Patent ID: 7252865

Claim:
A self-bearing polymer film comprising a polymer selected from cellulose esters, polycarbonate esters, and norbornene resins, which polymer film comprises, in a polymer phase, at least one plasticizer compound represented by the following structure: wherein: R 1 and R 2 are both non-aryl groups at the bond to the —C(═O)O— ester link; n is an integer of 2 or more, wherein each R 2 may be the same or different; and at least one cycloalkyl group is present in either or both of R 1 and R 2 , wherein the cycloalkyl group is a cyclohexyl or cyclopentyl group; wherein the self-bearing polymer film has mechanical, optical, and chemical properties for use as a protective layer disposed on one or both sides of a polarizing film to form a polarizing plate, the self-bearing polymer film having a thickness ranging from 5 to 200 microns, exhibiting an in-plane retardation ranging from 0.1 to 15 nm, an out-of-plane retardation ranging from −10 to −100 nm, and wherein the plasticizer compound is present in the range of about 1 to 30 weight percent.