SURFACE MODIFICATION METHOD FOR POLARIZER, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING POLARIZER, POLARIZER, POLARIZING PLATE, IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS, LIQUID CRYSTAL PANEL, AND LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY

• US 20080094544A1
• Filed: 08/14/2007
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
• Inventors: YAEGASHI, Masahiro, UMEMOTO, Seiji
• Application Number:
  US11/838,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20080094544A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/96
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/12 by surface treatment, e.g. by irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/30 Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133528 Polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/50 Protective arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/28 Adhesive materials or arrangements

Abstract

A surface modification method for a polarizer, a method of manufacturing a polarizer, a polarizer, a polarizing plate, an image display apparatus, and a liquid crystal panel, and a liquid crystal display. The surface modification method according to the present invention includes the step of: irradiating at least one surface of the polarizer with vacuum ultraviolet light.

Claims

1. A method of modifying a surface of a polarizer, the method comprising the step of:

irradiating at least one surface of the polarizer with vacuum ultraviolet light.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum ultraviolet light has a wavelength of 200 nm or less.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the polarizer contains polyvinyl alcohol and iodine, and the vacuum ultraviolet light has a wavelength of 180 nm or less.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein an irradiation energy of the vacuum ultraviolet light is in a range from 10 to 2000 mJ/cm².

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation with the vacuum ultraviolet light is performed in an argon atmosphere, in a nitrogen atmosphere, or in the air.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a light source of the vacuum ultraviolet light is at least one selected from the group consisting of an Xe₂ excimer laser, an F₂ excimer laser, a Kr₂ excimer laser, an Ar₂ excimer laser, a harmonic laser using a nonlinear optical device, an Xe₂ excimer lamp, a Kr₂ excimer lamp, and an Ar₂ excimer lamp.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the polarizer to be irradiated with the vacuum ultraviolet light has a moisture content of 25 mass % or less.

8. A method of manufacturing a polarizer, the method comprising the step of:

performing a surface modification treatment,

wherein the surface modification treatment step is carried out by the method according to claim 1.

9. A polarizer that has been subjected to a surface modification treatment, which is manufactured by the method according to claim 8.

10. The polarizer according to claim 9, which has a water contact angle of 30°

or less, a surface free energy of at least 65 mJ/cm², and a polarization degree of at least 99.95%.

11. A polarizing plate comprising a polarizer and a protective layer, wherein the polarizer is the polarizer according to claim 9.

12. The polarizing plate according to claim 11, further comprising a retardation layer.

13. An image display apparatus comprising a polarizing plate, wherein the polarizing plate is the polarizing plate according to claim 11.

14. A liquid crystal panel comprising a liquid crystal cell and a polarizing plate, the polarizing plate being arranged on at least one side of the liquid crystal cell, wherein the polarizing plate is the polarizing plate according to claim 11.

15. A liquid crystal display comprising a polarizing plate, wherein the polarizing plate is the polarizing plate according to claim 11.

16. A liquid crystal display comprising a liquid crystal panel, wherein the liquid crystal panel is the liquid crystal panel according to claim 14.