Methods for manufacturing polarizing element, polarizing element roll and single sheet type polarizing element having local bleaching areas

• US 10,436,960 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2015
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Beom Seok, Jang, Eung Jin, Rah, Kyun Il, Kang, Hyung Koo, Lee, Byung Sun, Choi, Du Jin, Yun, Ho Jeong
• Primary Examiner(s): Vargot, Mathieu D
• Application Number:
  US15/039,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20160377777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,658 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/42 Plastics B23K2103/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/50 Inorganic material, e.g. metals, not provided for in B23K2103/02 – B23K2103/26
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/38 by boring or cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/402 involving non-metallic material, e.g. isolators
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00644 polarizing
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00865 Applying coatings; tinting; colouring printing, marking or copying processes B41M; identification in general G09F3/00; producing decorative effects in general B44C; positioning or marking of lenses B24B13/0055
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2029/04 PVOH, i.e. polyvinyl alcohol B29K2031/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/10 Optical coatings produced by application to, or surface treatment of, optical elements G02B1/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/14 Protective coatings, e.g. hard coatings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3033 in the form of a thin sheet or foil, e.g. Polaroid

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a polarizing element including locally bleached areas including steps of providing a polarizing element including a polyvinyl alcohol-based polarizer in which at least one or more of iodine and dichroic dye is oriented in a certain direction; partially bleaching the polyvinyl alcohol-based polarizer by bringing a bleaching solution into contact with one surface of the polyvinyl alcohol-based polarizer through a printing method; and correcting an appearance of the partially bleached polarizing element.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a polarizing element including locally bleached areas comprising:

providing a polarizing element including a polyvinyl alcohol-based polarizer in which at least one of iodine and dichroic dye is oriented in a certain direction;

attaching a protective film to one surface of the polyvinyl alcohol-based polarizer;

partially bleaching the polarizing element by bringing a bleaching solution into contact with the surface opposite to the surface of the polyvinyl alcohol-based polarizer to which the protective film is attached through a printing method;

correcting an appearance of the partially bleached polarizing element; and

washing and drying the polarizing element after the appearance correcting step,

wherein the partially bleaching step is carried out using a method of an inkjet marking method or a gravure printing method,

wherein the step of correcting an appearance of the partially bleached polarizing element is carried out using a method of immersing the polarizing element into a neutralizing solution

wherein the neutralizing solution includes one or more neutralizing agents selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid, citric acid and hydrochloric acid, and

wherein the locally bleached areas have single transmittance of 90% or greater in a wavelength band of 400 nm to 800 nm.

2. The method for manufacturing a polarizing element including locally bleached areas of claim 1, wherein the bleaching solution is a strong basic solution having a pH of 11 to 14.

3. The method for manufacturing a polarizing element including locally bleached areas of claim 1, wherein the bleaching solution includes one or more types of bleaching agents selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide (NaOH), sodium hydrosulfide (NaSH), sodium azide (NaN₃), potassium hydroxide (KOH), potassium hydrosulfide (KSH) and potassium thiosulfate (KS₂O₃).

4. The method for manufacturing a polarizing element including locally bleached areas of claim 3, wherein a concentration of the bleaching agent in the bleaching solution is from 1% by weight to 30% by weight.

5. The method for manufacturing a polarizing element including locally bleached areas of claim 1, wherein the bleaching solution has viscosity of 1 cps to 2000 cps.

6. The method for manufacturing a polarizing element including locally bleached areas of claim 1, wherein the drying in the washing and drying step is carried out by passing the polarizing element through a drying oven.

7. The method for manufacturing a polarizing element including locally bleached areas of claim 1, further comprising forming an optical layer on at least one surface of the polarizing element after the appearance correcting step.

8. The method for manufacturing a polarizing element including locally bleached areas of claim 7, wherein the optical layer is a protective film, a retardation film, a brightness enhancement film, a hard coating layer, an anti-reflection layer, a gluing layer, an adhesive layer or a combination thereof.

9. A method for manufacturing a roll of a polarizing element including locally bleached areas comprising winding the polarizing element including locally bleached areas formed according to the manufacturing method of claim 1.

10. A method for manufacturing a single sheet-type polarizing element comprising:

providing a polarizing element from the roll of the polarizing element including locally bleached areas manufactured according to the manufacturing method of claim 9; and

cutting the polarizing element into a single sheet form.

11. The method for manufacturing a single sheet-type polarizing element of claim 10, wherein the cutting step is carried out using a laser.

12. The method for manufacturing a single sheet-type polarizing element of claim 11, wherein the cutting step includes recognizing a location of a bleached area of the polarizing element;

setting a cutting location based on the location of the bleached area; and

carrying out the cutting at the cutting location using laser.