Patent Application
20190137675
The present invention relates to a laminated resin film including a first resin film and a second resin film laminated on/over the first resin film to interpose an adhesive layer therebetween. This laminated resin film is usable singly or in a form of a laminated optical film to form an image display device such as a liquid crystal display device (LCD), an organic EL display device, a CRT or a PDP.
In watches, portable telephones, PDAs, notebook PCs, monitors for personal computers, DVD players, TVs and others, liquid crystal display devices have been rapidly developing in the market. A liquid crystal display device is a device making the state of polarized light visible by switching of a liquid crystal. In light of the display principle thereof, a polarizer is used. In particular, TVs and other articles have been increasingly required to be higher in brightness and contrast, and wider in viewing angle. Their polarizing film has also beers increasingly required to be higher in transmittance, polarizations degree, color reproducibility, and others.
As a polarizer, an iodine-based polarizer has been most popularly and widely used, which has a structure obtained by adsorbing iodine onto, for example, a polyvinyl alcohol (hereinafter also referred to merely as a “PVA”), and then stretching the resultant. A generally used polarizing film is a polarizing film in which transparent protective films are bonded, respectively, onto both surfaces of a polarizer through the so-called water-based adhesive, in which a polyvinyl alcohol-based material is dissolved in water (Patent Document 1 listed below). For the transparent protective films, for example, triacetylcellulose is used, which has a high moisture permeability. In the case of the use of the water-based adhesive (the so-called wet lamination), a drying step is required after the transparent, protective films are bonded to the polarizer.
Instead of the water-based adhesive, an active-energy-ray-curable adhesive is suggested. When the active-energy-ray-curable adhesive is used to produce polarizing films, no drying step is required. Thus, the polarizing films can be improved in producibility. For example, the inventors have suggested a radical-polymerizing type active-energy-ray-curable adhesive, using an substituted amide-based monomer as a curable component (Patent Document 2 listed below).
Patent Document 1: JP-A-2001-296427
Patent Document 2: JP-A-2012-052000
An adhesive layer formed by using the active-energy-ray-curable adhesive described in Patent Document 2 can sufficiently pass a water resistance test of immersing the adhesive layer into, for example, hot water of 60° C. temperature for 6 hours, and subsequently evaluating whether or not the layer undergoes discoloration or exfoliation. However, in recent years, an adhesive for polarizing films has been required to be further improved in water resistance to such a degree that the resultant adhesive layer can pass a severer water resistance test, for example, in which at the time of immersing this layer in water (or saturating the layer with water) and then peeling off ends of the layer with nails, whether or not the layer undergoes exfoliation is evaluated. In the actual circumstances, therefore, about the active-energy-ray-curable adhesive described in Patent Document 2 and other adhesives for polarizing films that have been reported up to the present time, there remains a room for a further improvement in water resistance.
In the light of the above-mentioned actual situation, the present invention has been developed. An object thereof is to provide a laminated resin film that has a first resin film and a second resin film good in adhesion to an adhesive layer, and further that can sustain adhering strength even in a dew condensation environment or under a severe condition such that the laminated resin film is immersed in water.
An object of the present invention is, particularly, to provide a polarizing film and a laminated optical film that are each a film in which when a first resin film is a polarizer, and a second resin film is a transparent film such as a transparent protective film or a retardation film, the polarizer and the transparent film are good in adhesion to an adhesive layer, and that can each sustain adhering strength even in a dew condensation environment or under a severe condition such that the film is immersed in water.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a laminated optical film using a laminated resin film including a polarizing film; and an image display device using a laminated resin film or optical film including a polarizing film.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the inventors have repeatedly made eager investigations to find out that the objects can be attained by adept the following structure: a structure in which an adhesion-improving layer including a specified boron compound is formed on/over at least one adhesion surface of a first resin film and a second resin film, and these first and second resin films are laminated to each other to interpose an adhesive layer therebetween. In this way, the present invention has been solved.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a laminated resin film including a first resin film, and a second resin film laminated on/over at least one surface of the first resin film to interpose an adhesive layer between the surface and the second resin film, and in this laminated resin film, the adhesion surface of at least one of the first resin film and the second resin film includes a compound represented by the following general formula (1):
in which X is a functional group containing a reactive group, and R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, aryl group or heterocyclic group that may have a substituent; and the compound represented by the general formula (1) is interposed at either one or both of a position between the first resin film and the adhesive layer, and a position between the second resin film and the adhesive layer.
It is preferred in the laminated resin film that the compound represented by the general formula (1) is a compound represented by the following general formula (1′):
in which Y is an organic group, and X, R1 and R2 are the same as described above.
It is preferred in the laminated resin film that the first resin film is a polarizer, and the second resin film is a transparent film.
It is preferred in the laminated resin film that the compound represented by the general formula (1) is interposed at both of the position between the first resin film and the adhesive layer, and the position between the second resin film and the adhesive layer.
It is preferred in the laminated resin film that the reactive group that the compound represented by the general formula (1) has is at least one reactive group selected from the group consisting of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl, vinyl, vinyl ether, epoxy, oxetane, amino, aldehyde, mercapto, and halogen groups.
The present invention also relates to a method for producing a laminated resin film including a first resin film, and a second resin film laminated on/over at least one surface of the first resin film to interpose an adhesive layer between the surface and the second resin film; the method including an adhesion improvement-treating step of causing a compound represented by the following general formula (1):
in which X is a functional group containing a reactive group, and R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, aryl group or heterocyclic group that may have a substituent to adhere to the adhesion surface of at least one of the first resin film and the second resin film; an applying step of applying a curable resin composition to the adhesion surface of at least one of the first resin film and the second resin film; a bonding step of causing the first resin film and the second resin film to each other; and an adhering step of radiating an active energy ray to the resultant laminate from a first resin film side of the laminate, or a second resin film side of the laminate to cure the curable resin composition to yield the adhesive layer, and adhering the first resin film and the second resin film to adhere to each other through the yielded adhesive layer.
It is preferred in the method for producing the laminated resin film that the compound represented by the general formula (1) is a compound represented by the following general formula (1′):
in which Y is an organic group, and X, R1 and R2 are the same as described above.
The present invention also relates to a laminated optical film, in which at least one laminated resin film as defined in any one of the paragraphs concerned is laminated; or an image display device, using a laminated resin film as defined in any one of the paragraphs concerned, or a laminated optical film as defined herein.
Furthermore, the present invention relates to an adhesion improvement-treated resin film, including: a resin film having surfaces each including at least a reactive functional group; and a compound included on/over at least one of the surfaces of the resin film, and represented by the following general formula (1):
in which X is a functional group containing a reactive group, and R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, aryl group or heterocyclic group that may have a substituent.
Furthermore, the present invention relates to an adhesion-improving composition including a compound represented by the following general formula (1):
in which X is a functional group containing a reactive group, and R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, aryl group or heterocyclic group that may have a substituent.
In the laminated resin film according to the present invention, the first resin film and the second resin film are good in adhesion to the adhesive layer, and further this laminated resin film can sustain adhering strength even in a dew condensation environment or under a severe condition such that the laminated resin film is immersed in water. In a case where in the present invention, particularly, the first resin film is a polarizer and the second resin film is a transparent film such as a transparent protective film or a retardation film, it is possible to provide a polarizing film and a laminated optical film that are each a film in which the polarizer and the transparent film are good in adhesion to the adhesive layer, and that can each sustain adhering strength even in a dew condensation environment or under a severe condition such that the laminated resin film is immersed in water. Reasons why such advantageous effects are gained are unclear. However, in the case of a polarizing film in which the first resin film and the second resin film are, for example, a polarizer and a transparent protective film, respectively, the reasons would be as follows:
In the case of exposing, to a dew condensation environment, a polarizing film in which a transparent protective film is laminated on/over at least one surface of a polarizer to interpose an adhesive layer therebetween, a mechanism that, adhesion peeling is generated between the polarizer and the transparent protective film, and the adhesive layer can be presumed as follows: Water initially diffuses into the adhesive layer, and then the water diffuses to the polarizer interfacial side or the transparent protective film side of this adhesive layer. In any conventional polarizing film, hydrogen bonding and/or ion bonding contribute(s) largely to adhering strength between its polarizer and transparent protective film, and its adhesive layer; however, the water that has diffused to the polarizer interfacial side or the transparent protective film interfacial side, causes dissociation of the hydrogen bonding and the ion bonding in the interface. As a result, the adhering strength between the polarizer and transparent, protective film, and the adhesive layer is lowered. This lowering may cause interlayer exfoliation between the polarizer and transparent protective film, and the adhesive layer in a dew condensation environment.
In the meantime, in the present invention, the polarizing film includes, in the adhesion surface of at least, one of the polarizer and the transparent, protective film, the compound having a boric acid group and/or a borate group (the compound of the general formula (1). The boric acid group and/or the borate group is/are easily combined with hydroxyl groups and others which the polarizer, particularly, of a polyvinyl alcohol type and the transparent protective film have, so as to form covalent bonding. Moreover, the compound represented by the general formula (1) further has X containing a reactive group, and reacts through the reactive group, which X contains, with a curable component included in the adhesive layer. In other words, the boric acid group and/or the borate group, which the compound represented by the general formula (1) has, is/are strongly bonded to the hydroxyl groups and the others, which the polarizer and transparent protective film have, through covalent bonding. Additionally, the reactive group which the compound represented by the general formula (1) has is strongly bonded through covalent bonding to the adhesion surface of the adhesive layer. In this way, even when water is present in the interfaces between the polarizer and transparent protective film, and the adhesive layer, these interact strongly with each other not only through the hydrogen bonding and/or ion bonding but also through the covalent bonding, so that the polarizer and transparent protective film, and the adhesive layer are dramatically improved in adhesion water-resistance therebetween.
In a case where in the present invention the adhesion surface of the polarizer has the compound represented by the general formula (1), the adhering strength between the polarizer and the adhesive layer is improved so that the polarizing film is favorably improved, particularly, in adhesion water-resistance. A reason therefor would be as follows: it has been pointed out in the prior art that the adhering strength between a polarizer and an adhesive layer is weak; however, when an adhesion surface of a polarizer has the compound represented by the general formula (1), an improvement is especially made in adhering strength between the polarizer and the adhesive layer by aid of the compound of the general formula (1).
When the compound represented by the general formula (1) contains a reactive group through its phenylene or alkylene group bonded to its boric acid atom, adhesion water-resistance is more dramatically improved between the polarizer and the transparent protective film each having, on the surface thereof, this reactive group, and the adhesive layer. A reason therefor can be presumed as follows: As described above, in the compound represented by the general formula (1), its boric acid group and/or borate group react (s) with hydroxyl groups and others which the polyvinyl alcohol type polarizer and the transparent protective film each have, so that these groups are strongly bonded to each other. Additionally, the reactive group which the compound represented by the general formula (1) has is strongly bonded through covalent bonding to the reactive group naked to the adhesion surface of the adhesive layer. In this way, these interact strongly with each other through not only the hydrogen bonding and/or ion bonding but also the covalent bonding even when water is present at the interface between the polarizer or the transparent protective film, and the adhesive layer. Thus, adhesion water-resistance is dramatically improved between the polarizer or the transparent protective film, and the adhesive layer. However, unless the reactive group which the compound represented by the general formula (1) has reacts with any curable component included in the adhesive layer, in the end a sufficient improvement is not made in adhesion water-resistance between the polarizer and the adhesive layer, and the adhesive layer. In this case, the boric acid group and/or borate group, which the compound represented by the general formula (1) has, and further the polarizer and others show hydrophilicity; thus, affinity is not very high between the compound represented by the general formula (1) and the curable component included in the adhesive layer. However, when the compound represented by the general formula (1) contains a reactive group to interpose, therebetween, its phenylene or alkylene group bonded to a boron atom (the case of the general formula (1)), the phenylene or alkylene group shows affinity with the curable component, so that the reactive group which the compound represented by the general formula (1) has, this reactive group having reacted with the polarizer and others, reacts very effectively with the curable component included in the adhesive layer. Consequently, adhesion water-resistance is in particular dramatically improved between the polarizer and the adhesive layer.
As the compound having a boric acid group and/or a borate group and having a reactive group, there is a compound containing a reactive group to interpose, therebetween, an oxygen atom bonded to a boron atom (hereinafter referred to also as a “B—O bond containing compound”). However, this compound is largely different in adhesion water-resistance improvement-degree from the compound containing a reactive group to interpose, therebetween, its phenylene or alkylene group bonded to a boron atom (hereinafter referred to also as a “B—C bond containing compound”) when the surface of at least one of the polarizer and the transparent protective film has each of these compounds. Reasons therefor would the following (i) and (ii): (i) for example, in a dew condensation environment, the boron-oxygen bond in the B—O bond containing compound is easily hydrolyzed so that adhesion water-resistance is deteriorated between the polarizer and transparent protective film, and the adhesive layer. In the meantime, (ii) the boron-carbon bond in the B—C bond containing compound is excellent in hydrolysis resistance even in a dew condensation environment. As a result, adhesion water-resistance is very dramatically improved between the polarizer and the transparent protective film, and the adhesive layer.
The laminated resin film according to the present invention includes a first resin film, and a second resin film laminated on/over at least one surface of the first resin film to interpose an adhesive layer between the surface and the second resin film. In this laminated resin film, the adhesion surface of at least one of the first resin film and the second resin film includes a compound represented by the following general formula (1):
wherein X is a functional group containing a reactive group, and R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, aryl group or heterocyclic group that may have a substituent. Furthermore, the compound represented by the general formula (1) is interposed at either one or both of a position between the first resin film and the adhesive layer, and a position between the second resin film and the adhesive layer. In the laminated resin film, the compound represented by the general formula (1) may be interposed in an reacted state or in a state that its individual functional groups have reacted between the first resin film and the adhesive layer, and/or between the second resin film and the adhesive layer. The wording “the adhesion surface of at least one of the first resin film and the second resin film includes a compound represented by the general formula (1)” means that, for example, at least one molecule of the compound represented by the general formula (1) is present on the adhesion surface described herein. In order to make a sufficient improvement in the adhesion water-resistance between the first resin film and the second resin film, and the adhesive layer, it is preferred to use an adhesion-improving composition including the compound represented by the general formula (1) to form an adhesion-improving layer on at least one portion of the adhesion surface described just above. It is more preferred to form the adhesion-improving layer on the entire surface of the adhesion surface.
In embodiments described below, as the laminated resin film, an example is given in which the first resin film is a polarizer, and the second resin film is a transparent protective film, and further an adhesion-improving layer is formed on at least one portion of the above-mentioned adhesion surface, that is,
a polarizing film in which a transparent protective film is laminated on at least one surface of a polarizer to interpose an adhesive layer therebetween, and the adhesion surface of at least one of the polarizer and the transparent protective film includes thereon an adhesion-improving layer formed, using an adhesion-improving composition including a compound represented by the general formula (1) wherein X is a functional group containing a reactive group, and R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, or an aliphatic hydrocarbons group, aryl group or heterocyclic group that may have a substituent. The aliphatic hydrocarbon group is, for example, a linear or branched alkyl group which has 1 to 20 carbon atoms and may have a substituent, a cyclic alkyl group which has 3 to 20 carbon atoms and may have a substituent, or an alkenyl group which has 2 to 20 carbon atoms. The aryl group is, for example, a phenyl group which has 6 to 20 carbon atoms and may have a substituent, or a naphthyl group which has 10 to 20 carbon atoms and may have a substituent. The heterocyclic group is, for example, a 5-membered or 6-membered group which contains at least one heteroatom, and may have a substituent. These may be linked to each other to form a ring. In the general formula (1), R1 and R4 are each preferably a hydrogen atom, or a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, most preferably a hydrogen atom.
The group X, which the compound represented by the general formula (1) has, is a functional group including a reactive group, and is a functional group that can react with a curable component contained in the adhesive layer. Examples of the reactive group, which X includes, include hydroxyl, amino, aldehyde, carboxyl, vinyl, (meth)acryl, styryl, (meth)acrylamide, vinyl ether, epoxy, oxetane, α,β-unsaturated carbonyl, mercapto, and halogen groups. When the curable resin composition from which the adhesive layer is made is active-energy-ray curable, the reactive group, which X includes, is preferably at least one reactive group selected from the group consisting of vinyl, (meth)acryl, styryl, (meth)acrylamide, vinyl ether, epoxy, oxetane, and mercapto groups. When the curable resin composition, from which the adhesive layer is made, is in particular radical polymerizable, the reactive group, which X includes, is preferably at least one reactive group selected from the group consisting of (meth)acryl, styryl, and (meth)acrylamide groups. It is more preferred that the compound represented by the general formula (1) has a (meth)acrylamide group since the compound is high in reactivity to be increased in copolymerization rate in the active-energy-ray-curable adhesive composition. This case is preferred also since the (meth)acrylamide group is high in polarity so that the resultant adhesive is excellent in adhesion to produce the advantageous effects of the present invention effectively. When the curable resin composition, from which the adhesive layer is made, is cationic polymerizable, the reactive group, which X includes, has preferably at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, amino, aldehyde, carboxyl, vinyl ether, epoxy, oxetane, and mercapto groups. When the reactive group has, in particular, an epoxy group, close adhesion between the resultant adhesive layer and an adherend is favorably excellent. When the reactive group has a vinyl ether group, the curable resin composition is favorably excellent in curability.
A preferred and specific, example of the compound represented by the general formula (I) is a compound represented by the following general formula (1′):
wherein Y is an organic group, and X, R1 and R2 are the same as described above. More preferred examples thereof include the following compounds (1a) to (1d):
In the present invention, the compound represented by the general formula (1) may be a compound in which a reactive group is bonded directly to a boron atom. However, as illustrated as the above-mentioned specific examples, it is preferred that the compound represented by the general formula (1) is a compound in which a reactive group and a boron atom are bonded to each other to interpose, therebetween, an organic group, that is, a compound represented by the general formula (1′). When the compound represented by the general formula (I) is, for example, a compound in which an organic group is bonded to a reactive group to interpose, therebetween, an oxygen atom bonded to a boron atom, the polarizing film tends to be deteriorated in adhesion water-resistance. In the meantime, in a case where the compound represented by the general formula (1) is not a compound having a boron-oxygen bond, but a compound in which a boron atom is bonded to an organic group so that while this compound has a boron-carbon bond, the compound contains a reactive group (in the case of the general formula (1)), the polarizing film is favorably improved in adhesion water-resistance. The organic group specifically denotes an organic group that has 1 to 20 carbon atoms and may have a substituent. More specific examples thereof include any linear or branched alkylene group that has 1 to 20 carbon atoms and may have a substituent, any cyclic alkylene group that has 3 to 20 carbon atoms and may have a substituent, any phenylene group that has 6 to 20 carbon atoms and may have a substituent, and any naphthylene group that has 10 to 20 carbon atoms and may have a substituent.
Examples of the compound represented by the general formula (1) include, besides the compounds given above as the examples thereof, an ester made from hydroxyethylacrylamide and boric acid, an ester made from methylolacrylamide and boric acid, an ester made from hydroxyethyl, acrylate and boric acid, an ester made from hydroxybutyl acrylate and boric acid, and any other ester made from a (meth)acrylate and boric acid.
The method for using an adhesion-improving composition including a compound represented by the general formula (1) to form an adhesion-improving layer onto an adhesion surface of at least one of a polarizer and a transparent protective film is, for example, a method of producing the adhesion-improving composition (A) including the compound represented by the general formula (1), and then forming this composition into a layer on the adhesion surface of at least one of the polarizer and the transparent protective film by, for example, applying. Substances that are other than the compound represented by the general formula (1) and may be included in the adhesion-improving composition (A) are, for example, a solvent and additives.
When the adhesion-improving composition (A) includes a solvent, it is allowable to apply the composition (A) onto the adhesion surface of at least one of the polarizer and the transparent protective film, and optionally subject the resultant to a drying step or a curing treatment (for example, thermal treatment).
The solvent, which may be included in the adhesion-improving composition (A), is preferably a solvent capable of stabilizing a compound represented by the general formula (1) to dissolve or disperse the compound. The solvent may be an organic solvent, water, or a mixed solvent of these solvents. The solvent is selected from, for example, the following: ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, 2-hydroxyethyl acetate, and other esters; methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, cyclohexanone, methyl isobutyl ketone, diethyl ketone, methyl-n-propyl ketone, acetylacetone, and other ketones; tetrahydrofuran (THF), dioxane, and other cyclic ethers; n-hexane, cyclohexane, and other aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbons; toluene, xylene, and other aromatic hydrocarbons; methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, cyclohexanol, and other aliphatic or alicyclic alcohols; ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, and other glycol ethers; and diethylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate, and other glycol ether acetates.
Examples of the additive, which may be included in the adhesion-improving composition (A), include a binder resin, a surfactant, a plasticizer, a tackifier, a low molecular weight polymer, a polymerizable monomer, a surface lubricant, a leveling agent, an antioxidant, a corrosion inhibitor, a light stabilizer, an ultraviolet absorber, a polymerization inhibitor, a silane coupling agent, a titanium coupling agent, an inorganic or organic filler, a metal powder, and a particulate or foil material. The binder resin is sufficient to be transparent, and examples thereof include acrylic resins, styrene-based resins, polyvinyl alcohol-based resins, urethane resins, polyester resins, polypropylene resins, polyethylene resins, epoxy resins, polycarbonate resins, and other polymers. When the adhesion-improving composition (A) includes a binder resin, the content thereof is preferably 1 part or more, preferably 5 parts or more by weight for 100 parts by weight of the compound represented by the general formula (1). In the meantime, the content is preferably 300 parts or less, more preferably 200 parts or less, even more preferably 150 parts or less, in particular preferably 100 parts or less by weight therefor. When the adhesion-improving composition (A) includes a levelling agent, the content thereof is 1 part or more, preferably 5 parts by weight or more for 100 parts by weight of the compound represented by the general formula (1). In the meantime, the content is preferably 35 parts or less, more preferably 20 parts or less, even more preferably 10 parts or less by weight therefor. When adhesion-improving composition (A) includes any other additive, the content thereof is preferably 1 part or more for 100 parts by weight of the compound represented by the general formula (1). In the meantime, the content is preferably 30 parts or less therefor.
When the adhesion-improving composition (A) includes a polymerization initiator, the compound represented by the general formula (1) may react in the adhesion-improving layer before the adhesive layer is laminated thereonto. Thus, the polarizing film may not sufficiently gain an adhesion water-resistance improving effect, which is a primary purpose. Accordingly, the content of the polymerization initiator in the adhesion-improving layer is preferably less than 2%, preferably less than 0.5% by weight. The composition in particular preferably contains no polymerization initiator.
If the content of the compound represented by the general formula (1) in the adhesion-improving layer is too small, the proportion of the compound represented by the general formula (1) that is present in the adhesion-improving layer surface is lowered so that the adhesion-improving effect may fall. Thus, the content of the compound represented by the general formula (1) in the adhesion-improving layer is preferably 1% or more, more preferably 20% or more, even more preferably 40% or more by weight.
About the polarizing film according to the present invention, the adhesion-improving layer formed on the adhesion surface of at least one of the polarizer and the transparent protective, film may include, besides the compound represented by the general formula (1), a compound having a structural formula having an M—O bond wherein M is silicon, titanium, aluminum or zirconium, and O represents an oxygen atom. In the present invention, it is particularly preferred that the compound having the M—O bond is at least one organometallic compound selected from the group consisting of organic silicon compounds, metal alkoxides and metal chelates.
As any one of the organic silicon compounds, a compound having a Si—O bond is usable without any especial limitation. A specific example thereof is an active-energy-ray-curable organic silicon compound or an organic silicon compound having no active-energy-ray curability. The organic group which the organic silicon compound has in particular preferably has 3 or more carbon atoms. Examples of the active-energy-ray-curable compound include vinyltrichlorosilane, vinyltrimethoxysilane, vinyltriethoxysilane, 2-(3,4 epoxycyclohexyl) ethyltrimethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropylmethyldiethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyltriethoxysilane, p-styryltrimethoxysilane, 3-methacryloxypropylmethyldimethoxysilane, 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-methacryloxypropylmethyldiethoxysilane, 3-methacryloxypropyltriethoxysilane, and 3-acryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane.
Preferred are 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, and 3-acryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane.
A specific example of the compound having no active-energy-ray curability is preferably a compound having an amino group. Specific examples of the compound having an amino group include γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, γ-aminopropyltriisopropoxysilane, γ-aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, γ-aminopropylmethyldiethoxysilane, γ-(2-aminoethyl)aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, γ-(2-aminoethyl)aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, γ-(2-aminoethyl)aminopropyltriethoxysilane, γ-(2-aminoethyl)aminopropylmethyldiethoxysilane, γ-(2-aminoethyl)aminopropyltriisopropoxysilane, γ-(2-(2-aminoethyl)aminoethyl)aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, γ-(6-aminohexyl)aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-(N-ethylamino)-2-methylpropyltrimethoxysilane, γ-ureidopropyltrimethoxysilane, γ-ureidopropyltriethoxysilane, N-phenyl-γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, N-benzyl-γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, N-vinylbenzyl-γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, N-cyclohexylaminomethyltriethoxysilane, N-cyclohexylaminomethyldiethoxymethylsilane, N-phenylaminomethyltrimethoxysilane, (2-aminoethyl)aminomethyltrimethoxysilane, N,N′-bis[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylenediamine, and other amino-group-containing silanes; and N-(1,3-dimethylbutylidene)-3-(triethoxysilyl)-1-propaneamine, and other ketimines type silanes.
Such compounds each having an amino group may be used singly or in any combination of two or more thereof. Out of the compounds, the following are preferred in order that the adhesive layer can ensure a good adhesion:
γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane,
γ-(2-aminoethyl)aminopropyltrimethoxysilane,
γ-(2-aminoethyl)aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane,
γ-(2-aminoethyl)aminopropyltriethoxysilane,
γ-(2-aminoethyl)aminopropylmethyldiethoxysilane, and
N-(1,3-dimethylbutylidene)-3-(triethoxysilyl)-1-propanamine.
Specific examples of the compound having no active-energy-ray curability include, besides the above-mentioned examples, 3-ureidapropyltriethoxysilane, 3-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-mercaptopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane, bis(triethoxysilylpropyl)tetrasulfide, 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane, and imidazole silane.
The metal alkoxides are each a compound in which at least one alkoxy group, which is an organic group, is bonded to a metal. The metal chelates are each a compound in which an organic group is bonded or coordinated through an oxygen atom to a metal. Their metal is preferably titanium, aluminum or zirconium. Out of these metals, aluminum and zirconium are speedier in reactivity than titanium, and may make the pot life of the adhesion-improving composition (A) for forming the adhesion-improving layer shorter and make the adhesion water-resistance improving effect smaller. Thus, the metal of the organometallic compounds is more preferably titanium from the viewpoint of an improvement of the adhesion-improving layer-in adhesion water-resistance.
When the adhesion-improving composition (A) for forming the adhesion-improving layer includes, as the organometallic compound, a metal alkoxide, it is preferred to use a metal alkoxide having an organic group having 3 or more carbon atoms. The organic group more preferably contains 6 or more carbon atoms. If the number of the carbon atoms therein is 2 or less, the composition: (A) may become short in pot life and further the adhesion water-resistance improving effect may be lowered. The organic group having 6 or more carbon atoms is, for example, an octoxy group. This group is preferably usable. Preferred examples of the metal alkoxide include tetraisopropyl titanate, tetra-n-butyl titanate, a butyl titanate dimer, tetraoctyl titanate, tert-amyl titanate, tetra-tert-butyl titanate, tetrastearyl titanate, zirconium tetraisopropoxide, zirconium tetra-n-butoxide, zirconium tetraoctoxide, zirconium tetra-tert-butoxide, zirconium tetrapropoxide, aluminum sec-butylate, aluminum ethylate, aluminum isopropylate, aluminum butylate, aluminum diisopropylate mono-sec-butyrate, and mono-sec-butoxyaluminum diisopropylate. Out of these examples, tetra-octyl titanate is preferred.
When the composition (A) for forming the adhesion-improving layer includes, as the organometallic compound, a metal chelate, it is preferred that the composition includes a metal chelate having an organic group having 3 or more carbon atoms. If the number of the carbon atoms therein is 2 or less, the adhesion-improving composition (A) may become short in pot life and further the adhesion water-resistance improving effect may be lowered. The organic group having 3 or more carbon atoms is, for example, an acetylacetonate, ethylacetoacetate, isostearate, or octyleneglycolate group. Out of these examples, the organic group is preferably an acetylacetonate or ethylacetoacetate from the viewpoint of an improvement of the adhesion-improving layer in adhesion water-resistance. Preferred examples of the metal chelate include titanium acetylacetonate, titanium octyleneglycolate, titanium tetraacetylacetonate, titanium ethylacetoacetate, polyhydroxytitanium stearate, dipropoxy-bis(acetylacetonato)titanium, dibutoxytitanium-bis(octyleneglycolate), dipropoxytitanium-bis(ethylacetoacetate), titanium lactate, titanium diethanolaminate, titanium triethanolaminate, dipropoxytitanium-bis(lactate), dipropoxytitanium-bis(triethanolaminate), di-n-butoxytitanium-bis(triethanolaminate), tri-n-butoxytitanium monostearate, diisopropoxy-bis(ethylacetoacetate) titanium, diisopropoxy-bis(acetylacetate) titanium, diisopropoxy-bis(acetylacetone) titanium, titanium phosphate compounds, a titanium lactate ammonium salt, titanium-1,3-propanedioxybis(ethylacetoacetate), a titanium dodecylbenzenesulfonate compound, titanium aminoethylaminoethanolate, zirconium tetraacetylacetonate, zirconium monoacetylacetonate, zirconium bisacetylacetonate, zirconium acetylacetonate bisethylacetoacetate, zirconium acetate, tri-n-butoxyethylacetoacetate zirconium, di-n-butoxybis(ethylacetoacetate) zirconium, n-butoxytris(ethylacetoacetate) zirconium, tetrakis(n-propylacetoacetate) zirconium, tetrakis(acetylacetoacetate) zirconium, tetrakis(ethylacetoacetate) zirconium, aluminum ethylacetoacetate, aluminum acetcylacetonate, aluminum acetylacetonatebisethylacetoacetate, diisopropoxyethylacetoacetate aluminum, diisopropoxyacetylacetonate aluminum, isopropoxybis(ethylacetoacetate) aluminum, isopropoxybis(acetylacetonate) aluminum, tris(ethylacetoacetate) aluminum, tris(acetylacetonate) aluminum, and monoacetylacetonate bis(ethylacetoacetate) aluminum. Out of these examples, titanium acetylacetonate, and titanium ethylacetoacetate are preferred.
Examples of the organometallic compound usable in the present invention include, besides the above-mentioned compounds, zinc octoate, zinc laurate, zinc stearate, tin octoate, and other organic carboxylic acid metal salts; and acetylacetone zinc chelate, benzoylacetone zinc chelate, dibenzoylmethane zinc chelates, ethyl acetoacetate zinc chelate, and other zinc chelate compounds.
In the adhesion-improving layer, the content of the compound having an M—O bond is preferably from 0 to 90%, more preferably from 1 to 70%, in particular preferably from 10 to 50% by weight.
In a polarizing film given as an example of the laminated resin film according to the present invention, a polarizer and a transparent protective film are laminated onto each other to interpose an adhesive layer therebetween. This adhesive layer is formed by curing a curable resin composition. The form of curing the curable resin composition is roughly classified into a thermosetting form and an active energy ray curable form. Examples of a resin in the thermosetting form include polyvinyl alcohol resin, epoxy resin, unsaturated polyester, urethane resin, acrylic resin, urea resin, melamine resin, and phenolic resin. As required, a curing agent is together used. The thermosetting resin is more preferably polyvinyl alcohol resin or epoxy resin. Resins in the active energy ray curable form can be roughly classified into electron beam curable, ultraviolet curable and visible ray curable forms according to classification based on an active energy ray therefor. The curable resin composition can be divided, in accordance with the form of the curing thereof, into a radical polymerization curable resin composition or a cationic polymerization curable resin composition. In the present invention, any active energy ray having a wavelength in a range of 10 nm or more and less than 380 nm is described as an ultraviolet ray; and any active energy ray having a wavelength in a range from 380 to 800 nm, as a visible ray.
In the production of the polarizing film, the curable resin composition is preferably in an active energy ray curable form as described above. The composition is in particular preferably in a visible ray curable form, which makes use of visible rays in a wavelength range from 380 to 450 nm.
A curable component included in the radical polymerization curable resin composition is, for example, a radical polymerizable compound used in any radical polymerization curable resin composition. The radical polymerizable compound is, for example, a compound having a radical polymerizable functional group of a carbon-carbon double bond, such as a methacryloyl group or a vinyl group. Such a curable component may be either a monofunctional radical polymerizable compound, or a bifunctional or higher polyfunctional radical polymerizable compound. Such radical polymerizable compounds may be used singly, or in any combination of two or more thereof. The radical polymer is able compound(s) is/are (each), for example, a compound having a (meth)acryloyl group. In the present invention, the word “(meth)acryloyl” denotes an acryloyl group and/or a methacryloyl group. The notation “(meth)a” has substantially the same meanings hereinafter.
The monofunctional radical polymerizable compound is, for example, a compound represented by the following general formula (2):
wherein R3 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R4 and R5 are each independently a hydrogen atom, or an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl or cyclic ether group, and R4 and R5 may form a cyclic heterocycle. The number of carbon atoms in the alkyl moiety of (each of) the alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, and/or alkoxyalkyl group(s) is not particularly limited, and is, for example, from 1 to 4. The cyclic heterocycle, which R4 and R3 may form, is, for example, an N-acryloylmorpholine.
Specific examples of the compound represented by the general formula (2) include M-methyl(meth)acrylamide, N,N-dimethyl(meth)acrylamide, N,N-diethyl(meth)acrylamide, N-isopropyl(meth)acrylamide, N-butyl(meth)acrylamide, N-hexyl(meth)acrylamide, and other N-alkyl-group-containing (meth)acrylamide derivatives; N-methylol(meth)acrylamide, N-hydroxyethyl(meth)acrylamide, N-methylol-N-propane(meth)acrylamide, and other N-hydroxyalkyl-group-containing (meth)acrylamide derivatives; and N-methoxymethylacrylamide, N-ethoxymethylacrylamide, and other N-alkoxy-group-containing (meth)acrylamide derivatives. The cyclic-ether-group-containing (meth)acrylamide derivative is, for example, a heterocycle-containing (meth)acrylamide derivative in which a nitrogen atom of a (math)acrylamide group forms a heterocycle. Examples thereof include N-acryloylmorpholine, N-acryloylpiperidine, N-methacryloylpiperidine, and N-acryloylpyrrolidine. Out of these examples, N-hydroxyethylacrylamide and N-acryloylmorpholine are preferred since these compounds are excellent in reactivity, can each give a cured product with a high elastic modulus, and the resultant adhesive layer is excellent in adhesion to the polarizer.
From the viewpoint of an improvement of the polarizer and the adhesive layer in adhesion therebetween and in water respective, in particular, from the viewpoint of an improvement in the adhesion and the water resistance when the polarizer and the transparent protective film are bonded to each other through the adhesive layer, the content of the compound represented by the general formula (2) in the curable resin composition is preferably from 0.01 to 80%, more preferably from 5 to 40% by weight.
The curable resin composition used in the present invention may contain, besides the compound represented by the general formula (2), a different monofunctional radical polymerizable compound as a curable component. Examples of the monofunctional radical polymerizable compound include various (meth)acrylic acid derivatives each having a (meth)acryloyloxy group. Specific examples thereof include methyl (meth)acrylate, ethyl (meth)acrylate, n-propyl (meth)acrylate, isopropyl (meth)acrylate, 2-methyl-2-nitropropyl (meth)acrylate, n-butyl (meth)acrylate, isobutyl (meth)acrylate, s-butyl (meth)acrylate, t-butyl (meth)acrylate, n-pentyl (meth)acrylate, t-pentyl (meth)acrylate, 3-pentyl (meth)acrylate, 2,2-dimethylbutyl (meth)acrylate, n-hexyl (meth)acrylate, cetyl (meth)acrylate, n-octyl (meth)acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl (meth)acrylate, 4-methyl-2-propylpentyl (meth)acrylate, n-octadecyl (meth) acrylate, and other (C1 to C20) alkyl (meth)acrylates.
Examples of the above-mentioned (meth)acrylic acid derivatives include cyclohexyl (meth)acrylate, cyclopentyl (meth)acrylate, and other cycloalkyl (meth)acrylates; benzyl (meth)acrylate, and other aralkyl (meth)acrylates; 2-isobornyl (meth)acrylate, 2-norbornylmethyl (meth)acrylate, 5-norbornen-2-yl-methyl (meth)acrylate, 3-methyl-2-norbornylmethyl (meth)acrylate, dicyclopentenyl (meth)acrylate, dicyclopentenyloxyethyl (meth)acrylate, dicyclopentanyl (meth)acrylate, and other polycyclic (meth)acrylates; and 2-methoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-ethoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-methoxymethoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 3-methoxybutyl (meth)acrylate, ethylcarbitol (meth)acrylate, phenoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, alkylphenoxy polyethylene glycol (meth)acrylate, and other alkoxy-group or phenoxy-group-containing (meth)acrylates. Out of these examples, preferred are dicyclopentenyloxyethyl acrylate and phenoxyethyl acrylate since the resultant adhesive layer is excellent in various protective films.
Examples of the above-mentioned (meth)acrylic derivatives include 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, 3-hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxybutyl (meth)acrylate, 4-hydroxybutyl (meth)acrylate, 6-hydroxyhexyl (meth)acrylate, 8-hydroxyoctyl (meth)acrylate, 10-hydroxydecyl (meth)acrylate, 12-hydroxylauryl (meth)acrylate, and other hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylates; [4-(hydroxymethyl)cyclohexyl]methyl acrylate, cyclohexanedimethanol mono(meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl (meth)acrylate, and other hydroxyl-group-containing (meth)acrylates; glycidyl (meth)acrylate, 4-hydroxybutyl (meth)acrylate glycidyl ether, and other epoxy-group-containing (meth)acrylates; 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl (meth)acrylate, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl (meth)acrylate, tetrafluoropropyl (meth)acrylate, hexafluoropropyl (meth)acrylate, octafluoropentyl (meth)acrylate, heptadecafluorodecyl (meth)acrylate, 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, and other halogen-containing (meth)acrylates; dimethylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate, and other alkylaminoalkyl (meth)acrylates; 3-oxetanylmethyl (meth)acrylate, 3-methyloxetanylmethyl (meth)acrylate, 3-ethyl-oxetanylmethyl (meth)acrylate, 3-butyl-oxetanylmethyl (meth)acrylate, 3-hexyl-oxetanylmethyl (meth)acrylate, and other oxetane-group-containing (meth)acrylates; tetrahydrofurfuryl (meth)acrylate, butyrolactone (meth)acrylate, and other heterocycle-having (meth)acrylates; and a (meth)acrylic acid adduct of neopentyl glycol hydroxypivalate, and p-phenylphenol (meth)acrylate. Out of these examples, 2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl acrylate is preferred since the adhesive layer is excellent in adhesion to various protective films.
Examples of the monofunctional radical polymerizable compound include (meth)acrylic acid, carboxyethyl acrylate, carboxypentyl acrylate, itaconic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, crotonic acid, isocrotonic acid, and other carboxyl-group-containing monomers.
Other examples of the monofunctional radical polymerizable compound include N-vinylpyrrolidone, N-vinyl-ϵ-caprolactam, methylvinylpyrrolidone, and other lactam-based vinyl monomers; vinylpyridine, vinylpiperidone, vinylpyrimidine, vinylpiperazine, vinylpyrazine, vinylpyrrole, vinylimidazole, vinyloxazole, vinylmorpholine, and other vinyl monomers each having a nitrogen-containing heterocycle.
In the case of incorporating, into the curable resin composition used in the present invention, for example, a hydroxyl-group-containing (meth)acrylate, a carboxyl-group-containing (meth)acrylate, or a phosphate-group-containing (meth)acrylate, which are high in polarity, out of monofunctional radical polymerizable compounds, the resultant cured product layer is improved in adhesion in various substrates. The content of the hydroxyl-group-containing (meth)acrylate is preferably from 1 to 30% by weight of the resin composition. If the content is too large, the cured product may become high in water absorption coefficient to be deteriorated in water resistance. The content of the carboxyl-group-containing (meth)acrylate is preferably from 1 to 20% by weight of the resin composition. If the content is too large, the polarizing film is unfavorably lowered in optical endurance. The phosphate-group-containing (meth) acrylate is, for example, 2-(meth) acryloyloxyethyl acid phosphate. The content thereof is preferably from 0.1 to 10% by weight of the resin composition. If the content is too large, the polarizing film is unfavorably lowered in optical endurance.
The monofunctional radical polymerizable compound may also be a radical polymerizable compound having an active methylene group. The radical polymerizable compound having an active methylene group is a compound having, at a terminal thereof or in the molecule thereof, an active double bond group such as a (meth)acryl group, and further having an active methylene group. Examples of the active methylene group include acetoacetyl, alkoxymalonyl, and cyanoacetyl groups. The active methylene group is preferably an acetoacetyl group. Specific examples of the radical polymerizable compound having an active methylene group include 2-acetoacetoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-acetoacetoxypropyl (meth)acrylate, 2-acetoacetoxy-1-methylethyl (meth)acrylate, and other acetoacetoxyalkyl (meth)acrylates; and 2-ethoxymalonyloxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-cyanoacetoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, N-(2-cyanoacetoxyethyl)acrylamide, N-(2-propionylacetoxybutyl)acrylamide, N-(4-acetoacetoxymethylbenzyl)acrylamide, and N-(2-acetoacetylaminoethyl)acrylamide. The radical polymerizable compound having an active methylene group is preferably an acetoacetoxyalkyl (meth)acrylate.
Examples of the bi- or higher polyfunctional radical polymerizable compound include N,N′-methylenebis(meth)acrylamide, which is a polyfunctional (meth)acrylamide derivative, tripropylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, tetraethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, 1,6-hexanediol di(meth)acrylate, 1,9-nonanediol di(meth)acrylate, 1,10-decanediol diacrylate, 2-ethyl-2-butylpropanediol di(meth)acrylate, bisphenol A di(meth)acrylate, bisphenol A ethylene oxide adduct di(meth)acrylate, bisphenol A propylene oxide adduct di(meth)acrylate, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether di(meth)acrylate, neopentyl glycol di(meth)acrylate, tricyclodecanedimethanol di(meth)acrylate, cyclic trimethylolpropaneformal (meth)acrylate, dioxane glycol di(meth)acrylate, trimethylolpropane tri(meth)acrylate, pentaerythritol tri(meth)acrylate, pentaerythritol tetra(meth)acrylate, dipentaerythritol penta(meth)acrylate, dipentaerythritol hexa(meth)acrylate, EO-modified diglycerin tetra(meth)acrylate, and other esterified products each made from (meth)acrylic acid and a polyhydric alcohol, and 9,9-bis[4-(2-(meth)acryloyloxyethoxy)phenyl]fluorene. Preferred and specific examples thereof include ARONIX M-220 (manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd.), LIGHT ACRYLATE 1,9 ND-A (manufactured by Kyoeisha Chemical Co., Ltd.), LIGHT ACRYLATE DGE-4A (manufactured by Kyoeisha Chemical Co., Ltd.), LIGHT ACRYLATE DCP-A (manufactured by Kyoeisha Chemical Company, Ltd.), SR-531 (manufactured by a company Sartomer Co.), and CD-536 (manufactured by the company Sartomer). As the need arises, for example, the following are used: various epoxy (meth)acrylates, urethane (meth)acrylates, polyester (meth) acrylates, and various (meth) acrylate-based) monomers. A polyfunctional (meth)acrylamide derivative is preferably incorporated into the curable resin composition since the derivative gives a large polymerization rate to give an excellent producing performance, and further at the time of making the resin composition into a cured product the derivative gives an excellent crosslinking performance.
As such radical polymerizable compounds, the monofunctional radical polymerizable compound and the polyfunctional radical polymerizable compound are preferably used together with each other in order to make the following compatible with each other: adhesion of the resultant layer to the polarizer and various transparent protective films; and the optical endurance of the polarizing film in a severe environment. It is usually preferred to use the monofunctional radical polymerizable compound in a proportion of 3 to 80% by weight of the radical polymerizable compounds, and the polyfunctional radical polymerizable compound in a proportion of 20 to 97% by weight thereof.
The curable resin composition used in the present invention is usable as an active-energy-ray-curable resin composition when the curable component of this composition is used as an active energy ray curable component. When an electron beam or the like is used as the active energy ray, the active-energy-ray-curable resin composition does not need to contain any photopolymerization initiator. When an ultraviolet ray or visible ray is used as the active energy ray, this composition preferably contains a photopolymerization initiator.
When the above-mentioned radical polymerizable compound is used, the photopolymerization initiator is appropriately selected in accordance with the active energy ray. When the compound is cured by an ultraviolet ray or visible ray, an ultraviolet or visible-ray-cleavable photopolymerization initiator is used. Examples of this photopolymerization initiator include benzil, benzophenone, benzoyl benzoic acid, 3,3′-dimethyl-4-methoxybenzophenone, and other benzophenone compounds; 4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl (2-hydroxy-2-propyl) ketone, α-hydroxy-α,α′-dimethylacetophenone, 2-methyl-2-hydroxypropiophenone, α-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone, and other aromatic ketone compounds; methoxyacetophenone, 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone, 2,2-diethoxyacetophenone, 2-methyl-1-[4-(methylthio)-phenyl]-2-morpholinopropane-1, and other acetophenone compounds; benzoin methyl ether, benzoin ethyl ether, benzoin isopropyl ether, benzoin butyl ether, anisoin methyl ether, and other benzoin ether compounds; benzyl dimethyl ketal, and other aromatic ketal compounds; 2-naphthalenesulfonyl chloride, and other aromatic sulfonyl chloride compounds; 1-phenone-1,1-propanedione-2-(o-ethoxycarbonyl) oxime, and other optically active oxime compounds; thioxanthone, 2-chlorothioxanthone, 2-methylthioxanthone, 2,4-dimethylthioxanthone, isopropylthioxanthone, 2,4-dichlorothioxanthone, 2,4-diethylthioxanthone, 2,4-diisopropylthioxanthone, dodecylthioxanthone, and other thioxanthone compounds; camphorquinone; halogenated ketones; and acylphosphonoxide; and acylphosphonate.
The blend amount of the photopolymerization initiator is 20% or less by weight of the whole of the curable resin composition. The blend amount of the photopolymerization initiator is preferably from 0.01 to 20%, more preferably from 0.05 to 10%, even more preferably from 0.1 to 5% by weight thereof.
When the curable resin composition used in the present invention is used as a visible ray curable composition including, as a curable component thereof, a radical polymerizable compound, it is preferred to use a photopolymerization initiator high in sensitivity, particularly, to light rays having a wavelength of 380 nm or more. About the photopolymerization initiator high in sensitivity to light rays having a wavelength of 380 nm or more, a description will be made later.
It is preferred to use, as the photopolymerization initiator or such photopolymerization initiators, a compound represented by the following general formula (3) singly:
wherein R6 and R7 each represent —H, —CH2CH3, -iPr or Cl, and R6 and R7 may be the same as or different from each other; or use the compound represented by the general formula (3) together with a photopolymerization initiator high in sensitivity to light rays having a wavelength of 380 nm or more, which will be detailed later. When the compound represented by the general formula (3) is used, the cured product is better in adhesion than when the photopolymerization initiator high in sensitivity to light rays having a wavelength of 380 nm or more is used singly. Out of compounds each represented by the general formula (3), diethyl thioxanthone, in which R6 and R7 are each —CH2CH3, is particularly preferred. The composition proportion of the compound represented by the general formula (3) in the curable resin composition is preferably from 0.1 to 5%, more preferably from 0.5 to 4%, even more preferably from 0.9 to 3% by height of the whole of the curable resin composition.
As required, a polymerization initiation aid is preferably added into the composition. Examples of the polymerization initiation aid include triethylamine, diethylamine, N-methyldiethanolamine, ethanolamine, 4-dimethylaminobenzoic acid, methyl 4-dimethylaminobenzoate, ethyl 4-dimethylaminobenzoate, and isoamyl 4-dimethylaminobenzoate. Ethyl 4-dimethylaminobenzoate is particularly preferred. When the polymerization initiation aid is used, the addition amount thereof is usually from 0 to 5%, preferably from 0 to 4%, most preferably from 0 to 3% by weight of the whole of the curable resin composition.
As required, a known photopolymerization initiator may be together used. A transparent protective film having a UV absorbing power does not transmit any light ray of 380 nm or less wavelengths. Thus, it is preferred to use, as the photopolymerization initiator, a photopolymerization initiator high in sensitivity to light rays of 380 nm or more wavelength. Specific examples thereof include 2-methyl-1-(4-methylthiophenyl)-2-morpholinopropan-1-one, 2-benzyl-2-dimethylamino-1-(4-morpholinophenyl)-butanone-1, 2-(dimethylamino)-2-[(4-methylphenyl)methyl]-1-[4-(4-morpholinyl)phenyl]-1-butanone, 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl-diphenyl-phosphine oxide, bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phenylphosphine-oxide, bis(η5-2,4-cyclopentadien-1-yl)-bis(2,6-difluoro-3-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-phenyl)titanium.
It is particularly preferred that in addition to the photopolymerization initiator of the general formula (3), a compound represented by the following general formula (4) is used as another photopolymerization initiator:
wherein, R8, R9 and R10 each represent —H, —CH3, —CH2H3, -iPr or Cl, and R8, R9 and R10 may be the same or different. A preferably usable example of the compound represented by the general formula (4) is 2-methyl-1-(4-methylthiophenyl)-2-morpholinopropan-1-one, which is also a commercially available product (trade name: IRGACURE 907, manufacturer: the company BASF). Additionally, the following are preferred because of high sensitivity thereof:
2-benzyl-2-dimethylamino-1-(4-morpholinophenyl)-butanone-1 (trade name: IRGACORE: 369, manufacturer; the BASF),
2-(dimethylamino)-2-[(4-methylphenyl)methyl]-1-[4-(4-morpholinyl)phenyl]-1-butanone (trade name: IRGACURE 379, manufacturer: the BASF).
In the case of using, as the radical polymerizable compound, a radical polymerizable compound having an active methylene group in the active-energy-ray-curable resin composition, it is preferred to use a combination of this compound with a radical polymerization initiator having hydrogen-withdrawing effect. This structure makes a remarkable improvement of the adhesive layer, which the polarizing film has, in adhesion even immediately after the polarizing film is taken out, particularly, from a high-humidity environment or water (even when the film is in a non-dry state). Reasons therefor are unclear. However, the improvement would be based on the following causes: While the radical polymerizable compound having an active methylene group is polymerized together with the other radical polymerizable compounds that will be included in the adhesive layer, the compound is taken into a main chain and/or side chains of a base polymer in the adhesive layer to form the adhesive layer. In this polymerizing step, in the presence of the radical polymerization initiator, having hydrogen-withdrawing effect, the base polymer, which will be included in the adhesive layer, is formed and simultaneously hydrogen is withdrawn from the active-methylene-having radical polymerizable compound to generate radicals in methylene groups of molecules of the compound. The methylene groups in which radicals are generated react with hydroxyl groups of the polarizer, such as ones of PVA, so that covalent bonds are formed between the adhesive layer and the polarizer. Consequently, the adhesive layer which the polarizing film has would be remarkably improved in adhesion even when the polarizing film is, particularly, in a non-dry state.
In the present invention, the radical polymerization initiator having hydrogen-withdrawing effect is, for example, a thioxanthone-based radical polymerization initiator, or a benzophenone-based radical polymerization initiator. The radical polymerization initiator is preferably a thioxanthone-based radical polymerization initiator. The thioxanthone-based radical polymerization initiator is, for example, a compound represented by the general formula (3). Specific examples of the compound represented by the general formula (3) include thioxanthone, dimethylthioxanthone, diethylthioxanthone, isopropylthioxanthone, and chlorothioxanthone. Out of compounds represented by the general formula (3), preferred is diethylthioxanthone, in which R6 and R7 are each —CH2CH3—.
When the active-energy-ray-curable resin composition contains the radical polymerizable compound having an active methylene group and the radical polymerization initiator having hydrogen-withdrawing effect, it is preferred that the radical polymerizable compound having an active methylene group is contained in a proportion of 1 to 50% by weight of the whole of the curable components, and the radical polymerization initiator is contained in a proportion of 0.1 to 10% by weight of the whole.
As described above, in the present invention, radicals are generated in methylene groups of molecules of the active-methylene-group-having radical polymerizable compound in the presence of the radical polymerization initiator having hydrogen-withdrawing effect. The methylene groups react with hydroxyl groups of the polarizer, such as ones of PVA, to form covalent bonds. Thus, in order to generate radicals in the methylene groups of the molecules of the active-methylene-group-having radical polymerizable compound to form covalent bonds sufficiently, the active-methylene-group-having radical polymerizable compound is incorporated into the composition preferably in a proportion of 1 to 50%, more preferably in a proportion of 3 to 30% by weight of the whole of the curable components. In order to improve the adhesive layer in water resistance sufficiently to improve this layer in adhesion in a non-dry state, the proportion of the active-methylene-group-having radical polymerizable compound is set preferably to 1% or more by weight. In the meantime, if the proportion is more than 50% by weight, the adhesive layer may be poorly cured. The radical polymerization initiator having hydrogen-withdrawing effect is contained preferably in a proportion of 0.1 to 10%, more preferably in a proportion of 0.3 to 9% by weight of the whole of the curable resin composition. In order to cause the hydrogen-withdrawing reaction sufficiently, the radical polymerization initiator is used in a proportion of 0.1% or more by weight. In the meantime, if the proportion is more than 10% by weight, the initiator may not be completely dissolved in the composition.
The cation polymerizable compound used in the cation polymerization curable resin composition is classified into a monofunctional cation polymerizable compound, which has in the molecule thereof a single cation polymerizable functional group, or a polyfunctional cation polymerizable compound, which has in the molecule thereof two or more cation polymerizable functional groups. The mono-functional cation polymerizable compound is relatively low in liquid viscosity; thus, when this compound is incorporated into the resin composition, the resin composition can be lowered in liquid viscosity. Moreover, in many cases, the monofunctional cation polymerizable compound has a functional group for expressing various functions. Thus, the incorporation of this compound into the resin composition can cause various functions to be expressed in the resin composition and/or a cured product of the resin composition. The polyfunctional cation polymerizable compound allows to crosslink the cure product of the resin composition three-dimensionally. Thus, this compound is preferably incorporated into the resin composition. About the ratio between the monofunctional cation polymerizable compound and the polyfunctional cation polymerizable compound, the latter is preferably blended into the former in an amount of 10 to 1000 parts by weight for 100 parts by weight of the former. The cation polymerizable functional group may be an epoxy, oxetanyl or vinyl ether group. Examples of a compound having this epoxy group include aliphatic epoxy compounds, alicyclic epoxy compounds, and aromatic epoxy compounds. The cation polymerization curable resin composition in the present invention in particular preferably contains an alicyclic epoxy compound since the composition is excellent in curability and adhesion. Examples of the alicyclic epoxy compound include 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3,4-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate, and caprolactone-modified products, trimethyl caprolactone modified products or valerolactone-modified products of 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3,4-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate. Specific examples thereof include products CELLOXIDE 2021, CELLOXIDE 2021A, CELLOXIDE 202IP, CELLOXIDE 2081, CELLOXIDE 2083, CELLOXIDE 2085 (each manufactured by Daicel Corp); and CYRACURE UVR-6105, CYRACURE UVR-6107, CYRACURE 30, and R-6110 (manufactured by Dow Chemical Japan Ltd.). It is preferred to incorporate a compound having the above-mentioned oxetanyl group into the cation polymerizable curable resin composition of the present invention since the compound has advantageous effects of improving the composition in curability and lower the composition in liquid viscosity. Examples of the oxetanyl-group-having compound include 3-ethyl-3-hydroxymethyloxetane, 1,4-bis[(3-ethyl-3-oxetanyl)methoxymethyl]benzene, 3-ethyl-3-(phenoxymethyl)oxetane, di[(3-ethyl-3-oxetanyl)methyl]ether, 3-ethyl-3-(2-ethylhexyloxymethyl)oxetane, and phenol novolac oxetane. The following are commercially available: products ARON OXETANE OXT-101, ARON OXETANE OXT-121, ARON OXETANE OXT-211, ARON OXETANE OXT-221, and ARON OXETANE OXT-212 (manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd.). The compound having the above-mentioned vinyl ether group has an effect of improving the cation polymerization curable resin, composition in curability or lowering the composition in liquid viscosity; thus, this compound is preferably incorporated into the composition. Examples of the vinyl-ether-group-having compound include 2-hydroxyethyl vinyl ether, diethylene glycol monovinyl ether, 4-hydroxybutyl vinyl ether, diethylene glycol monovinyl ether, triethylene glycol divinyl ether, cyclohexanedimethanol divinyl ether, cyclohexanedimethanol monovinyl ether, tricyclodecane vinyl ether, cyclohexyl vinyl ether, methoxyethyl vinyl ether, ethoxyethyl vinyl ether, and pentaerythritol type tetravinyl ether.
The cation polymerization curable resin composition includes, as a curable component, at least one compound selected from the above-mentioned epoxy-group-having compound, the oxetanyl-group-having compound and the vinyl-ether-group-having compound, and these compounds are each cured by cation polymerization. Thus, a cation photopolymerization initiator is blended into the composition. This cation photopolymerization initiator is irradiated with an active energy ray such as a visible ray, an ultraviolet ray, an X ray or an electron beam to generate a cationic species or Lewis acid to initiate the polymerization reaction of epoxy groups and oxetanyl groups. The cation photopolymerization initiator is preferably an optical acid generator which will be detailed later. When the curable resin composition used in the present invention is used in a visible ray curable form, it is particularly preferred to use a cation photopolymerization initiator high in sensitivity to light rays having wavelengths of 380 nm or more. In general, cation photopolymerization initiators are each a compound showing a maximum absorption near 300 nm or in the range of wavelengths shorter than 300 nm. Thus, by blending, into the composition, a photosensitizer showing a maximum absorption in the range of wavelengths longer than 300 nm, specifically, wavelengths longer than 380 nm, the photosensitizer sensitizes light rays each having a wavelength near this wavelength so that the generation of a cation species or acid can be promoted from the cation photopolymerization initiator. Examples of the photosensitizer include anthracene compounds, pyrene compounds, carbonyl compounds, organic sulfur compounds, persulfates, redox compounds, azo and diazo compounds, halogenated compounds, and optically reducible colorants. These photosensitizers may be used in the form of a mixture of two or more thereof. In particular, anthracene compounds are preferred because of an excellent photosensitizing effect thereof. Specific examples thereof include products ANTHRACURE UVS-1331, and ANTHRACURE UVS-1221 (manufactured by Kawasaki Kasei Chemicals Co., Ltd.). The content of the photosensitizer(s) is preferably from 0.1 to 5% by weight, more preferably from 0.5 to 3% by weight.
The curable resin composition, used in the present invention preferably contains the following components:
The active-energy-ray-curable resin composition used in the present invention may contain, besides the curable component related to the above-mentioned radical polymerizable compound, an acrylic oligomer obtained by polymerizing a (meth)acrylic monomer. By incorporating the component into the active-energy-ray-curable resin composition, this composition is decreased in curing shrinkage when irradiated with an active energy ray to be cured, so that inter-facial stress can be decreased between the adhesive, and adherends such as a polarizer and a transparent protective film. As a result, the adhesion between the adhesive layer and the adherends can be restrained from being lowered. In order to restrain the curing shrinkage of the cured product layer (adhesive layer) sufficiently, the content of the acrylic oligomer in the curable resin composition is preferably 20% or less, more preferably 15% or less by weight of the whole of the composition. If the content of the acrylic oligomer in the curable resin composition is too large, the composition is intensely lowered in reaction rate when irradiated with an active energy ray. Thus, the composition may be poorly cured. In the meantime, the acrylic oligomer is contained in the curable resin composition in a proportion that is preferably 3% or more, more preferably 5% or more by weight of the whole of the curable resin composition.
The active-energy-ray-curable resin composition is preferably low in viscosity in a case where a consideration is made about the workability or evenness of the composition when the composition is applied. Thus, it is also preferred that the acrylic oligomer, which is obtained by polymerizing a (meth)acrylic monomer, is also low in viscosity. About the acrylic oligomer that is low in viscosity and can prevent the resultant adhesive layer from undergoing curing shrinkage, the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) thereof is preferably 15000 or less, more preferably 10000 or less, in particular preferably 5000 or less. In the meantime, in order to restrain the cured product layer (adhesive layer) sufficiently from undergoing curing shrinkage, the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of the acrylic oligomer is preferably 500 or more, more preferably 1000 or more, in particular preferably 1500 or more. Specific examples of the (meth)acrylic monomer, from which the acrylic oligomer is made, include methyl (meth) acrylate, ethyl (meth) acrylate, n-propyl (meth) acrylate, isopropyl (meth)acrylate, 2-methyl-2-nitropropyl (meth)acrylate, n-butyl (meth)acrylate, isobutyl (meth) acrylate, S-butyl (meth) acrylate, t-butyl (meth)acrylate, n-pentyl (meth)acrylate, t-pentyl (meth)acrylate, 3-pentyl (meth)acrylate, 2,2-dimethylbutyl (meth)acrylate, n-hexyl (meth)acrylate, cetyl (meth)acrylate, n-octyl (meth)acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl (meth)acrylate, 4-methyl-2-propylpentyl (meth)acrylate, N-octadecyl (meth)acrylate, and other (C1-C20)alkyl esters of (meth)acrylic acid; and cycloalkyl (meth)acrylates (such as cyclohexyl (meth)acrylate, and cyclopentyl (meth)acrylate), aralkyl (meth)acrylates (such as benzyl (meth)acrylate), polycyclic (meth)acrylates (such as 2-isobornyl (meth)acrylate, 2-norbornylmethyl (meth)acrylate, 5-norbornen-2-yl-methyl (meth)acrylate, and 3-methyl-2-norbornylmethyl (meth)acrylate), hydroxy-group-containing (meth)acrylates (such as hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, and 2,3-dihydroxypropylmethyl-butyl (meth)acrylate), alkoxy-group- or phenoxy-group-containing (meth)acrylates (such as 2-methoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-ethoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-methoxymethoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 3-methoxybutyl (meth)acrylate, ethylcarbitol (meth)acrylate, and phenoxyethyl (meth)acrylate), epoxy group-containing (meth)acrylates (such as glycidyl (meth)acrylate), halogen-containing (meth) acrylates (such as 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl (meth)acrylate, 2,2,2-trifluoroethylethyl (meth)acrylate, tetrafluoropropyl (meth)acrylate, hexafluoxopropyl (meth)acrylate, octafluoropentyl (meth)acrylate, and heptadecafluorodecyl (meth)acrylate), and alkylaminoalkyl (meth)acrylates (such as dimethylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate). These (meth)acrylates may be used singly or in combination of two or more thereof. Specific examples of the acrylic oligomer include products “ARUFON” manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd., “ACTFLOW” manufactured by Soken Chemical & Engineering Co., Ltd., and “JONCRYL” manufactured by BASF Japan Ltd.
The active-energy-ray-curable resin composition may contain an optical acid generator. When the active-energy-ray-curable resin composition contains the optical acid generator, the adhesive layer, can be dramatically made better in water resistance and endurance when the composition does not contain any optical acid generator. The optical acid generator can be represented by the following general formula (5):
General Formula (5)
L+ X− [Formula 13]
wherein L+ represents any onium cation addition, X− represents a counter ion selected from the group consisting of PF6−, SbF6−, AsF6−, SbCl6−, BiCl5−, SnCl6−, ClO4−, a dithiocarbamate anion, and SCN−.
Next, a description will be made about the counter anion X− in the general formula (5).
The counter anion X− in the general formula (5) is not particularly limited in principle, and is preferably a non-nucleophilic anion. When the counter anion X− is the non-nucleophilic anion, a nucleophilic reaction is not easily caused with a cation existing therewith in the molecule or various materials used together. As a result, the optical acid generator itself, which is represented by the general formula (4), and a composition using this agent can be improved in stability over time. The non-nucleophilic anion referred to herein denotes an anion low in power for causing nucleophilic reaction. Examples of the anion include PF6−, SbF6−, AsF6−, SbCl6−, BiCl5−, SnCl6−, ClO4−, a dithiocarbamate anion, and SCN−.
Preferred and specific examples of the optical acid generator in the present invention include products “CYRACURE DVI-6992”, and “CYRACURE UVI-6974” (manufactured by Dow Chemical Japan Ltd.), “ADEKA OPTOMER SP150”, “ADEKA OPTOMER SP152”, “ADEKA OPTOMER SP170”, and “ADEKA OPTOMER SP172” (manufactured by ADEKA corp.), “IRGACURE 250” (manufactured by Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corp.), “CI-5102”, and “CI-2855” (manufactured by Nippon Soda Co., Ltd.), “SAN-AID SI-60L”, “SAN-AID SI-80L”, “SAN-AID SI-100L”, “SAN-AID SI-110L”, and “SAN-AID SI-180L” (manufactured by Sanshin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), “CPI-100P”, and “CPI-100A” (manufactured by San-Apro Ltd.), “WPI-069”, “WPI-113”, “WPI-116”, “WPI-041”, “WPI-044”, “WPI-054”, “WPI-055”, “WFAG-281”, “WPAG-567”, and “WPAG-596” (each manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.).
The content of the optical acid generator is 10% or less, preferably from 0.01 to 10%, more preferably from 0.05 to 5%, in particular preferably from 0.1 to 3% by weight of the whole of the curable resin composition.
<Compound Containing Any One of Alkoxy group and Epoxy Group>
About the active-energy-ray-curable resin composition, the optical acid generator may be used together with a compound containing any one of an alkoxy group and an epoxy group in the active-energy-ray-curable resin composition.
In the case of using a compound having in the molecule thereof one or more epoxy groups, or a polymer having in the molecule thereof two or more epoxy groups (epoxy resin), a compound having in the molecule thereof two or more functional groups reactive with any epoxy group may be used together. Examples of the functional group(s) reactive with any epoxy group include carboxyl, phenolic hydroxyl, mercapto, and primary or secondary aromatic amino groups. The compound in particular preferably has in a single molecule thereof two or more of these functional groups, considering the three-dimensional curability thereof.
The polymer having in the molecule thereof one or more epoxy groups is, for example, an epoxy resin. Examples thereof include bisphenol A type epoxy resin derived from bisphenol A and epichlorohydrin, bisphenol F type epoxy resin derived from bisphenol F and epichlorohydrin, bisphenol S type epoxy resin, phenol novolak type epoxy resin, cresol novolak type epoxy resin, bisphenol A novolak type epoxy resin, bisphenol F novolak type epoxy resin, alicyclic epoxy resin, diphenyl ether type epoxy resin, hydroquinone type epoxy resin, naphthalene type epoxy resin, biphenyl type epoxy resin, fluorene type epoxy resin, polyfunctional epoxy resins such as trifunctional epoxy resin and tetrafunctional epoxy resin, glycidylester type epoxy resin, glycidylamine type epoxy resin, hydantoin type epoxy resin, isocyanurate type epoxy resin, and aliphatic linear epoxy resin. These epoxy resins may be halogenated, and may be hydrogenated. Examples of a commercially available product of the epoxy resin include JER COATs 828, 1001, 801N, 806, 807, 152, 604, 630 and 871, YX8000, YX8034, and YX4000 manufactured by Japan Epoxy Resins Co., Ltd.; EPICLON 830, EXA 835LV, HP 4032D, HP 820 manufactured by DIC Corp.; EP 4100 series, EP 4000 series, and EPU series manufactured by ADEKA Corp.; CELLOXIDE series (2021, 2021P, 2083, 2085, and 3000), EPOLEAD series, and EHPE series manufactured by Daicel Corp.; YD series, YDF series, YDCN series, YDB series, and phenoxy resins (YP series and others: polyhydroxypolyethers each synthesized from a bisphenol and epichlorohydrin and having at both ends thereof epoxy groups, respectively) manufactured by Nippon Steel Chemistry Co., Ltd.; DENACOL series manufactured by Nagase ChemteX Corp.; and EPO LIGHT series and others, manufactured by Kyoeisha Chemical Co., Ltd. However, the commercially available epoxy resin product is not limited to these examples. These epoxy resins may be used in combination of two or more thereof.
(Compound and Polymer Each Having Alkoxy Group) The compound having in the molecule thereof an alkoxy group is not particularly limited as far as the compound is a compound having in the molecule thereof one or more alkoxy groups. The compound may be any known compound. Typical examples of the compound include a melamine compound, an amino resin, and a silane coupling agent.
The blend amount of the compound containing any one of an alkoxy group and an epoxy group is usually 30% or less by weight of the whole of the curable resin composition. If the content of the compound in the composition is too large, the curable resin composition is lowered in adhesion, so that the impact resistance thereof may be deteriorated in a dropping test. The content by proportion of the compound in the composition is more preferably 20% or less by weight. In the meantime, the composition contains the compound in a proportion that is preferably 2% or more, more preferably 5% or more by weight from the viewpoint of the water resistance of the composition.
When the curable resin composition used in the present invention is active energy ray curable, the silane coupling agent is preferably an active energy ray curable compound. However, even when the silane coupling agent is not active energy ray curable, this agent can give substantially the same water resistance to the composition.
Specific usable examples of the silane coupling agent include the organic silicon compounds given as the above-mentioned examples.
The blend amount of the silane coupling agent is preferably from 0.01 to 20%, preferably from 0.05 to 15%, even more preferably from 0.1 to 10% by weight of the whole of the curable resin composition. If the blend amount is more than 20% by weight, the curable resin composition is deteriorated in storage stability. If the blend amount is less than 0.1% by weight, the composition does not sufficiently exhibit an adhesion water-resistance effect.
The curable resin composition used in the present invention may contain a compound having a vinyl ether group. This case is favorable since a polarizer and the resultant adhesive layer are improved in adhesion water-resistance therebetween. Reasons why this advantageous effect is gained are unclear; however, it is presumed that one of the reasons is as follows: the vinyl ether group, which the compound has, interacts with the polarizer to heighten the adhering strength between the polarizer and the adhesive layer. In order to heighten the polarizer and the adhesive layer further in adhesion water-resistance therebetween, the compound is preferably a radical polymerizable compound having a vinyl ether group. The content of the compound is preferably from 0.1 to 19% by weight of the whole of the curable resin composition.
A compound in which keto-enol tautomerism is generable may be incorporated into the curable resin composition used in the present invention. It is preferred to use, for example, an embodiment in which this keto-enol tautomerism generable compound is contained in the curable resin composition that contains a crosslinking agent or that is usable in the state of blending a crosslinking agent into the composition. This embodiment allows to restrain the curable resin composition after the blending of the organometallic compound into the composition from being excessively raised in viscosity or gelatinized, and from undergoing the production of a micro-gelatinized product to realize an effect of prolonging the pot life of this composition.
The keto-enol tautomerism generable compound may be a β-dicarbonyl compound that may be of various types. Specific examples thereof include acetylacetone, 2,4-hexanedione, 3,5-heptanedione, 2-methylhexane-3,5-dione, 6-methylheptane-2,4-dione, 2,6-dimethylheptane-3,5-dione, and other β-diketones; methyl acetoacetate, ethyl acetoacetate, isopropyl acetoacetate, tert-butyl acetoacetate, and other acetoacetates; ethyl propionylacetate, ethyl propionylacetate, isopropyl propionylacetate, tert-butyl propionylacetate, and other propionylacetates; ethyl isobutyrylacetate, ethyl isobutyrylacetate, isopropyl isobutyrylacetate, tert-butyl isobutyrylacetate, and other isobutyrylacetates; and methyl malonate, ethyl malonate, and other malonates. Out of these examples, acetylacetone and acetoacetates are preferred compounds. These keto-enol tautomerism generable compounds may be used singly or in combination of two or more thereof.
The use amount of the keto-enol tautomerism generable compound(s) may be, for example, from 0.05 to 10 parts, preferably from 0.2 to 3 parts (for example, from 0.3 to 2 parts) by weight per part by weight of the organometallic compound. If the use amount of the compound is less than 0.05 parts by weight per part by weight of the organometallic compound, the use effects thereof may not be sufficiently exhibited with ease. In the meantime, if the use amount of the compound is more than 10 parts by weight per part by weight of the organometallic compound, the compound interacts excessively with the organometallic compound so that a target water resistance may not be easily expressed.
<Additives Other than Above-Mentioned Components>
Various additives may be blended, as other optional components, into the curable resin composition used in the present invention as far as the object and advantageous effects of the invention are not damaged. Examples of the additives include epoxy resin, polyamide, polyamideimide, polyurethane, polybutadiene, polychloroprene, polyether, polyester, styrene-butadiene block copolymer, petroleum resin, xylene resin, ketone resin, cellulose resin, fluorine-contained oligomer, silicone-based oligomer, polysulfide-based oligomer, and other polymers or oligomers; phenothiazine, 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-methylphenol, and other polymerization inhibitors; polymerization initiation aids; leveling agents; wettability improvers; surfactants; plasticizers; ultraviolet absorbers; inorganic fillers; pigments; and dyes.
The amount of the additives is usually from 0 to 10%, preferably from 0 to 5%, most preferably from 0 to 3% by weight of the whole of the curable resin composition.
The viscosity of the curable resin composition used in the present invention is preferably 100 cp or less at 25° C. from the viewpoint of the applicability thereof. In the meantime, if the curable resin composition in the invention is more than 100 cp at 25° C., the temperature of the curable resin composition may be controlled when the composition is applied, so as to adjust the viscosity thereof to 100 cp or less. The thus obtained composition is usable. The viscosity ranges more preferably from 1 to 80 cp, most preferably from 10 to 50 cp. The viscosity is measurable, using an E-type viscometer TVE22LT manufactured by Toki Sangyo Co., Ltd.
In the curable resin composition used in the present invention, it is preferred to use, as the curable component(s), a material low in skin irritation from the viewpoint of safety. The skin irritation can be judged, using an index of P.I.I. The P.I.I is widely used as an index showing the degree of skin disorder, and is measured by a Draize method. The measured value thereof is represented in a range from 0 to 8. As this value is smaller, the irritation is judged to be lower. However, the measured value includes a large accidental error; thus, it is advisable to understand this index as a reference value. The P.I.I is preferably 4 or less, more preferably 3 or less, most preferably 2 or less.
The laminated resin film according to the present invention includes a first resin film, and a second resin film laminated on/over at least one surface of the first resin film to interpose an adhesive layer between the surface and the second resin film. This laminated resin film includes the following producing method: a method including an adhesion improvement-treating step of attaching a compound represented, by the general, formula (1) to the adhesion surface of at least one of the first resin film and second, resin, film; an applying step of applying a curable resin composition to the adhesion surface of at least one of the first resin film and the second resin film; a bonding step of causing the first resin film and the second resin film to each other; and an adhering step of radiating an active energy ray to the resultant laminate from a first resin film side of the laminate, or a second resin film side of the laminate to cure the curable resin composition to yield the adhesive layer, and adhering the first resin film and the second resin film to adhere to each other through the yielded adhesive layer.
A polarizing film given as an example of the laminated resin film according to the present invention is a polarizing film including a polarizer, and an adhesive layer that is positioned on/over at least one surface of the polarizer and yielded by curing a curable resin composition; and is a polarizing film in which a transparent protective film is laminated to the surface of the polarizer to interpose the adhesive layer between the surface and the transparent-protective film. This polarizing film can be produced by the following producing method:
a method for producing a polarizing film including a polarizer, and a transparent protective film laminated on/over at least one surface of the polarizer to interpose an adhesive layer between the surface and the transparent protective film,
the method including an adhesion improvement-treating step of causing a compound represented by the general formula (1) to adhere to the adhesion surface of at least one of the polarizer and the transparent protective film; an applying step of applying a curable resin composition to the adhesion surface of at least one of the polarizer and the transparent protective film; a bonding step of causing the polarizer and the transparent protective film to each other; and an adhering step of radiating an active energy ray to the resultant laminate from a polarizer side of the laminate, or a transparent protective film side of the laminate to cure the curable resin composition to yield the adhesive layer, and adhering the polarizer and the transparent, protective film to adhere to each other through the yielded adhesive layer. Hereinafter, about the polarizing film producing method, each of the steps thereof will be described.
<Adhesion Improvement-Treating Step>
The adhesion improvement-treating step of using an adhesion-improving composition including a compound represented by the general formula (1) to form an adhesion-improving layer onto the adhesion surface of at least one of the polarizer and the transparent protective film is, for example, a method of producing the adhesion-improving composition, which is an adhesion-improving composition (A) including the compound represented by the general formula (1), and forming this composition into a film onto the adhesion surface of at least one of the polarizer and the transparent protective film by, for example, applying. A solvent and additives that may be included in the adhesion-improving composition (A) and are other than the compound represented by the general formula (1) are as described above.
When the adhesion-improving composition (A) includes a solvent, it is allowable that after the applying or applying of the composition (A), the resultant is optionally subjected to a drying step or a curing treatment (for example, thermal treatment.).
About the method for using the adhesion-improving composition (A) to form the adhesion-improving layer on the polarizer, the following is appropriately usable: a method of immersing the polarizer directly onto a treatment bath for the composition (A), or a known applying method. Examples of the applying method include roll coating, gravure coating, bar coating, reverse coating, roll brushing, spray coating, air knife coating, and curtain coating methods. However, the method, is not limited to these methods.
If the thickness of the adhesion-improving layer, which the polarizer has, is too large in the present invention, the adhesion-improving layer may be lowered in cohesive strength so that an adhesion-improving effect thereof may be lowered. Thus, the thickness of the adhesion-improving layer is 300 nm or less, preferably 200 nm or less. From the viewpoint of the producibility of polarizing films, the thickness is more preferably 100 nm or less. In the meantime, the lower limit of the thickness for causing the adhesion-improving layer to exhibit an advantageous effect sufficiently is at least the thickness of a monomolecular membrane of the compound represented by the general formula (1), and is usually 0.1 nm or more, preferably 1 nm or more, more preferably 2 nm or more.
It is preferred to form the adhesion-improving layer by causing the compound represented by the general formula (1) to adhere to the adhesion surfaces of both of the first resin film and the second resin film, particularly, to both surfaces of the polarizer and the transparent protective film by, for example, applying since the resultant laminated resin film, particularly, polarizing film is improved in adhesion.
The method for applying the curable resin composition is appropriately selected in accordance with the viscosity of the curable resin composition, or a target thickness of the resultant layer. Examples thereof include a reverse coater, a (direct, reverse or offset) gravure coater, a bar reverse coater, a roll coater, a die coater, a bar coater, and a rod coater. The viscosity of the curable resin composition used in the present invention is preferably from 3 to 100 mPa·s, more preferably from 5 to 50 mPa·s, most preferably from 10 to 30 mPa·s. If the viscosity of the curable resin composition is high, the surface of the applied composition is poor in smoothness so that a poor external appearance may be unfavorably generated. The curable resin composition used in the present invention can be applied in the state of heating or cooling the composition to be adjusted into a preferred viscosity range.
When the laminated resin film according to the present invention is a polarizing film, it is preferred about a polarizer which is a constituent matter of the film, from the viewpoint of an improvement of the polarizer in adhesion to an adhesive layer, that the content by percentage in the polarizer is as low as possible before the adhesive layer is applied onto the polarizer. When the adhesive layer is particularly made of an acrylic adhesive, the water content by percentage in the polarizer is set preferably to 15% or less by weight, more preferably to 13% or less by weight, in particular preferably to 10% or less by weight, from the viewpoint of a further improvement in the adhesion, before the compound represented by the general formula (1), in particular, the composition (A) including this compound is applied onto the polarizer.
The polarizer and the transparent protective film may be subjected to a surface-modifying treatment before the adhesion-improving layer is formed. In particular, about the polarizer, it is preferred to subject the outer surface of the polarizer to a surface-modifying treatment before the formation or bonding of the adhesion-improving layer. Examples of the surface-modifying treatment include corona treatment, plasma treatment, and Itro treatment. Particularly preferred is corona treatment. By conducting the corona treatment, reactive functional groups, such as carbonyl group or amino group, are generated on the surface of the polarizer to improve close adhesion of the polarizer to the adhesive layer. Additionally, the treatment allows to remove foreign substances on the surface, or relieve irregularities in the surface by ashing effect, so that a polarizing film excellent in external appearance properties can be produced.
Through the curable resin composition applied as described above, the polarizer and the transparent protective film are bonded to each other. The bonding between the polarizer and the transparent protective film may be attained, using, for example, a roll laminator.
In the adhering step, an active energy ray is radiated to the workpiece from the polarizer surface side thereof or the transparent protective film surface side thereof to cure the curable resin composition. Through the thus obtained adhesive layer, the polarizer and the transparent protective film are caused to adhere to each other.
The thickness of the adhesive layer made from the curable resin composition is preferably from 0.01 to 3.0 μm. If the thickness of the adhesive layer is too small, the adhesive layer is short in cohesive strength to be unfavorably lowered in peel strength. If the thickness of the adhesive layer is too large, the polarizing film is easily caused therein when stress is applied to a cross section of the polarizing film, so that so that a peel defect is unfavorably generated therein by impact. The thickness of the adhesive layer is more preferably from 0.1 to 2.5 μm, most preferably from 0.5 to 1.5 μm.
The curable resin composition used in the present invention is preferably used as an active-energy-ray-curable resin composition. The active-energy-ray-curable resin composition is usable in an electron beam curable, ultraviolet curable or visible ray curable form. The form of the curable resin composition is preferably a visible-ray-curable resin composition from the viewpoint of the producibility of polarizing films.
About the active-energy-ray-curable resin composition, a polarizer and a transparent protective film are bonded onto each other, and subsequently the resultant workpiece is irradiated with an active energy ray (such as an electron beam, an ultraviolet ray or a visible ray) to cure the active-energy-ray-curable resin composition to form an adhesive layer. A direction along which the active energy ray (which is, for example, an electron beam, an ultraviolet ray or a visible ray) is radiated may foe any appropriate radiating direction. Preferably, the active energy ray is radiated from the transparent protective film side of the workpiece. If the active energy ray is radiated from the polarizer side thereof, the polarizer may be unfavorably deteriorated by the active energy ray (which is, for example, an electron beam, an ultraviolet ray or a visible ray).
About the electron beam curability, conditions for radiating an electron beam may be arbitrarily-selected appropriate conditions as far as the conditions are conditions under which the active-energy-ray-curable resin composition is curable. About the electron beam radiation, for example, the accelerating voltage is preferably from 5 to 300 kV, more preferably from 10 to 250 kV. If the accelerating voltage is less than 5 kV, the electron beam may not reach the adhesive so that the adhesive may not be unfavorably cured sufficiently. If the accelerating voltage is more than 300 kV, the penetrating power of the beam into a sample is too strong, so that the beam may unfavorably damage its transparent protective film or polarizer. The radiation ray quantity thereof is from 5 to 100 kGy, more preferably from 10 to 75 kGy. If the radiation ray quantity is less than 5 kGy, the adhesive is insufficiently cured. If the quantity is more than 100 kGy, the transparent protective film or the polarizer is damaged, so that the polarizing film is lowered in mechanical strength or yellowed not to gain predetermined optical properties.
The electron beam radiation is usually performed in an inert gas. If necessary, the radiation maybe performed in the atmospheric air or under conditions that a small amount of oxygen is introduced into an inert gas. An appropriate introduction of oxygen dares to cause oxygen blocking in a surface of the transparent protective film onto which the electron beam is to be initially radiated, so that the beam can be prevented from damaging the transparent protective film to radiate the electron beam effectively only to the adhesive although this matter depends on the material of the transparent protective film.
In a method for producing the polarizing film, it is preferred to use, as active energy rays, rays including visible rays having wavelengths ranging from 380 to 450 nm, particularly, active energy rays in which the radiation quantity of visible rays having wavelengths ranging from 380 to 450 nm is the largest. When a transparent protective film to which ultraviolet ray absorbing power is given (ultraviolet non-transmissible type transparent, protective film) is used about ultraviolet curability or visible ray curability, the transparent protective film absorbs light rays having wavelengths shorter than about 380 nm; thus, the light rays having wavelengths shorter than 380 nm do not reach the active-energy-ray-curable resin composition not to contribute to a polymerization reaction of the composition. Furthermore, the light rays having wavelengths shorter than 380 nm, which are absorbed by the transparent protective film, are converted to heat, so that the transparent protective film itself generates heat. The heat causes defects of the polarizing film, such as a curling or wrinkles of the film. Thus, in the case of adopting, in the present invention, ultraviolet curability or visible ray curability, it is preferred to use, as an active energy ray generating device, a device which does not emit light rays shorter than 380 nm. More specifically, a device in which the ratio of the integrated illuminance of light rays having a wavelength range from 380 to 440 mm to that of light rays having a wavelength range from 250 to 370 nm is preferably from 100/0 to 100/50, more preferably from 100/0 to 100/40. For the active energy ray related to the present invention, preferred is a gallium sealed metal halide lamp, or an LED light source emitting light rays having a wavelength range from 380 to 440 nm. Alternatively, a light source including ultraviolet rays and visible rays is usable, examples of which include a low pressure mercury lamp, a middle pressure mercury lamp, a high pressure mercury lamp, a super high pressure mercury lamp, an incandescent lamp, a xenon lamp, a halogen lamp, a carbon arc light, a metal halide lamp, a fluorescent lamp, a tungsten lamp, a gallium lamp, an excimer laser, and sunlight. It is allowable to use light rays about which a bandpass filter is used to block ultraviolet rays having wavelengths shorter than 380 nm. In order to heighten the adhesive performance of the adhesive layer between the polarizer and the transparent protective film, and simultaneously prevent the polarizing film from being curled, it is preferred to use an active energy ray obtained by using a gallium sealed metal halide lamp and further passing light therefrom through a bandpass filter which can block light rays having wavelengths shorter than 380 nm, or use an active energy ray having a wavelength of 405 nm, which is obtained by using an LED light source.
About the ultraviolet curability or visible ray curability, it is preferred to heat the active-energy-ray-curable resin composition before the radiation of ultraviolet rays or visible rays (heating before radiation) to the composition. In this case, the composition is heated preferably to 40° C. or higher, more preferably to 50° C. or higher. It is also preferred to heat the active-energy-ray-curable resin composition after the radiation of ultraviolet rays or visible rays (heating after radiation) thereto. In this case, the composition is heated preferably to 40° C. or higher, more preferably to 50° C. or higher.
The active-energy-ray-curable resin composition used in the present invention is favorably usable, particularly, when an adhesive layer is formed for causing a polarizer to adhere to a transparent protective film about which the transmittance of light rays having a wavelength of 365 nm is less than 5%. At this time, the active-energy-ray-curable resin composition according to the invention may include a photopolymerization initiator of the general formula (3); in this case, by radiating ultraviolet rays to the composition across the transparent protective film having UV absorbing power, the composition can be cured to form the adhesive layer. Thus, also in a polarizing film in which transparent protective films having UV absorbing power are laminated, respectively, onto both surfaces of a polarizer, its adhesive layers can be cured. Naturally, however, also in a polarizing film in which a transparent protective film having no UV absorbing power is laminated, its adhesive layers can be cured. The wording “transparent protective film having UV absorbing power” means a transparent protective film about which the transmittance of a light ray having a wavelength of 380 nm is less than 10%.
The method for giving UV absorbing power to a transparent protective film may be a method of incorporating an ultraviolet absorbent into the transparent protective film, or a method of laminating a surface treatment layer containing an ultraviolet absorbent onto a surface of the transparent protective film.
Specific examples of the ultraviolet absorbent include oxybenzophenone-based compounds, benzotriazole-based compounds, salicylate-based compounds, benzophenone-based compounds, cyanoacrylate-based compounds, nickel complex salt type compounds, and triazine-based compounds, which are known in the prior art.
After the polarizer and the transparent protective film are bonded onto each other, the active-energy-ray-curable resin composition is irradiated with an active energy ray (such as an electron beam, a ultraviolet ray or a visible ray) to be cured to form an adhesive layer. A direction along which, the active energy ray (which is, for example, an electron beam, an ultraviolet ray or a visible ray) is radiated may be any appropriate radiating direction. Preferably, the active energy ray is radiated from the transparent protective film side of the resultant workpiece. If the active energy ray is radiated from the polarizer side thereof, the polarizer may be unfavorably deteriorated by the active energy ray (which is, for example, an electron beam, an ultraviolet ray or a visible ray).
When the polarizing film is produced in a continuous line, the line speed, which depends on the curing period of the curable resin composition, is preferably from 1 to 500 m/min., more preferably from 5 to 300 m/min., even more preferably from 10 to 100 m/min. If the line speed is too small, the producing system is small in producing performance, or the transparent protective, film is excessively damaged, so that no polarizing film that can endure an endurance test or the like can be produced. If the line speed is too large, the adhesive resin composition is insufficiently cured so that the composition may not gain a target adhesion.
In the polarizing film of the present invention, preferably, a polarizer and a transparent protective film are caused to adhere onto each other to interpose, therebetween, a second adhesive layer constituted by a cured product layer of the above-mentioned active-energy-ray-curable resin composition. Between the transparent protective film and the adhesive layer, a second adhesion-improving layer may be disposed. The second adhesion-improving layer can be formed, using a resin that may be of various types. This resin has, for example, a polyester, polyether, polycarbonate, polyurethane, silicone type, polyamide, polyimide or polyvinyl alcohol skeleton. These polymeric resins may be used singly or in any combination of two or more thereof. In the formation of the second adhesion-improving layer, a different additive may be added thereto. Specifically, for example, the following may be further used: a tackifier, a ultraviolet absorbent, an antioxidant, a heat-resistant stabilizer, and other stabilizers.
Usually, the second adhesion-improving layer is beforehand laid on the transparent protective film, and then the second adhesion-improving layer side of the transparent protective film, and the polarizer are caused to adhere to each other through the adhesive layer. The formation of the second adhesion-improving layer is attained by using a known technique to apply a forming-material for the second adhesion-improving layer onto the transparent protective film, and drying the resultant. The forming-material for the second adhesion-improving layer is usually prepared in the form of a solution in which the material is diluted into an appropriate concentration, considering the thickness of the dried forming-material, the smoothness of the applying, and others. The thickness of the dried second adhesion-improving layer is from 0.01 to 5 μm, more preferably from 0.02 to 2 μm, even more preferably from 0.05 to 1 μm. Plural second adhesion-improving layers may be laid. In this case also, the total thickness of the second adhesion-improving layers is preferably set into any one of these ranges.
The polarizer is not particularly limited, and may be of various types. The polarizer is, for example, a polarizer yielded by causing a dichroic material such as iodine or dichroic dye to be adsorbed into a hydrophilic polymeric film, such as a polyvinyl alcohol-based film, a partially-formal-converted polyvinyl alcohol-based film or an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer-based partially-saponified film, and then stretching the resultant uniaxially; or a polyene aligned film made of, for example, a polyvinyl alcohol dehydrated product or a polyvinyl chloride de-hydrochloride-treated product. Out of such polarizers, preferred is a polarizer composed of a polyvinyl alcohol-based film and a dichroic substance such as iodine. The thickness of such a polarizer is preferably from 2 to 30 μm, more preferably for 4 to 20 μm, most preferably from 5 to 15 μm. If the thickness of the polarizer is small, the polarizer is unfavorably lowered in optical endurance. If the thickness of the polarizer is large, the polarizer becomes large in dimension change at a high temperature and high humidity, so that inconveniences such as display unevenness are unfavorably generated.
The polarizer in which a polyvinyl alcohol-based film that has been dyed with iodine has uniaxially stretched can be produced, for example, by immersing a polyvinyl alcohol into an aqueous solution of iodine to be dyed, and then stretching the resultant film into a length 3 to 7 times the original length of this film. As required, the stretched film may be immersed into an aqueous solution of, for example, boric acid or potassium iodide. Furthermore, before the dyeing, the polyvinyl alcohol-based film may be immersed into water as required to be cleaned with water. The cleaning of the polyvinyl alcohol-based film with water allows to clean stains and a blocking-preventing agent on surfaces of the polyvinyl alcohol-based film, and further produce an advantageous effect of swelling the polyvinyl alcohol-based film to prevent unevenness of the dyeing, and any other unevenness. The stretching may be performed after the dyeing with iodine or while the dyeing is performed. Alternatively, after the stretching, the dyeing with iodine may be performed. The stretching may be performed in an aqueous solution of, for example, boric acid or potassium iodide, or in a water bath.
When a thin polarizer having a thickness of 10 μm or less is used as the polarizer, the active-energy-ray-curable resin composition used in the present invention can remarkably produce the advantageous effect thereof (that the resultant layer satisfies optical endurance in a severe environment at a high temperature and high humidity). The polarizer, the thickness of which is 10 μm or less, is more largely affected by water than any polarizer having a thickness more than 10 μm. Consequently, the former is insufficient in optical endurance in an environment at a high temperature and high humidity to be easily raised in transmittance or lowered in polarization degree. In other words, in the case of laminating the polarizer, the thickness of which is 10 μm or less, onto a transparent protective film through an adhesive layer having a bulk water absorption of 10% or less by weight in the invention, the shift of water into the polarizer is restrained in a severely high temperature and high humidity environment. Consequently, the polarizing film can be remarkably restrained from undergoing deteriorations in optical endurances, such as a rise in transmittance and a lowering in polarization degree. The thickness of the polarizer is preferably from 1 to 7 μm from the viewpoint of making the polarizing film thinner. Such a thin polarizer is small in thickness unevenness, excellent in perceptibility, and small in dimension change. Furthermore, favorably, this thin polarizer also makes the polarizing film small in thickness.
Typical examples of the thin polarizer include thin polarizing membranes described in JP-A-51-069644, JP-A-2000-338329, WO 2010/100917 pamphlet, and specifications of PCX/JP2010/001460 and Japanese Patent Applications No. 2010-269002 and No. 2010-263692. These thin polarizing membranes can each be yielded by a producing method including the step of stretching a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin (hereinafter referred to also as a PVA-based resin) and a resin substrate for stretching in a laminate state, and the step of dyeing the laminate. This producing method allows to draw the laminate, even when the PVA-based resin layer is thin, without causing inconveniences, such as breaking by the stretching, on the basis of the supporting of the PVA-based resin layer on the resin substrate for stretching.
The thin polarizing membranes are preferably polarizing membranes each yielded by the following producing method, out of producing methods including the step of stretching a PVA-based resin and a resin substrate in a laminate state, and the step of dyeing the laminate, since the laminate can be stretched into a high draw ratio to improve the resultant in polarizing performance: a producing method including the step of stretching the laminate in an aqueous solution of boric acid, as is described in a pamphlet of WO 2010/100917, or a specification of PCT/JP2010/001460 or Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-263002 or 2010-263632. The thin polarizing membranes are in particular preferably thin polarizing membranes each yielded by a producing method including the step of stretching the laminate supplementally in the air before the stretching in the aqueous solution of boric acid, as is described in a specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-269002 or 2010-263692.
The polarizer generally has reactive functional groups such as hydroxyl, carbonyl and amino groups. Accordingly, about an adhesion improvement-treated polarizer in which a polarizer having, on surfaces thereof, at least reactive functional groups has, on at least one of the surfaces, a compound represented by the general formula (1), particularly, about an adhesion-improving layer attached polarizer in which an adhesion-improving layer including a compound represented by the general formula (1) is formed, close adhesion between its adhesive layer and the polarizer is improved, so that the polarizing film is favorably improved, particularly, in adhesion therein.
When the laminated resin film according to the present invention is a polarizing film, a transparent film corresponding to the second resin film is, for example, a transparent protective film or a retardation film.
The transparent protective film is preferably a film excellent in transparency, mechanical strength, thermal stability, water blocking performance, isotropy and others. Examples of a material therefor include polyester-based polymers, such as polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate, cellulose-based polymers such as diacetylcellulose and triacetylcellulose, acrylic polymers such as polymethyl methacrylate, styrene-based polymers such as polystyrene and acrylonitrile/styrene copolymer (AS resin), and polycarbonate-based polymers. Other examples of the polymer which the transparent protective film is made of include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyolefins each having a cyclic or norbornene structure, polyolefin-based polymers such as ethylene/propylene copolymer, vinyl chloride polymers, amide-based polymers such as nylon and aromatic polyamide, imide polymers, sulfone-based polymers, polyethersulfone-based polymers, polyetheretherketone-based polymers, polyphenylene sulfide-based polymers, vinyl alcohol-based polymers, vinylidene chloride-based polymers, vinyl butyral-based polymers, arylate-based polymers, polyoxymethylene-based polymers, and epoxy-based polymers; and any blend composed of two or more of these polymers. The transparent protective film may contain one or more appropriate additives selected at will. Examples of the additive(s) include an ultraviolet absorbent, an antioxidant, a lubricant, a plasticizer, a release agent, a coloring preventive, a flame retardant, a nucleating agent, an antistatic agent, a pigment and a colorant. The content of one or more of the above-mentioned thermoplastic resins in the transparent protective film is preferably from 50 to 100%, more preferably from 50 to 99%, even more preferably from 60 to 98%, in particular preferably from 70 to 97% by weight. If the content of the thermoplastic resin(s) in the transparent protective film is 50% or less by weight, it is feared that the transparent-protective film cannot sufficiently express, high transparency and other properties which the thermoplastic resin(s) originally has/have.
The transparent protective film may be a polymer film described in JP-A-2001-343529 (WO 01/37007), for example, a resin composition including a thermoplastic resin (A) having at a side chain thereof a substituted inside group and/or an unsubstituted imide group and a thermoplastic resin having at a side chain thereof a substituted phenyl and/or an unsubstituted phenyl, and a nitrile group. A specific example thereof is a film of a resin composition including an alternating copolymer made from isobutylene and N-methylmaleimide, and acrylonitrile/styrene copolymer. The film may be a film made of, for example, a blend extruded product of the resin composition. Such a film is small in retardation, and small in photoelastic coefficient; thus, this film can solve inconveniences, such as an unevenness of the polarizing film that is based on strains in the film. Moreover, the film is small in water-vapor permeability to be excellent in humidity endurance.
In the polarizing film, the transparent protective film. preferably has a water-vapor permeability of 156 g/m2/24-hours or less. This structure makes water in the air difficult to enter the inside of the polarizing, film, so that the water content, by percentage in the polarizing film itself can be restrained from being changed. As a result, the polarizing film can be restrained from being curled or changed in dimension by a storage environment of the film.
The transparent protective film laid over one surface or each of both surfaces of the polarizer is preferably a film excellent, in transparency, mechanical strength, thermal stability, water blocking performance, isotropy and others; and is more preferably a material the water-vapor permeability of which is particularly 150 g/m2/24-hours or less, in particular preferably 120 g/m2/24-hours or less, more preferably from 5 to 70 g/m2/24-hours. The water-vapor permeability is gained by a method described in the item EXAMPLES.
Examples of a material for forming the transparent protective film satisfying the above-mentioned low water-vapor permeability include polyester resins, such as polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate; polycarbonate resins; arylate-based resins; amide-based resins such as nylon and aromatic polyamide; polyolefin-based polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene and ethylene/propylene copolymer, cyclic, olefin-based, resins, having a cyclic or norbornene structure, and (meth)acrylic resins; and mixtures each made of two or more of these resins. Out of these resins, preferred are polycarbonate resins, cyclic polyolefin-based resins and (meth)acrylic resins, and particularly preferred are cyclic polyolefin-based resins and (meth)acrylic resins.
The thickness of the transparent protective film may be appropriately decided, and is generally from about 5 to 100 μm, in particular preferably from 10 to 60 μm, more preferably from 13 to 40 μm from the viewpoint of the strength, the handleability and other workabilities of the film, thin-layer properties of the film, and other factors.
As required, the transparent protective film is subjected to a surface-modifying treatment, such as corona treatment, plasma treatment, or saponifying treatment, to have reactive functional group, such as hydroxyl, carbonyl and amino groups. Thus, about an adhesion improvement-treated transparent protective film in which a transparent protective film having, on surfaces thereof, at least reactive functional groups has, on at least one of the surfaces, a compound represented by the general formula (1), in particular, an adhesion-improving layer attached transparent protective film in which an adhesion-improving layer including a compound, represented by the general formula (1) is formed, close adhesion is improved between its adhesive layer, and the transparent protective film. Consequently, the adhesion, improvement-treated transparent protective film is improved, particularly in adhesion therein.
The method for bonding the polarizer and the protective film to each other may be a method using a roll laminator. The method for laminating protective films, respectively, onto both surfaces of the polarizer is selected from a method of bonding the polarizer to one of the protective films, and then bonding the other protective film to the resultant, and a method of bonding the two protective films simultaneously to the polarizer. Air bubbles involved between the polarizer and the protective films, which are generated at the time of the bonding, can be remarkably decreased by adopting the former method, that is, the method of bonding the polarizer to one of the protective films, and then bonding the other protective film to the resultant. Thus, the former method is favorable.
The retardation film may be, for example, a retardation film having a front-face retardation of 40 nm or more and/or a thickness-direction retardation of 80 nm or more. The front-face retardation and the thickness-direction retardation are usually controlled Into the range of 40 to 200 nm, and that of 80 to 300 nm, respectively.
The retardation, film is, for example, a birefringence film yielded by stretching a polymeric material uniaxially or biaxially, an aligned film of a liquid crystal polymer, or a product in which an aligned layer of a liquid crystal polymer is support on a film. The thickness of the retardation film is not particularly limited, and is generally from about 20 to 150 μm.
The retardation film may be a reverse wavelength dispersion type retardation film satisfying the following expressions (1) to (3):
0.70<Re[450]/Re[550]<0.97 (1),
1.5×10−3<Δn<6×10−3 (2), and
1.13<NZ<1.50 (3)
wherein Re[450] and Re[550] are, respectively, an in-plane retardation value of the retardation film that, is measured at a wavelength of 450 nm at 23° C., and an in-plane retardation value of the retardation film that is measured at a wavelength of 550 nm at 23° C.; Δn is an in-plane birefringence “nx−ny” of the retardation film when the retardation film has a refractive index nx in a slow axis direction of the film, and has a refractive index ny in a fast axis direction of the film; and when the retardation, film has a refractive index nz in a thickness direction of the film, NZ is a ratio between “nx−nz”, which is a birefringence of the film in the thickness direction, and “nx−ny”, which is an in-plane birefringence of the film.
In the present invention, the laminated resin film is preferably a polarizing film. Furthermore, the polarizing film may be a laminated optical film in which, a different optical film is laminated onto the polarizing film. The optical film is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a retardation film (examples thereof including ½ and ¼ wavelength plates), a viewing angle compensation films, a brightness enhancement film, a reflector or an anti-transmissible plate, and other optical films that are each a film that may be used to form, for example, a liquid crystal display device. These optical films may each be used as a substrate film for an adhesion-improving layer attached substrate film in the present invention. As required, the optical film is subjected to a surface-modifying treatment to have reactive functional groups such as hydroxyl, carbonyl, and amino groups. Thus, about an adhesion improvement-treated retardation film in which a retardation film having surfaces each having at least reactive functional groups includes, on at least one of the surfaces, a compound represented by the general formula (1), in particular, about an adhesion-improving layer attached retardation film in which an adhesion-improving layer including a compound represented by the general formula (1) is formed, close adhesion is improved between its adhesive layer and, for example, the retardation film. Consequently, the adhesion improvement-treated retardation film is improved, particularly, in adhesion therein.
In the above-defined polarizing film, or an optical film in which this polarizing film or such polarizing films are laminated onto a member, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer may be laid for bonding this polarizing film or optical film onto a different member such as a liquid crystal cell. A pressure-sensitive adhesive agent which forms the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is not particularly limited. This agent may be appropriately selected from the following, and then used: pressure-sensitive adhesive agents each containing, as a base polymer thereof, an acrylic polymer, silicone-based polymer, polyester, polyurethane, polyamide, polyether, fluorine-containing polymer, rubbery polymer, or some other polymer. The pressure-sensitive adhesive agent is in particular preferably an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive, or any other pressure-sensitive adhesive that is excellent in optical transparency, and shows adherabilities of appropriate wettability, cohesive property and adhesion to be excellent in weather resistance, heat resistance and others.
Pressure-sensitive adhesive layers may be laid, as superimposed layers different from each other in, for example, composition or species, onto a single surface or each surface of the polarizing film or the optical film. When pressure-sensitive adhesive layers are laid, respectively, onto both surfaces of the polarizing or optical film, these layers may be different from each other in, for example, composition, species or thickness on the front and rear side of the film. The thickness of (each of) the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer(s) may be appropriately decided in accordance with, for example, the use purpose and adhering strength thereof. The thickness is generally from 1 to 500 μm, preferably from 1 to 200 μm, in particular preferably from 1 to 100 μm.
A separator is temporarily bonded to a naked surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer to cover the surface in order to attain the prevention of the pollution of the surface, and other purposes until this layer is put into practical use. This coverage allows to prevent a person or object from contacting the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer in an ordinarily handled state thereof. The separator may be an appropriate separator according to conventional techniques except the above-mentioned thickness conditions, for example, a plastic film, a rubber sheet, a paper, cloth or nonwoven cloth piece, a net, a foamed sheet or a metal foil piece; a laminated body of such flat pieces; or a product in which such a flat piece is optionally subjected to coating treatment with an appropriate release agent, such as a silicone type, long-chain alkyl type or fluorine-containing type agent, or molybdenum sulfide.
The polarizing film or laminated polarizing film of the present invention is preferably usable to form various devices such as a liquid crystal display device. The formation of the liquid crystal display device may be attained in accordance with the prior art. In other words, any liquid crystal display device is generally formed, for example, by: fabricating appropriately a liquid crystal cell and a polarizing film or laminated optical film, and further optional constituent parts such as an optional lighting system; and then integrating a driving circuit into the resultant. In the present invention, the method for the formation is not particularly limited except, the use of the polarizing film or laminated optical film according to the invention. Thus, the method is substantially according to the prior art. The liquid crystal cell may be also of any type, such as a TN type, STN type or π type.
An appropriate liquid crystal display device may be formed, examples thereof including liquid crystal display device in which a polarizing film or laminated optical film is arranged onto one of both sides of a liquid crystal cell or each of both the sides, and a liquid crystal display device in which a backlight or reflector is used as a lighting system. In this case, any polarizing film or laminated optical film according to the present invention can be set onto the one side of the liquid crystal cell, or each of both the sides thereof. When polarizing films or laminated optical films of the invention are set up, respectively, on both the sides, these may be the same as or different from each other. When the liquid crystal display device is formed, one or more appropriate components may be further arranged, at one or more appropriate positions of the device, in the form of one or two or more layers of the component (s). Examples of the component(s) include a diffusion plate, an anti-glare layer, an anti-reflection film, a protective plate, a prism array, a lens array sheet, a light diffusion plate, and a backlight.
Hereinafter, working examples of the present invention will be described. However, embodiments of the invention are not limited thereto.
A 45-μm-thickness film of a polyvinyl alcohol having an average polymerization degree of 2400 and a saponification degree of 99.5% by mole was immersed in hot water of 30° C. temperature for 60 seconds to be swollen. Next, the film was immersed in an aqueous solution of iodine and potassium iodide (ratio by weight=0.5/8), the concentration thereof being 0.3%, and the film was dyed therewith while stretched into a length 3.5 times the original length. Thereafter, the film was stretched in an aqueous solution of a boric acid that had a temperature of 65° C. to give a total stretch ratio of 6. After the stretching, the film was dried in an oven of 40° C. temperature for 3 minutes. In this way, each polyvinyl alcohol-based polarizer (thickness: 18 μm) was yielded.
Each protective film A: A biaxial kneader was used to mix 100 parts by weight of an imidated MS resin described in Production Example 1 in JF-A-2010-284840 with 0.62 parts by weight of a triazine-based ultraviolet absorbent (trade name: T 712, manufactured by Adeka Corp.) at 220° C. to produce resin pellets. The resultant resin pellets were dried at 100.5 kPa and 100° C. for 12 hours, and a uniaxial extruder was then used to extrude the pellets through a T die at a dice temperature of 270° C. to be shaped into the form of a film (thickness: 160 μm). Furthermore, this film was stretched, into the transporting direction thereof in an atmosphere of 150° C. temperature (thickness: 80 μm). Next, an adhesion-improving agent containing an aqueous urethane resin was applied onto the film, and then the film was stretched into a direction orthogonal to the film-transporting direction in an atmosphere of 150° C. temperature. In this way, each transparent protective film A of 40 μm thickness was yielded.
Each protective film B: Each 60-μm-thickness triacetylcellulose film (FUJTTACK TG6GUL, manufactured by Fujifilm Corp.) was used.
Each protective film C: Each 50-μm-thickness cyclic olefin polymer film (COP) (ZB-12, manufactured by Zeon Corp.) was used.
As active energy rays, visible rays (gallium sealed metal halide lamp) were used. Radiating device: Light HAMMER 10, manufactured by Fusion UV Systems, Inc. Bulb: V bulb. Peak irradiance: 1600 mW/cm2. Integrated radiated-light quantity: 1000/mJ/cm2 (wavelengths: 380 to 440 nm). The irradiance of the visible rays was measured, using a Sola-Check system manufactured by Solatell Ltd.
A curable resin composition was prepared which included the following in this curable resin composition, the total proportion of which was 100% by weight: 10% by weight of hydroxyethylacrylamide (manufactured by Kojin Co., Ltd.); 30% by weight of acryloylmorpholine (manufactured by Kojin Co., Ltd.); 45% by weight of 1,9-nonanediol diacrylate (manufactured by Kyoeisha Chemical Co., Ltd.); 10% by weight of a product ARUFRON UP1190 (acrylic oligomer yielded by polymerizing (meth)acrylic monomers, this product being manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd.); 3% by weight, of a product. IRGACURE 907 (polymerization initiator, manufactured by the company BASF); and 2% by weight of a product KAYACURE DETX-S (polymerization initiator, manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.
An adhesion-improving composition (A) used in each of Examples 1 to 18 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5 was yielded by mixing individual components with each other in accordance with a blend table described in Table 1. Compounds blended into the adhesion-improving composition (A) are as follows:
3-Acrylamidephenylboric acid (compound represented by the general formula (1) (manufactured by Junsei Chemical Co., Ltd.),
3-Methacrylamidephenylboric acid (compound represented by the general formula (1): (manufactured by Junsei Chemical Co., Ltd.),
4-Methacrylamidephenylboric acid (compound represented by the general formula (1)): (manufactured by Junsei chemical Co., Ltd.),
4-Vinylphenylboric acid (compound represented by the general formula (1): (manufactured by Junsei chemical Co., Ltd.),
OLFIN EXP4200 (leveling agent): (manufactured by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.),
ARON A-104 (binder component): acrylic resin (solid content: 40%) (manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd.), and
JC-25 (binder component): polyvinyl, alcohol resin (manufactured by Japan VAM & Poval Co., Ltd.).
The composition (A) used in each of Examples 1 to 18 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5, which is described in one of Tables 1 to 3, was applied onto both surfaces of any one of the above-mentioned polarizers, using a wire bar (manufactured by a company limited Dai-Ichi Rika; No. 2). The resultant was wind-dried at 60° C. for one minute to remove the solvent therein to produce an adhesion-improving-layer-attached polarizer. Next, the above-mentioned curable resin, composition was applied onto an adhesion surface of any one of the transparent protective films A, and onto an adhesion, surface of any one of the transparent protective films B, so as to give each thickness of 0.7 μm, using an MCD coater (manufactured by FUJI KIKAI KOGYO Co., Ltd) (cell shape: honeycomb, the number of gravure lines: 1000 lines/inch, and rotating speed: 140% of the line speed). A rolling device was then used to bond these protective films onto both surfaces of the above-mentioned polarizer, respectively. Thereafter, from an active energy ray radiating device, the above-mentioned visible rays were radiated onto both surfaces of the workpiece from the bonded transparent protective film sides (both sides) thereof to cure the active energy ray curable adhesive. Thereafter, the workpiece was dried by hot wind at 70° C. for 3 minutes to yield a polarizing film having, on both sides thereof, the transparent protective films, respectively. The line speed for the bonding was 25 m/min.
About the polarizing film yielded in each of the working examples and the comparative examples, evaluations described below were made. Results of the evaluations are shown in Tables 1 to 4.
The polarizing film yielded in each of the examples was cat into pieces each having a size of 200 mm in a direction in parallel with the stretched direction of the polarizer, and 20 mm in an direction orthogonal thereto. A utility knife was cut into between one of the transparent protective films and the polarizer of one of the pieces, and into between the other side transparent protective film and the polarizer of another of the pieces. Each of the resultant polarizing films was bonded to a glass plate. A machine Tensilon was used to peel off the transparent protective film and the polarizer from each other into 90-degree directions at a peel rate of 10 m/min. The peel strength thereof was measured. Moreover, after the peeling, an infrared absorption spectrum of each of the resultant peel surfaces was measured, using an ATR method. The peel interface was then evaluated in accordance with the following criterion:
A: cohesive fracture of the one or the other transparent protective film,
B: interfacial fracture between the transparent protective film and the adhesive layer,
C: interfacial fracture between the adhesive layer and the polarizer, or
D: cohesive fracture of the polarizer.
In this criterion, A and D each mean that the adhering strength is not less than the cohesive strength of the film so that the adhering strength is very good. In the meantime, B and C each mean that the transparent-protective-film/adhesive-layer (adhesive-layer/polarizer) interface is insufficient in adhering strength (or poor in adhering strength). Considering these matters, when the polarizing film falls under A or D, the adhering strength is judged to be good (circular mark); when the polarizing film falls under A and B (simultaneous generation of “cohesive fracture of the transparent protective film” and “interfacial fracture between the transparent protective film and the adhesive layer”) or under A and C (simultaneous generation of “cohesive fracture of the transparent protective film” and “interfacial fracture between the adhesive layer and the polarizer”), the adhering strength is judged to be acceptable (triangular mark); or when the polarizing film falls under B or C, the adhering strength is judged to foe bad (cross mark).
The polarizing film yielded in each of the examples was cut into pieces each having a size of 200 mm in a direction in parallel with the stretched direction of the polarizer, and 20 mm in a direction orthogonal thereto. The polarizing films were immersed in pure water of 23° C. temperature for 24 hours, and then taken out. The polarizing films were wiped with a dried cloth, and then a utility knife was cut into between one of the transparent protective films and the polarizer of one of the pieces, and into between the other side transparent protective film and the polarizer of another of the pieces. Each of the resultant polarizing films was bonded to a glass plate. A machine Tensilon was used to peel off the transparent protective film and the polarizer from each other into 90-degree directions at a peel rate of 10 m/min. The peel strength thereof was measured. Moreover, after the peeling, an infrared absorption spectrum of each of the resultant peel surfaces was measured, using an ATR method. The peel interface was then evaluated in accordance with the same criterion as in the adhering strength test. This evaluation was made within one minute after the time when the polarizing film was taken out from the pure water.
The polarizing film yielded in each of the examples was cut into pieces each having a size of 200 mm in a direction in parallel with the stretched direction of the polarizer, and 20 mm in an direction orthogonal thereto. The polarizing films were immersed in pure water of 23° C. temperature for 48 hours, and then taken out. The polarizing films were wiped with a dried cloth, and then a utility knife was cut into between one of the transparent protective films and the polarizer of one of the pieces, and into between the other side transparent protective film and the polarizer of another of the pieces. Each of the resultant polarizing films was bonded to a glass plate. A machine Tensilon was used to peel off the transparent protective film and the polarizer from each other into 90-degree directions at a peel rate of 10 m/min. The peel strength thereof was measured. Moreover, after the peeling, an infrared absorption spectrum of each of the resultant peel surfaces was measured, using an ATR method. The peel interface was then evaluated in accordance with the same criterion as in the adhering strength test. This evaluation was made within one minute after the time when the polarizing film was taken out from the pure water.
An adhesion-improving composition (A) used in each of Example 19 and Comparative Examples 6 to 8 was yielded by mixing individual components with each other in accordance with a blend table described in Table 4.
The composition (A) used in each of Example 19 and Comparative Examples 6 to 8, which is described in Table 4, was applied onto both surfaces of any one of the above-mentioned polarizers, using a wire bar (manufactured by a company limited Dai-Ichi Rika; No. 2), The resultant was wind-dried at 60° C. for one minute to remove the solvent therein to produce an adhesion-improving-layer-attached polarizer. Next, each of two of the transparent protective films C was subjected to corona treatment, and the corona-treated surface of the film was coated with the composition (A) used in used in each of Example 19 and Comparative Examples 6 to 8, which is described in Table 3. The resultants were then dried at 60° C. for one minute to remove the solvent therein. In this way, adhesion-improving-layer-attached protective films C were produced. The above-mentioned curable resin composition was applied onto adhesion surfaces of the adhesion-improving-layer-attached polarizer and each of the adhesion-improving-layer-attached protective films C, so as to give each thickness of 0.7 μm, using an MCB coater (manufactured by FUJI KIKAI KOGYO Co., Ltd) (cell shape: honeycomb, the number of gravure lines: 1000 lines/inch, and rotating speed: 140% of line speed). A rolling device was then used to cause the protective films to bond onto both surfaces of the polarizer, respectively. Thereafter, from an active energy ray radiating device, the above-mentioned visible rays were radiated onto both surfaces of the workpiece from the bonded transparent protective film sides (both sides) thereof to cure the active energy ray curable adhesive. Thereafter, the workpiece was dried by hot wind at 70° C. for 3 minutes to yield a polarizing film having, on both sides thereof, the transparent protective films, respectively. The line speed for the bonding was 25 m/min.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-099138 | May 2016 | JP | national |
| 2016-099139 | May 2016 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2017/018421 | 5/16/2017 | WO | 00 |
