Patterned retarder films using reactive mesogen technology

Abstract

A range of polymerisable liquid crystals mixtures have been developed (so called, Reactive Mesogen) that are ideally suited for the fabrication of patterned retarder films. Such films, made using a combination of Merck Reactive Mesogen Mixtures coated on a plastic substrate containing a photoalignment layer, are commercially employed to produce 3D displays. Different methods of patterning Reactive Mesogen Mixtures are discussed and the merits of each considered. Although the first commercial products use normal dispersion Reactive Mesogen Materials, the advantages of using the next generation of materials, which have improved wavelength dispersion, are introduced with a focus on their use in 3D patterned retarder films.