Liquid crystal cell for scanning antenna and method of producing liquid crystal cell for scanning antenna

A method of producing a liquid crystal cell for a scanning antenna, comprising:

• applying a photocurable and/or thermosetting ODF sealant composition including an ene compound, a thiol compound, and a radical polymerization initiator in a frame-like shape onto one of a TFT board and a slot board, the TFT boards including a first dielectric substrate, TFTs supported by the first dielectric substrate, and patch electrodes electrically connected to the TFTs, the slot board including a second dielectric substrate and a slot electrode having slots and supported by the second dielectric substrate;
• applying a liquid crystal material including a liquid crystal compound containing an isothiocyanate group onto the one of the TFT board and the slot board by an ODF method on an inner side of the frame-like shaped ODF sealant composition;
• allowing the ODF sealant composition on the one of the TFT board and the slot board to be subjected to precuring;
• attaching the TFT board and the slot board to each other with the ODF sealant composition therebetween;
• and
• allowing the ODF sealant composition to be subjected to final curing.

A method of producing a liquid crystal cell for a scanning antenna, comprising:

• applying a photocurable and/or thermosetting sealant composition in a frame-like shape with a cutout onto one of a TFT board and a slot board, the TFT board including a first dielectric substrate, TFTs supported by the first dielectric substrate, and patch electrodes electrically connected to the TFTs, the slot board including a second dielectric substrate and a slot electrode having slots and supported by the second dielectric substrate;
• allowing the sealant composition on the one of the TFT board and the slot board to be subjected to precuring;
• attaching the TFT board and the slot board to each other with the sealant composition therebetween;
• allowing the sealant composition to be subjected to final curing;
• injecting a liquid crystal material including a liquid crystal compound containing an isothiocyanate group by a vacuum impregnation method through an inlet portion including the cutout in the final cured sealant composition;
• applying a photocurable and/or thermosetting sealing material composition including an ene compound, a thiol compound, and a radical polymerization initiator to close the inlet portion;
• and
• curing the sealing material composition to form a sealing portion.