Liquid crystal composition, selectively reflective film and method for producing the same

Abstract

The present invention provides a liquid crystal composition including a liquid crystal compound containing at least one polymerizable group, two or more kinds of photoreactive chiral compounds that undergo isomerization when respectively irradiated with light beams having mutually different wavelengths and exhibit mutually different HTPs after isomerization, and a polymerization initiator; a selectively reflective film produced using the liquid crystal compound; and a method for producing the selectively reflective film. Instead of the two or more kinds of photoreactive chiral compounds, a single photoreactive chiral compound that undergoes reversible isomerization when irradiated with either of two light beams having mutually different wavelengths may be used.

1 . A liquid crystal composition comprising: 
 a liquid crystal compound containing at least one polymerizable group;    two or more kinds of photoreactive chiral compounds that undergo isomerization when respectively irradiated with light beams having mutually different wavelengths and exhibit mutually different HTPs after isomerization; and    a polymerization initiator.    
     
     
         2 . A liquid crystal composition comprising: 
 a liquid crystal compound containing at least one polymerizable group;    a photoreactive chiral compound that undergoes reversible isomerization when irradiated with either of two light beams having mutually different wavelengths and exhibits an HTP after isomerization by each light beam, which HTPs are mutually different; and    a polymerization initiator.    
     
     
         3 . The liquid crystal composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising a non-photoreactive chiral compound.  
     
     
         4 . The liquid crystal composition according to  claim 2 , further comprising a non-photoreactive chiral compound.  
     
     
         5 . (canceled)  
     
     
         6 . (canceled)  
     
     
         7 . (canceled)  
     
     
         8 . A selectively reflective film produced by polymerizing and curing a liquid crystal composition comprising a liquid crystal compound containing at least one polymerizable group; two or more kinds of photoreactive chiral compounds that undergo isomerization when respectively irradiated with light beams having mutually different wavelengths and exhibit mutually different HTPs after isomerization; and a polymerization initiator.  
     
     
         9 . The selectively reflective film according to  claim 8 , wherein the liquid crystal composition further comprises a non-photoreactive chiral compound.  
     
     
         10 . (canceled)  
     
     
         11 . A selectively reflective film produced by polymerizing and curing a liquid crystal composition comprising a liquid crystal compound containing at least one polymerizable group; a photoreactive chiral compound that undergoes reversible isomerization when irradiated with either of two light beams having mutually different wavelengths and exhibits an HTP after isomerization by each light beam, which HTPs are mutually different; and a polymerization initiator.  
     
     
         12 . The selectively reflective film according to  claim 11 , wherein the liquid crystal composition further comprises a non-photoreactive chiral compound.  
     
     
         13 . (canceled)  
     
     
         14 . A method for producing a selectively reflective film using a liquid crystal composition comprising a liquid crystal compound containing at least one polymerizable group; two or more kinds of photoreactive chiral compounds that undergo isomerization when respectively irradiated with light beams having mutually different wavelengths and exhibit mutually different HTPs after isomerization; and a polymerization initiator, the method comprising the steps of: 
 preparing the liquid crystal composition, which is capable of displaying selective reflection of a first color;    coating the liquid crystal composition on a surface of a substrate;    imagewise irradiating light having a first wavelength to which one of the photoreactive chiral compounds is photosensitive to undergo isomerization, such that selective reflection of a second color is displayed;    imagewise irradiating light having a second wavelength, which is different from the first wavelength and to which another of the photoreactive chiral compounds is photosensitive to undergo isomerization, such that selective reflection of a third color is displayed; and    polymerizing the liquid crystal compound.    
     
     
         15 . The method for producing a selectively reflective film according to  claim 14 , wherein the liquid crystal composition further comprises a non-photoreactive chiral compound.  
     
     
         16 . (canceled)  
     
     
         17 . A method for producing a selectively reflective film using a liquid crystal composition comprising a liquid crystal compound containing at least one polymerizable group; a photoreactive chiral compound that undergoes reversible isomerization when irradiated with either of two light beams having mutually different wavelengths and exhibits an HTP after isomerization by each light beam, which HTPs are mutually different; and a polymerization initiator, the method comprising the steps of: 
 preparing the liquid crystal composition, which is capable of displaying selective reflection of a first color;    coating the liquid crystal composition on a surface of a substrate;    imagewise irradiating light having a first wavelength to which the photoreactive chiral compound is photosensitive to undergo isomerization, such that selective reflection of a second color is displayed;    imagewise irradiating light having a second wavelength, which is different from the first wavelength and to which the photoreactive chiral compound is photosensitive to undergo isomerization, such that selective reflection of a third color is displayed; and    polymerizing the liquid crystal compound.    
     
     
         18 . The method for producing a selectively reflective film according to  claim 17 , wherein the liquid crystal composition further comprises a non-photoreactive chiral compound.  
     
     
         19 . (canceled)  
     
     
         20 . (canceled)