystal compound. The liquid crystal cell according to claim 1, wherein the side dam and the column spacer each contain a photocurable resin and a light blocking agent. The liquid crystal cell according to claim 7, wherein the viscosity of the photocurable resin is in the range of 300 cP to 5,000 cP. The liquid crystal cell of claim 1, wherein the heights of the side dams and the column spacers are in the range of 3 μm to 20 μm, respectively. The method of claim 1, wherein the difference between the column (H _A) the height of the spacer and the height of the side dam _{(H B) (H A -} H B) is not more than 0.5㎛ liquid crystal cell. The liquid crystal cell according to claim 1, wherein the line width of the side dam is in the range of 10 μm to 1000 μm. The liquid crystal cell of claim 1, wherein a plurality of column spacers are included in a state spaced apart from each other. The liquid crystal cell according to claim 1, wherein the column spacer has a diameter in the range of 10 μm to 50 μm and a pitch in the range of 50 μm to 500 μm. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmittance of the column spacer (T _A) and the difference between the transmittance of the side dam _{(T B) (T A -} T B) is a liquid crystal cell not more than 5%. The liquid crystal cell of claim 1, wherein the ball spacer exists in a state in which the entire ball shape is included in the side dam or column spacer, or a part of the ball shape exists in the state in which the side dam or column spacer is included. The liquid crystal cell according to claim 1, wherein the particle diameter of the ball spacer is in the range of 3 μm to 20 μm. The liquid crystal of claim 1, wherein the first substrate sequentially includes a first substrate layer, a first electrode layer, and a first alignment layer, and the second substrate sequentially includes a second substrate layer, a second electrode layer, and a second alignment layer. Cell. The liquid crystal cell of claim 1, wherein the sealant, the side dam, and the column spacer are in contact with the second substrate. The liquid crystal cell of claim 1, wherein an upper surface and a lower surface of the side dam are in contact with the first substrate and the second substrate, respectively. The liquid crystal cell of claim 1, wherein the side dam has a patterned structure to include a region where a dam exists and a region where a dam does not exist, and a sealant is present in a region where the dam does not exist. Forming a side dam and a column spacer including a cured product of a first resin composition including a photocurable resin and a ball spacer on a first substrate; Forming a sealant on the outer portion of the first substrate so as to contact the outer surface of the side dam; And placing and laminating a liquid crystal composition between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the column spacer and the side dam have a transmittance of light in the range of 400 nm to 700 nm in the range of 1% to 20%. How to make a cell. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first resin composition further comprises a light blocking agent. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the forming of the side dams and the column spacers is performed by a photolithography method. The method of claim 23, wherein the photolithography method is. Positioning and laminating a first resin composition including a photocurable resin and a ball spacer between the first substrate and the pattern mask; Irradiating light toward the pattern mask; Peeling the pattern mask from the first substrate; And developing the first resin composition irradiated with light.

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