Method of preparing an anisotropic polymer film on a substrate with a structured surface
First Claim
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1. A security marking or device comprising an anisotropic polymer film obtainable by a process comprising:
- coating a polymerizable liquid crystalline or mesogenic material onto a substrate with a structured surface,aligning the polymerizable liquid crystalline or mesogenic material,polymerizing the polymerizable liquid crystalline or mesogenic material to form a polymer film,optionally removing the polymerized film from the substrate, andapplying a reflective layer onto the upper surface of the liquid crystalline or mesogenic material polymer film,wherein the structured substrate surface comprises at least two areas of fine grooves or grating by which the molecules of said polymerizable liquid crystal or mesogenic material are homogeneously aligned with their molecular long axes substantially parallel to the substrate surface and substantially parallel to the direction of said fine grooves or grating, and said at least two areas have different direction of the fine grooves or grating, andwherein the liquid crystalline or mesogenic material polymer film has a pattern of at least two areas having different alignments.
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Abstract
An anisotropic polymer film with improved alignments prepared by coating onto a substrate with a structured surface. The polymer films thereby obtained are useful in optical and electrooptical devices for decorative and security applications.
44 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A security marking or device comprising an anisotropic polymer film obtainable by a process comprising:
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coating a polymerizable liquid crystalline or mesogenic material onto a substrate with a structured surface, aligning the polymerizable liquid crystalline or mesogenic material, polymerizing the polymerizable liquid crystalline or mesogenic material to form a polymer film, optionally removing the polymerized film from the substrate, and applying a reflective layer onto the upper surface of the liquid crystalline or mesogenic material polymer film, wherein the structured substrate surface comprises at least two areas of fine grooves or grating by which the molecules of said polymerizable liquid crystal or mesogenic material are homogeneously aligned with their molecular long axes substantially parallel to the substrate surface and substantially parallel to the direction of said fine grooves or grating, and said at least two areas have different direction of the fine grooves or grating, and wherein the liquid crystalline or mesogenic material polymer film has a pattern of at least two areas having different alignments. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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10. An anisotropic polymer film with planar alignment obtained by a process comprising:
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coating a polymerizable liquid crystalline or mesogenic material onto a substrate with a structured surface, aligning the polymerizable liquid crystalline or mesogenic material, polymerizing the polymerizable liquid crystalline or mesogenic material to form a polymer film, optionally removing the polymerized film from the substrate, and applying a reflective layer is onto the upper surface of the liquid crystalline or mesogenic material polymer film, wherein the structured substrate surface comprises at least two areas of fine grooves or grating, by which the molecules of said polymerizable liquid crystal or mesogenic material are homogeneously aligned with their molecular long axes substantially parallel to the substrate surface and substantially parallel to the direction of said fine grooves or grating, and said at least two areas have different direction of the fine grooves or grating, and wherein the liquid crystalline or mesogenic material polymer film has a pattern of at least two areas having different alignments.
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12. A security marking or device comprising an anisotropic polymer film obtainable by a process comprising:
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applying a liquid crystalline or mesogenic material in a continuous coating process onto a conveying substrate with a structured surface, whereby the molecular long axes of the molecules of the liquid crystalline or mesogenic material are aligned to be substantially parallel to the plane of the substrate and at any desired angle to the substrate moving direction, polymerizing the polymerizable liquid crystalline or mesogenic material to form a polymer film, optionally removing the polymerized film from the substrate, and applying a reflective layer is onto the upper surface of the liquid crystalline or mesogenic material polymer film, wherein the structured substrate surface comprises at least two areas of fine grooves or grating, by which the molecules of said polymerizable liquid crystal or inesogenic material are homogeneously aligned with their molecular long axes substantially parallel to the substrate surface and substantially parallel to the direction of said fine grooves or grating, and said at least two areas have different direction of fine grooves or grating, and wherein the liquid crystalline or mesogenic material polymer film has a pattern of at least two areas having different alignments. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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29. An anisotropic polymer film obtainable by a process comprising:
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a polymerized film of polymerizable liquid crystalline or mesogenic material, and a reflective layer on the upper surface of the polymerized film, wherein the molecules of the film of polymerizable liquid crystal material or mesogenic material are homogeneously aligned with their molecular long axes substantially planar and the liquid crystalline or mesogenic material polymer film has a pattern of at least two areas having different alignments.
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Specification