Composition for inkjet spacer formation and spacer element using the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to an composition for spacer formation and a spacer element using the same, and more particularly to an composition for spacer formation comprising a) 10 to 70 parts by weight (dry weight) of a polymer emulsion; b) 0.1 to 50 parts by weight of a wetting agent; and c) 20 to 90 parts by weight of a solvent, and a spacer element using the same. The composition of the present invention has a significantly low viscosity and can be sprayed easily by inkjet, so that it is useful for spacer formation in liquid crystal displays.

1 . An composition for spacer formation having a viscosity of 3 to 50 cp, comprising: 
 a) 10 to 70 parts by weight (dry weight) of a polymer emulsion;    b) 0.1 to 50 parts by weight of a wetting agent; and    c) 20 to 90 parts by weight of a solvent,    wherein the polymer emulsion has a weight average molecular weight of 300 to 50,000,    wherein the composition is applied in a spacer formation of a display device.    
   
   
       2 . The composition for spacer formation according to  claim 1 , wherein a) the polymer emulsion is selected from a group consisting of an acryl emulsion, a urethane acryl emulsion, an epoxy acryl emulsion, a polyester acryl emulsion, and any mixture thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein b) the wetting agent is selected from a group consisting of glycols, glycerine, ethers of polyhydric alcohols, acetates of polyhydric alcohols, thioglycol, and amino acids.  
   
   
       4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein c) the solvent is selected from a group consisting of water, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, methylcellosolve, ethylcellosolve, tetrahydrofuran, 1,4-dioxane, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, ethylene glycol diethyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol dimethyl ether, propylene glycol diethyl ether, chloroform, methylene chloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethene, hexane, heptane, octane, cyclohexane, benzene, toluene, xylene, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, propanol, butanol, t-butanol, cyclohexanone, propylene glycol methyl ether acetate, propylene glycol ethyl ether acetate, 3-methoxybutyl acetate, ethyl 3-ethoxy propionate, ethylcellosolve acetate, methylcellosolve acetate, butyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, γ-butyl lactone, N-methylpyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, tetramethylsulfone, ethylene glycol acetate, ethyl ether acetate, ethyl lactate, polyethylene glycol, and cyclohexanone.  
   
   
       5 . The composition according to  claim 1 , which further comprises d) less than 10 parts by weight of a cross-linking initiator and a cross-linking promoter; or e) less than 40 parts by weight of a polymeric compound having unsaturated bonds.  
   
   
       6 . The composition according to  claim 1 , which further comprises f) less than 5 parts by weight of additives selected from a group consisting of an antifoaming agent, a surface tension controlling agent, a light stabilizer, an anti-biocontaminant, an oxygen absorbent, and a thermal polymerization inhibitor.  
   
   
       7 . A spacer formed by the composition according to  claim 1 .  
   
   
       8 . A display device comprising the spacer according to  claim 7  on at least one of the two opposing substrates.  
   
   
       9 . A display device according to  claim 8 , wherein the display device is a liquid crystal display or an electrochromic device.  
   
   
       10 . A method for preparing composition for spacer formation having a viscosity of 3 to 50 cp, comprising: 
 a) 10 to 70 parts by weight (dry weight) of a polymer emulsion;    b) 0.1 to 50 parts by weight of a wetting agent; and    c) 20 to 90 parts by weight of a solvent,    wherein the polymer emulsion has a weight average molecular weight of 300 to 50,000,    wherein the composition is applied by the inkjet method to form a spacer on one of the two opposing substrates of a display device.    
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the display device is a liquid crystal display or an electrochromic device.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein a) the polymer emulsion is selected from a group consisting of an acryl emulsion, a urethane acryl emulsion, an epoxy acryl emulsion, a polyester acryl emulsion, and any mixture thereof.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein b) the wetting agent is selected from a group consisting of glycols, glycerine, ethers of polyhydric alcohols, acetates of polyhydric alcohols, thioglycol, and amino acids.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein c) the solvent is selected from a group consisting of water, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, methylcellosolve, ethylcellosolve, tetrahydrofuran, 1,4-dioxane, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, ethylene glycol diethyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol dimethyl ether, propylene glycol diethyl ether, chloroform, methylene chloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethene, hexane, heptane, octane, cyclohexane, benzene, toluene, xylene, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, propanol, butanol, t-butanol, cyclohexanone, propylene glycol methyl ether acetate, propylene glycol ethyl ether acetate, 3-methoxybutyl acetate, ethyl 3-ethoxy propionate, ethylcellosolve acetate, methylcellosolve acetate, butyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, γ-butyl lactone, N-methylpyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, tetramethylsulfone, ethylene glycol acetate, ethyl ether acetate, ethyl lactate, polyethylene glycol, and cyclohexanone.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 10 , which further comprises d) less than 10 parts by weight of a cross-linking initiator and a cross-linking promoter; or e) less than 40 parts by weight of a polymeric compound having unsaturated bonds.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 10 , which further comprises f) less than 5 parts by weight of additives selected from a group consisting of an antifoaming agent, a surface tension controlling agent, a light stabilizer, an anti-biocontaminant, an oxygen absorbent, and a thermal polymerization inhibitor.