Fabrication method for liquid crystal alignment layer by magnetic field treatment

Abstract

A fabrication method for a liquid crystal alignment layer which has an excellent liquid crystal orientation efficiency and stability, and which can be mass-produced includes coating a thermoplastic polymer film on a transparent electrode to have a thickness of not less than 500.perp., fabricating a temporary cell with a structure of transparent electrode (ITO glass) / polymer film / liquid crystal / polymer film / transparent electrode (ITO glass) by attaching two transparent electrodes having polymer films coated thereon and infusing liquid crystal, fabricating a stack with a structure of transparent electrode (ITO glass)/polymer film /liquid crystal by contacting liquid crystal on the polymer film, heating the temporary cell or the stack at lower than phase separation temperature of a blend of liquid crystal and the polymer film, while applying a magnetic field exceeding 0.2 tesla, and cooling the temporary cell or the stack in the magnetic field at a cooling rate of not more than 100.degree. C. per minute.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.