Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7074472?dq=7,181,690
Timestamp: 2017-08-20 14:12:55
Document Index: 625791177

Matched Legal Cases: ['application No. 11', 'ART-4', 'ART-3', 'ART-4', 'ART-4', 'ART-3', 'ART-4', 'ART-4', 'ART-4', 'ART-4', 'ART-4']

Patent US7074472 - Hard coat agent composition and optical information medium using the same - Google Patents
The present invention provides a hard coat agent composition that is useful for forming a hard coat layer with excellent anti-staining properties and lubricity, as well as superior scratch resistance and abrasion resistance, on the surfaces of various articles. The present invention also provides an...http://www.google.com/patents/US7074472?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7074472 - Hard coat agent composition and optical information medium using the same
Publication number US7074472 B2
Application number US 10/949,258
Also published as CN1863881A, CN100471923C, DE112004001757B4, DE112004001757T5, US20050072336, WO2005033231A1
Publication number 10949258, 949258, US 7074472 B2, US 7074472B2, US-B2-7074472, US7074472 B2, US7074472B2
Inventors Hidetake Itoh, Kazushi Tanaka, Naoki Hayashida
Patent Citations (25), Referenced by (11), Classifications (36), Legal Events (3)
Hard coat agent composition and optical information medium using the same
US 7074472 B2
The present invention provides a hard coat agent composition that is useful for forming a hard coat layer with excellent anti-staining properties and lubricity, as well as superior scratch resistance and abrasion resistance, on the surfaces of various articles. The present invention also provides an optical information medium using the above hard coat agent composition. A hard coat agent composition comprising a fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) comprising an active energy ray-reactive group, and a curable compound (B) comprising two, or three or more active energy ray-polymerizable groups within each molecule. An optical information medium comprising a film element composed of one or more layers including at least a recording layer (4) or a reflective layer, on a supporting substrate (20), wherein at least one of the supporting substrate (20)-side surface and the film element-side surface is formed of a hard coat layer (8) comprising a cured product of the hard coat agent composition.
1. A hard coat agent composition comprising:
a fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) comprising two or more active energy ray-reactive groups within each molecule, and
a curable compound (B) comprising two, or three or more active energy ray-polymerizable groups within each molecule, wherein the curable compound (B) contains no fluorine atoms.
2. The hard coat agent composition according to claim 1, comprising 0.01 part by weight or more and 3 parts by weight or less of the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) per 100 parts by weight of the nonvolatile content of the composition.
3. The hard coat agent composition according to claim 1, wherein the curable compound (B) comprises from 65 to 100% by weight of a curable compound (Bt) containing three or more active energy ray-polymerizable groups within each molecule, and from 0 to 35% by weight of a curable compound (Bd) containing two active energy ray-polymerizable groups within each molecule, with respect to the curable compound (B).
4. The hard coat agent composition according to claim 1, wherein the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) comprises active energy ray-reactive groups at both molecular terminals.
5. The hard coat agent composition according to claim 1, wherein the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) comprises one or more active energy ray-reactive group(s) per 1000 of molecular weight.
6. The hard coat agent composition according to claim 1, wherein the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) comprises two or more active energy ray-reactive groups per 1000 of molecular weight.
7. The hard coat agent composition according to claim 1, wherein the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) comprises four or more active energy ray-reactive groups per 1000 of molecular weight.
8. The hard coat agent composition according to claim 1, wherein the active energy ray-reactive group of the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) is selected from the group consisting of(meth)acryloyl group and vinyl group.
9. The hard coat agent composition according to claim 1, wherein the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) is a compound in which (meth)acryloyl group has been introduced at the hydroxyl group of a fluorine-containing polyether compound comprising hydroxyl group at a molecular terminal.
10. The hard coat agent composition according to claim 1, wherein the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) comprises a perfluoropolyether moiety.
11. The hard coat agent composition according to claim 1, further comprising inorganic fine particles (C) with an average particle size of not more than 100 nm.
12. The hard coat agent composition according to claim 11, comprising 5 parts by weight or more and 500 parts by weight or less of the inorganic fine particles (C) per 100 parts by weight of the curable compound (B).
13. The hard coat agent composition according to claim 11, wherein the inorganic fine particles (C) are either fine particles of a metal (or a semi-metal) oxide, or fine particles of a metal (or a semi-metal) sulfide.
14. The hard coat agent composition according to claim 11, wherein the inorganic fine particles (C) are fine particles of silica.
15. The hard coat agent composition according to claim 11, wherein the inorganic fine particles (C) are modified on the surface with a hydrolyzable silane compound containing an active energy ray-reactive group.
16. An article provided with a hard coat layer comprising a cured product of the hard coat agent composition according to claim 1, on the surface of the article.
17. An optical information medium comprising a film element composed of one or more layers including at least a recording layer or a reflective layer, on a supporting substrate, wherein at least one of the supporting substrate-side surface and the film element-side surface is formed of a hard coat layer comprising a cured product of the hard coat agent composition according to claim 1.
18. The optical information medium according to claim 17, wherein either one of the supporting substrate-side surface or the film element-side surface upon which the light is incident is formed of the hard coat layer.
19. An optical information medium comprising an information recording layer on a supporting substrate, a light-transmitting layer on the information recording layer, and a hard coat layer comprising a cured product of the hard coat agent composition according to claim 1 on the light-transmitting layer.
The present invention relates to a hard coat agent composition that is useful for forming a hard coat layer with excellent anti-staining properties and lubricity, as well as superior scratch resistance and abrasion resistance, on the surfaces of various articles.
Furthermore, the present invention also relates to an article comprising a hard coat layer formed using the above hard coat agent composition on the surface of the article. Examples of articles that require a surface hard coat layer include optical information media, optical lenses, optical filters, anti-reflective films, and the various different display elements such as liquid crystal displays, CRT displays, plasma displays, and EL displays.
The present invention relates particularly to an optical information medium such as a read-only optical disk, an optical recording disk or a magneto-optical recording disk, with a hard coat layer formed using the above hard coat agent composition on the surface of the medium, and more specifically to an optical information medium in which the recording and/or reproducing beam incident side surface displays excellent anti-staining properties and lubricity, as well as superior scratch resistance and abrasion resistance.
On the surfaces of optical information media such as read-only optical disks, optical recording disks and magneto-optical recording disks, the stains from various stain materials and the adhesion of fingerprints are caused during use. These stains and adhesion fingerprints are undesirable, and accordingly, the surfaces of optical information media may be subjected to a suitable surface treatment to improve the anti-staining property, reduce the adhesion of fingerprints, and improve the ease with which fingerprints can be removed. For example, a variety of different water repellent and oil repellent treatments are being investigated for the surfaces of optical information media.
Japanese National Publication of PCT application No. 11-503768 (1999) discloses a radiation curable composition comprising a fluorine urethane oligomer and a diluent monomer.
Furthermore, even outside of the field of optical information media, scratch resistance and abrasion resistance are also very important attributes for the surfaces of optical lenses, optical filters, anti-reflection films, and any of the variety of different display elements such as liquid crystal displays, CRT displays, plasma displays, and EL displays, and as a result, a protective layer (hard coat layer) is typically formed on the surfaces of these articles. Furthermore, in a similar manner to the situation described above for optical disks, on the surfaces of these articles, the stains from various stain materials and the adhesion of fingerprints are caused during use. These stains and adhesion fingerprints are undesirable, meaning a hard coat layer with excellent anti-staining properties is required.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a hard coat agent composition that is useful for forming a hard coat layer with excellent anti-staining properties and lubricity, as well as superior scratch resistance and abrasion resistance, on the surfaces of various articles.
Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide an article comprising a hard coat layer, formed using the above hard coat agent composition, on the surface of the article.
In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical information medium in which the surface through which the recording and/or reproducing beam is irradiated displays excellent anti-staining properties and lubricity, as well as superior scratch resistance and abrasion resistance.
The present inventors made eager investigation. As a result, the present inventors have found out that by using a fluorine-containing polyether compound comprising active energy ray-reactive groups, a hard coat agent composition could be obtained that is capable of forming a hard coat layer with favorable hardness, as well as excellent anti-staining properties and lubricity.
(1) A hard coat agent composition comprising:
a fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) comprising an active energy ray-reactive group, and
a curable compound (B) comprising two, or three or more active energy ray-polymerizable groups within each molecule.
(2) The hard coat agent composition according to (1), comprising 0.01 part by weight or more and 3 parts by weight or less of the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) per 100 parts by weight of the nonvolatile content of the composition. This nonvolatile content includes not only the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) and the curable compound (B), but also optional components such as inorganic fine particles (C), a photopolymerization initiator, and a variety of other additives, as described below.
(3) The hard coat agent composition according to either one of (1) and (2), wherein the curable compound (B) comprises from 65 to 100% by weight of a curable compound (Bt) containing three or more active energy ray-polymerizable groups within each molecule, and from 0 to 35% by weight of a curable compound (Bd) containing two active energy ray-polymerizable groups within each molecule, with respect to the curable compound (B).
(4) The hard coat agent composition according to any of (1) to (3), wherein the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) comprises two or more active energy ray-reactive groups within each molecule.
(5) The hard coat agent composition according to (4), wherein the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) comprises active energy ray-reactive groups at both molecular terminals.
(6) The hard coat agent composition according to any of (1) to (5), wherein the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) comprises one or more active energy ray-reactive group(s) per 1000 of molecular weight.
(7) The hard coat agent composition according to any of (1) to (6), wherein the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) comprises two or more active energy ray-reactive groups per 1000 of molecular weight.
(8) The hard coat agent composition according to any of (1) to (7), wherein the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) comprises four or more active energy ray-reactive groups per 1000 of molecular weight.
(9) The hard coat agent composition according to any of (1) to (8), wherein the active energy ray-reactive group of the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) is selected from the group consisting of (meth)acryloyl group and vinyl group.
(10) The hard coat agent composition according to any of (1) to (9), wherein the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) is a compound in which (meth)acryloyl group has been introduced at the hydroxyl group of a fluorine-containing polyether compound comprising hydroxyl group at a molecular terminal.
(11) The hard coat agent composition according to any of (1) to (10), wherein the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) comprises a perfluoropolyether moiety.
(12) The hard coat agent composition according to any of (1) to (11), further comprising inorganic fine particles (C) with an average particle size of not more than 100 nm.
(13) The hard coat agent composition according to (12), comprising 5 parts by weight or more and 500 parts by weight or less of the inorganic fine particles (C) per 100 parts by weight of the curable compound (B).
(14) The hard coat agent composition according to either one of (12) and (13), wherein the inorganic fine particles (C) are either fine particles of a metal (or a semi-metal) oxide, or fine particles of a metal (or a semi-metal) sulfide.
(15) The hard coat agent composition according to any of (12) to (14), wherein the inorganic fine particles (C) are fine particles of silica.
(16) The hard coat agent composition according to any of (12) to (15), wherein the inorganic fine particles (C) are modified on the surface with a hydrolyzable silane compound containing an active energy ray-reactive group.
The above hard coat agent compositions are particularly useful as the hard coat agent compositions used with optical information media.
(17) An article provided with a hard coat layer comprising a cured product of the hard coat agent composition according to any of (1) to (16), on the surface of the article. In the present invention, examples of articles that require provision of a surface hard coat layer include optical information media, optical lenses, optical filters, anti-reflection films, and the various display elements such as liquid crystal displays, CRT displays, plasma displays, and EL displays.
(18) An optical information medium comprising a film element composed of one or more layers including at least a recording layer or a reflective layer, on a supporting substrate, wherein at least one of the supporting substrate-side surface and the film element-side surface is formed of a hard coat layer comprising a cured product of the hard coat agent composition according to any one of (1) to (16).
(19) The optical information medium according to (18), wherein either one of the supporting substrate-side surface or the film element-side surface upon which the light is incident is formed of the hard coat layer.
(20) An optical information medium comprising an information recording layer on a supporting substrate, a light-transmitting layer on the information recording layer, and a hard coat layer comprising a cured product of the hard coat agent composition according to any one of (1) to (16) on the light-transmitting layer.
(21) A method for producing an optical information medium, comprising the steps of:
forming, on a supporting substrate, a film element composed of one or more layers including at least a recording layer or a reflective layer,
applying the hard coat agent composition according to any of (1) to (16) onto at least one of the surface of the film element and the surface of the supporting substrate opposite to the film element-formed side, and
The present invention provides a hard coat agent composition that is useful for forming a hard coat layer with excellent anti-staining properties and lubricity, as well as superior scratch resistance and abrasion resistance, on the surfaces of various articles.
Furthermore, the present invention also provides an article comprising a hard coat layer formed using the above hard coat agent composition on the surface of the article.
In particular, the present invention provides an optical information medium in which the recording and/or reproducing beam incident side surface displays excellent anti-staining properties and lubricity, as well as superior scratch resistance and abrasion resistance.
First, a hard coat agent composition of the present invention will be described.
A hard coat agent composition of the present invention comprises a fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) comprising an active energy ray-reactive group, and a curable compound (B) containing either two, or three or more active energy ray-polymerizable groups within each molecule.
The curable compound (B) is the primary curable component in the hard coat agent composition, and is the component responsible for forming the matrix of the hard coat layer obtained after curing. The curable compound (B) of the hard coat agent composition comprises from 65 to 100% by weight of a curable compound (Bt) containing at least three active energy ray-polymerizable groups within each molecule, and from 0 to 35% by weight of a curable compound (Bd) containing two active energy ray-polymerizable groups within each molecule, with respect to the curable compound (B).
The active energy ray-curable compound (Bt) contains at least three active energy ray-polymerizable groups within each molecule, and this alone is sufficient to ensure a satisfactory level of hardness for the hard coat layer following curing. On the other hand, the active energy ray-curable compound (Bd) contains only two active energy ray-polymerizable groups within each molecule, which alone is insufficient to ensure a satisfactory level of hardness for the hard coat layer following curing. As a result, the curable compound (Bt) is used as the primary component of the curable compound (B), and in those cases where the curable compound (Bd) is also used, the quantity is preferably restricted to a value within the above weight range.
There are no particular restrictions on the structures of the curable compound (Bt) and the curable compound (Bd), provided they are different from the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A), and contain, respectively, at least three, or two active energy ray-polymerizable groups within each molecule, and either polyfunctional monomers or oligomers are suitable. In order to ensure a high level of hardness for the hard coat layer, the curable compound (Bt) and the curable compound (Bd) should contain no fluorine atoms. The active energy ray-polymerizable groups of the curable compound (Bt) and the curable compound (Bd) are selected from the group consisting of (meth)acryloyl group, vinyl group and mercapto group.
Among such active energy ray-curable compound (Bt) and (Bd), examples of the compound having (meth)acryloyl group include 1,6-hexanediol di(meth)acrylate, triethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, ethylene oxide modified bisphenol A di(meth)acrylate, trimethylolpropane tri(meth)acrylate, pentaerythritol tetra(meth)acrylate, ditrimethylolpropane tetra(meth)acrylate, dipentaerythritol-hexa(meth)acrylate, pentaerythritol tri(meth)acrylate, 3-(meth)acryloyloxyglycerin mono(meth)acrylate, urethane acrylate, epoxy acrylate, and ester acrylate. However, the compound having (meth)acryloyl group is not limited to these examples.
In the hard coat agent composition of the present invention, either a single compound or a combination of two or more compounds may be used as the active energy ray-curable compound (Bt). Furthermore, in those cases where an active energy ray-curable compound (Bd) is also used, this curable compound (Bd) may also use either a single compound or a combination of two or more compounds.
Furthermore, in addition to the curable compound (Bt) and the curable compound (Bd), other monofunctional monomers may also be added to the hard coat agent composition of the present invention as additional curable components, provided a satisfactory level of hardness can be maintained for the hard coat layer.
The fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) is used for imparting water repellency and/or lubricity to the surface of the hard coat layer. The fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) is a compound comprising a perfluoropolyether moiety and at least one active energy ray-reactive group. Examples of the active energy ray-reactive group include (meth)acryloyl group or vinyl group. The perfluoropolyether moiety imparts water repellency and/or lubricity to the surface of the hard coat layer. Compared with the fluorinated alkyl moiety of a fluorinated alkyl (meth)acrylate, the perfluoropolyether moiety is more easily concentrated at the surface of the hard coat layer, and imparts a superior water repellency and/or lubricity. Meanwhile, because of the presence of the active energy ray-reactive group, the irradiation with active energy rays conducted during curing of the hard coat causes crosslinking reactions between molecules of the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A), and between the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) and the active energy ray-curable compound (Bt) and/or (Bd), thus improving the fixation of the compound (A) in the hard coat layer. As a result, a hard coat layer is formed that displays extremely superior anti-staining properties and lubricity over a wide range of storage conditions and usage conditions.
Fluorine-containing polyether compounds (A) containing at least two active energy ray-reactive groups within each molecule display improved fixation in the hard coat layer, as well as improved anti-staining properties and lubricity, and are consequently preferred. Furthermore, fluorine-containing polyether compounds (A) containing an active energy ray-reactive group at both molecular terminals provide even better fixation in the hard coat layer, and are consequently even more preferred, and fluorine-containing polyether compounds (A) containing two active energy ray-reactive groups at each of the both molecular terminals are the most desirable.
Furthermore, the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) preferably comprises at least one active energy ray-reactive group per 1000 of molecular weight, and even more preferably comprises at least two active energy ray-reactive groups per 1000 of molecular weight, and most preferably comprises at least four active energy ray-reactive groups per 1000 of molecular weight. The molecular weight of the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) is preferably within a range of 500 or more and 5000 or less, and even more preferably 800 or more and 3000 or less. Compounds within this range display better fixation in the hard coat layer, and yield a hard coat layer with extremely superior solvent resistance.
The fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) may be produced by introducing (meth)acryloyl group at the hydroxyl group of a raw material fluorine-containing polyether compound comprising hydroxyl group at a molecular terminal. Suitable examples of the fluorine-containing polyether compound used as the raw material include the compounds listed below. Naturally, this is not a restrictive list.
HOCH2—CF2O—[CF2CF2O]1—[CF2O]m—CF2CH2OH (Z DOL)
F—[CF2CF2CF2O]1—CF2CF2CH2OH (Demnum-SA)
F—[CF(CF3)CF2O]1—CF(CF3)CH2OH (Krytox-OH)
HO(CH2CH2O)n—CH2—CF2O—[CF2CF2 0]1—[CF2O]m—CF2CH2(OCH2CH2)nOH (Zdol-TX)
HOCH2CH(OH)CH2O—CH2—CF2O—[CF2CF2O]1—[CF2O]m—CF2CH2OCH2CH(OH)CH2OH (Z-Tetraol)
Specific examples of the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) include the following:
compounds comprising at least one active energy ray-reactive group per 1000 of molecular weight, such as Fomblin Z DOL diacrylate [a compound in which the terminal hydroxyl group of Fomblin Z DOL (manufactured by Ausimont Co.) has been modified with acrylate group], and FLUO LIGHT ART-4 (manufactured by Kyoeisha Chemical Co., Ltd.),
compounds comprising at least two active energy ray-reactive groups per 1000 of molecular weight such as FLUO LIGHT ART-3 (manufactured by Kyoeisha Chemical Co., Ltd.), and
compounds comprising at least four active energy ray-reactive groups per 1000 of molecular weight, such as a material in which the four terminal hydroxyl groups of Fomblin Z-Tetraol (manufactured by Ausimont Co.) have been modified with acrylate groups.
Either a single compound or a combination of two or more compounds may be used as the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) that is contained in the hard coat agent composition.
A hard coat agent composition of the present invention preferably comprises 0.01 part by weight or more and 3 parts by weight or less, and even more preferably 0.05 part by weight or more and 1 part by weight or less, of the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) per 100 parts by weight of the nonvolatile content of the composition. If the quantity of the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) is more than 3 parts by weight, then although the lubricity improves, the hardness of the hard coat layer tends to decrease, whereas in contrast, if the quantity is less than 0.01 part by weight, the lubricity improvement effect is minimal. The term “nonvolatile content” refers to those components that remain in the hard coat layer following curing, and includes not only the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) and the curable compound (B), but also optional components such as monofunctional monomers, the inorganic fine particles (C) described below, photopolymerization initiators, and a variety of other additives.
The hard coat agent composition of the present invention preferably also comprises inorganic fine particles (C) with an average particle size of not more than 100 nm. In order to ensure good transparency of the hard coat layer, the average particle size of these inorganic fine particles (C) is typically not more than 100 nm, and preferably not more than 20 nm, and from the viewpoint of the restrictions associated with producing a colloid solution, is preferably at least 5 nm.
In those cases where inorganic fine particles (C) are used in a hard coat agent composition of the present invention, the quantity of the inorganic fine particles (C) is preferably within a range of 5 parts by weight or more and 500 parts by weight or less, and even more preferably 20 parts by weight or more and 200 parts by weight or less, per 100 parts by weight of the curable compound (B). If more than 500 parts by weight of the inorganic fine particles (C) is added, then the film strength of the hard coat layer tends to weaken, whereas if the quantity is less than 5 parts by weight, the level of improvement in the abrasion resistance of the hard coat layer achieved by adding the inorganic fine particles (C) is minimal.
A hard coat agent composition of the present invention may also comprise known photopolymerization initiators. The photopolymerization initiator is not particularly necessary when electron rays are used as the active energy rays. However, when ultraviolet rays are used, the initiator is necessary. The photopolymerization initiator can be appropriately selected from typically used compounds such as acetophenone based compounds, benzoin based compounds, benzophenone based compounds, and thioxanthone based compounds. Among the photopolymerization initiators, examples of suitable radical photoinitiators include DAROCURE 1173, IRGACURE 651, IRGACURE 184, and IRGACURE 907 (all of which are products manufactured by Ciba Specialty Chemicals Inc.). The content by percentage of the photopolymerization initiator added to the hard coat agent composition is, for example, from about 0.5 to 5% by weight with respect to the total amount of the aforementioned components (A), (Bt), (Bd), and (C).
Furthermore, if required, a hard coat agent composition of the present invention may also comprise other additives such as a non-polymerizable diluent, an organic filler, a polymerization inhibitor, an antioxidant, an ultraviolet ray absorber, a photo-stabilizer, an antifoamer, and a leveling agent.
The hard coat agent composition may be produced by mixing the various components described above using conventional methods. The viscosity of the hard coat agent composition is preferably adjusted to a level that allows ready application of the composition. This concludes the description of the hard coat agent composition of the present invention.
Next is a description of an optical information medium of the present invention (hereafter also referred to as an optical disk) that uses a hard coat agent composition as described above, as well as a method of producing such an optical information medium, with reference to the drawings.
An optical information medium of the present invention comprises a film element composed of one or more layers including at least a recording layer or a reflective layer, on a supporting substrate, wherein at least one of the supporting substrate-side surface and the film element-side surface is formed of a hard coat layer comprising a cured product of the hard coat agent composition. In this optical information medium of the present invention, at least one of the supporting substrate-side surface and the film element-side surface, and preferably the surface upon which the recording/reproducing beam is incident, is formed of the hard coat layer comprising a cured product of the hard coat agent composition.
1. Optical information media in which the film element-side surface acts as the surface upon which the recording/reproducing beam is incident:
First an optical information medium, in which the film element-side surface acts as the surface upon which the recording/reproducing beam is incident, will be described.
The present invention can be applied to all different manner of recording layers. In other-words, the invention can be applied to phase-change type recording media, pit formation type recording media, and magneto-optical recording media. Normally, a dielectric layer or a reflective layer is provided on at least one side of the recording layer in order to protect the recording layer and provide an optical effect, but this layer has been omitted in FIG. 1. Furthermore, the present invention is not restricted to recordable type media such as that shown in the drawings, and can also be applied to read-only type media. In such cases, the pit sequence is formed as an integrated part of the supporting substrate (20), and the reflective layer (a metal layer or a dielectric multilayered film) that covers the pit sequence functions as the information recording layer.
The phase-change recording material layer (4) is formed of a material changing reversibly by irradiation of laser beam between the crystalline state and the amorphous state, and exhibiting different optical properties between these states. Examples of such material include Ge—Sb—Te, In—Sb—Te, Sn—Se—Te, Ge—Te—Sn, In—Se—Tl, and In—Sb—Te. Further, to any such matrial, a trace of at least one metal selected from Co, Pt, Pd, Au, Ag, Ir, Nb, Ta, V, W, Ti, Cr, Zr, Bi, In and the like may be added. A trace of reductive gas such as nitrogen also may be added. There is no limitation to the thickness of the recording material layer (4), which is for example in a range of about 3 to 50 nm.
The active energy ray-curable material for the light transmitting layer (7) should be optically transparent, exhibit low optical absorption or reflection in the laser wavelength range to be used, and have low birefringence, and is selected from ultraviolet ray-curable materials, electron ray-curable materials and the like on these conditions.
The active energy ray-curable material used for the light transmitting layer preferably has a viscosity of 1000 to 10000 cp (at 25° C.).
In the formation of the light-transmitting layer (7), the application of the active energy ray-curable material onto the surface of the first dielectric layer (51) is preferably conducted using a spin coating method. Following application, this curable material can then be cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. This ultraviolet-ray irradiation may be divided into a plurality of irradiation doses. Furthermore, the operation of applying the active energy ray-curable material may also be conducted using a plurality of application repetitions, with ultraviolet-ray irradiation conducted after each individual application repetition. By dividing the ultraviolet-ray irradiation operation into a plurality of irradiation doses, the resin is able to be cured in a stepwise manner, thus enabling a reduction in the stress that accumulates in the disk at any one time due to curing shrinkage, leading to a reduction in the overall stress accumulated in the disk. As a result, even if the thickness of the light-transmitting layer (7) is considerably large, as in the case described above, a disk with excellent mechanical characteristics can still be produced.
Alternatively, in the present invention, a light-transmitting layer can also be formed using a light transmitting resin sheet. In such a case, an active energy ray-curable material is applied onto the surface of the first dielectric layer (51), in a similar manner to that described above for formation of a light-transmitting layer, thus forming an uncured resin material layer. A light transmitting sheet is then placed on this uncured resin material layer as the light-transmitting layer (7), and by subsequently irradiating the structure with active energy rays such as ultraviolet rays and curing the underlying resin material layer, the light transmitting sheet is bonded to the structure and forms the light-transmitting layer (7). The active energy ray-curable material of this resin material layer preferably has a viscosity of 3 to 500 cp (at 25° C.). Application of the resin material layer is preferably conducted using a spin coating method, and the thickness of the resin material layer, following curing, is typically within a range from 1 to 50 μm.
The light transmitting sheet can use, for example, a polycarbonate sheet with any desired thickness within a range from 50 to 300 μm. More specifically, the formation of the light-transmitting layer (7) involves placing the polycarbonate sheet of the desired thickness on the uncured resin material layer under vacuum conditions (0.1 atmospheres or lower), returning the structure to atmospheric pressure, and then conducting irradiation with ultraviolet rays to cure the resin material layer.
A hard coat layer (8) is then formed on the light-transmitting layer (7) using the aforementioned hard coat agent composition. In other words, the hard coat agent composition is applied on to the surface of the light-transmitting layer (7), thus forming an uncured hard coat layer, and this uncured layer is then irradiated with active energy rays such as ultraviolet rays, electron rays or visible rays, thereby curing the uncured layer and forming the hard coat layer (8).
The coating method for the application is not limited, and may be any one of various coating methods such as spin coating, dip coating and gravure coating methods. In an alternate method in which a light-transmitting sheet is used to serve as the light-transmitting layer (7), the hard coat layer (8) is first formed on to an elongate raw light-transmitting sheet as described above, and disks are subsequently stamped out from the raw sheet. In the same manner as described above, the disks are placed on the uncured resin material layer and the uncured resin material layer is cured.
When the hard coat agent composition contains the non-reactive organic diluent, the hard coat agent composition is first applied to form an uncured hard coat layer, which is then dried by heating to remove the non-reactive organic solvent. Subsequently, the active energy rays are irradiated to cure the uncured layer and to thereby form the hard coat layer (8). By first applying the hard coat agent composition using the organic diluent and then removing the organic solvent by heating and drying, the fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) tends to concentrate in the proximity of the surface of the uncured hard coat layer. The result is more fluorine-containing polyether existing in the proximity of the surface of the cured hard coat layer (8). This further enhances the lubricity. The heating/drying process is preferably carried out at a temperature of for example 40° C. or more and 100° C. or less and over a time period of for example 30 seconds or more and 8 minutes or less, preferably 1 minute or more and 5 minutes or less, and more preferably 3 minutes or more and 5 minutes or less. Examples of the non-reactive organic diluent include, but are not limited to, propyleneglycol monomethylether acetate, propyleneglycol monomethylether, ethyleneglycol monomethylether, butyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, and isopropyl alcohol. The active energy rays may be properly selected from ultraviolet rays, electron rays, visible rays, and other proper active energy rays. Preferably, ultraviolet rays or electron rays are used. The thickness of the hard coat (8) after curing is adjusted to about 0.5 to 5 μm.
2. Optical information media in which the supporting substrate-side surface acts as the surface upon which the recording/reproducing beam is incident:
Next an optical information medium, in which the supporting substrate-side surface acts as the surface upon which the recording/reproducing beam is incident, will be described.
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing yet another example of the layer structure of an optical disk of the present invention. The optical recording disk shown in FIG. 4 comprises an organic dye layer (4) on one surface of a light transmitting supporting substrate (20), a reflective layer (3) on the dye layer (4), and another supporting substrate (21) that is bonded to the reflective layer (3) via a protective and adhesive layer (61), whereas a light transmitting hard coat layer (8) is formed on the other surface of the supporting substrate (20). The hard coat layer (8) acts as the surface upon which the recording/reproducing beam is incident. In this example, the dye layer (4) and the reflective layer (3) make up the information recording layer. An example of this type of optical disk is the write-once DVD-R format.
In addition to the write-once DVD-R disk shown in FIG. 4, a variety of other disk formats, including read-only DVD-ROM, and rewritable formats such as DVD-RAM and DVD-RW and the like can be commercially available. Read-only DVD formats include DVD-video and DVD-ROM, and with these types of optical disks, concavities-convexities known as pits, which are used to record the information signals, are formed in the surface of the light transmitting supporting substrate during production of the substrate, and a metal reflective layer such as Al, and then a protective layer, are formed sequentially on the supporting substrate. A separate supporting substrate is then bonded to the protective layer via an adhesive layer, thus completing the optical disk. In the case of rewritable DVD formats, the information recording layer can be formed in the same manner as for the phase-change type recording medium described above in the section 1.
A solution of an organic dye dissolved in a solvent is applied onto the surface of the supporting substrate (20) using spin coating, and is then dried to form an organic dye layer (4) of the desired thickness. The organic dye can be selected from amongst the various cyanine dyes, azo dyes, and phthalocyanine dyes or the like. Techniques other than spin coating, such as spray methods, screen printing methods or vacuum deposition methods can also be used for forming the organic dye layer, and the thickness of the layer formed can be suitably adjusted in accordance with the dye used.
A reflective layer (3) is provided on the organic dye layer (4). The material for the reflective layer must be a material with a satisfactorily high reflectance at the wavelength of the reproducing beam, and suitable examples include metal elements such as Au, Ag, Cu, Al, Ni, Pd, Cr, and Pt, as well as alloys of these metals. Furthermore, the elements listed below may also be included. Namely, metals and metalloids such as Mg, Se, Hf, V, Nb, Ru, W, Mn, Re, Fe, Co, Rh, Ir, Zn, Cd, Ga, In, Si, Ge, Te, Pb, Po, Sn, and Bi.
Subsequently, sputtering with an Al2O3 target was used to form a second dielectric layer (52) of thickness 20 nm on the surface of the reflective layer (3). Sputtering using an alloy target comprising a phase-changing material was then used to form a recording layer (4) of thickness 12 nm on the surface of the second dielectric layer (52). The composition (atomic ratio) of the recording layer (4) was Sb74Te18(Ge7In1). Sputtering with a ZnS (80 mol %)—SiO2 (20 mol %) target was then used to form a first dielectric layer (51) of thickness 130 nm on the surface of the recording layer (4).
Subsequently, a radical polymerizable, ultraviolet ray-curable material with the composition shown below was applied onto the surface of the first dielectric layer (51) by spin coating, and was then irradiated with ultraviolet rays under conditions including an irradiation intensity of 160 W/cm, a separation between the lamp and the applied layer of 11 cm, and a total energy of 3J/cm2, thus forming a light transmitting layer (7) with a cured thickness of 98 μm.
(Light transmitting layer: composition of the ultraviolet
ray-curable material)
(Aronix M315, manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd.)
Isocyanuric acid EO modified diacrylate 5 parts by weight
(Aronix M215, manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd.)
Subsequently, an ultraviolet ray-curable/electron ray-curable hard coat agent with the composition shown below was applied onto the surface of the light transmitting layer (7) by spin coating to form a coating, and the applied coating was then heated at 60° C. for 3 minutes in an atmosphere to remove the diluent in the coating, and then irradiated with ultraviolet rays under conditions including an irradiation intensity of 160 W/cm, a separation between the lamp and the applied coating of 11 cm, and a total energy of 3 J/cm2, thus forming a hard coat layer (8) with a cured thickness of 2 μm.
(dispersion medium: propyleneglycol
monomethylether acetate, nonvolatile content:
40% by weight)
Perfluoropolyether diacrylate 0.3 part by weight
(ART-4, manufactured by Kyoeisha Chemical
Co., Ltd., molecular weight Mw:
approximately 2000)
With the exception of replacing the 0.3 parts by weight of the ART-4 in the composition of hard coat agent with 0.3 parts by weight of another perfluoropolyether diacrylate ART-3 (manufactured by Kyoeisha Chemical Co., Ltd., molecular weight Mw: approximately 1000), a disk sample was prepared in the same manner as the example 1.
With the exception of replacing the 0.3 parts by weight of the ART-4 in the composition of hard coat agent with 0.3 parts by weight of a material in which the four terminal hydroxyl groups of Fomblin Z-Tetraol (manufactured by Ausimont Co.) had been modified with acrylate groups (molecular weight Mw: approximately 1000), a disk sample was prepared in the same manner as the example 1.
With the exception of replacing the 0.3 parts by weight of the ART-4 in the composition of hard coat agent with 0.3 parts by weight of a material in which the terminal hydroxyl group of Demnum-SA (manufactured by Daikin Industries Ltd.) had been modified with an acrylate group, a disk sample was prepared in the same manner as the example 1.
With the exception of replacing the 0.3 parts by weight of the ART-4 in the composition of hard coat agent with 0.3 parts by weight of Demnum-SY (a perfluoropolyether manufactured by Daikin Industries Ltd. with only one hydroxyl group at a molecular terminal, molecular weight Mw: approximately 3600), a disk sample was prepared in the same manner as the example 1.
With the exception of replacing the 0.3 parts by weight of the ART-4 in the composition of hard coat agent with 0.3 parts by weight of a fluorine based crosslinking surfactant M-2020 (2-(perfluorodecyl)ethyl methacrylate, from Daikin Chemicals Sales Corporation), a disk sample was prepared in the same manner as the example 1.
With the exception of not adding the 0.3 parts by weight of the ART-4 to the composition of hard coat agent, a disk sample was prepared in the same manner as the example 1.
[Evaluations of the Disk Samples]
Each of the disk samples prepared in the examples 1 to 4 and the comparative examples 1 to 3 was subjected to the performance tests described below.
The contact angle was measured for the hard coat surface of each disk sample. Pure water was used as the measuring liquid, and the static contact angle was measured using a Face Contact-Anglemeter manufactured by Kyowa Interface Science Co., Ltd. The measurements were conducted under conditions including a temperature of 20° C. and a relative humidity of 60%. First, the initial contact angle (a) was measured.
Subsequently, in order to evaluate the durability of the anti-staining property, the contact angle (b) after acetone wiping, and the contact angle (c) after storage at a high temperature were also measured. In the case of the contact angle (b) after acetone wiping, a non-woven cloth (Bemcot Lint-Free CT-8, manufactured by Asahi Kasei Co., Ltd.) was impregnated with acetone, and was then pressed against the hard coat surface of each disk sample with a load of 1000 g/cm2, and was reciprocated 100 times to be slid on the hard coat surface, before the contact angle was remeasured under the same conditions as those described above. In the case of the contact angle (c) after storage at a high temperature, each disk sample was stored at 80° C. (under dry conditions) for 500 hours, and the contact angle was then remeasured under the same conditions as those described above.
From Table 1 it is evident that each of the disk samples of the examples 1 to 4 displayed excellent anti-staining properties and durability of those properties, while maintaining favorable hardness of the hard coat surface. The disk sample of the example 3, which used a perfluoropolyether tetraacrylate, displayed a particularly durable anti-staining property.
In the above examples, a hard coat layer was provided on a phase-change type optical disk. However, the present invention is not restricted to use with optical disks in which the recording layer is a phase-change type layer, and can also be applied to read-only optical disks and write-once optical disks. In addition, the present invention is not restricted to the field of optical disks, and can also be used for providing hard coat layers on a variety of other articles. Accordingly, the above examples represent nothing more than sample illustrations of the invention, and must not be considered limiting in any way. In addition, any modifications which fall within the scope of the appended claims are all considered part of the present invention.
After acetone temperature Pencil
Disk Initial (a) wiping (b) storage (c) hardness
Example 1 103 65 103  H
Example 2 95 93 93 H
Example 3 105 105  105  H
Example 4 96 93 82 H
Comparative 76 65 — H
Comparative 66 — — H
Comparative 64 — — H
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U.S. Classification 428/64.1, 430/270.13, G9B/7.182, 526/242, G9B/7.159, 568/677, 428/64.5, G9B/7.183, 428/64.4
International Classification G11B7/257, G11B7/254, G11B7/24, C08H1/00, C09D4/00, B32B3/02, C09D183/07, C09D5/00, C07G1/00, C09D5/32, G02B1/10, C09D171/00, C09K3/00
Cooperative Classification G11B2007/24312, C09D171/00, G11B2007/2431, G11B2007/24314, B82Y30/00, G11B7/259, Y10T428/21, G11B7/2542, G11B2007/24316, G11B7/2545
European Classification B82Y30/00, G11B7/2545, G11B7/2542, C09D171/00
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:ITOH, HIDETAKE;TANAKA, KAZUSHI;HAYASHIDA, NAOKI;REEL/FRAME:016251/0849;SIGNING DATES FROM 20040908 TO 20040909