Method of aligning liquid-crystalline compound

Abstract

A method of aligning a liquid crystal compound comprising a stretching treatment or rubbing treatment which allows the liquid crystal compound to be aligned in a direction different from the stretching direction or the rubbing direction is provided. A method of aligning a liquid crystal compound characterized in that the method comprises subjecting a polymeric film having hydroxyl groups to a) a stretching treatment and an esterifying treatment, or b) an esterifying treatment followed by a rubbing treatment; and then forming a layer of the liquid crystal compound on the film, so that the liquid crystal compound is aligned in a direction different from the stretching direction in case of a), or the liquid crystal compound is aligned in a direction almost perpendicular to the surface of the rubbed film in case of b).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.