Shaped article for use as an optical component and method of producing the shaped article

Abstract

An optical component and a method of producing the same, which optical component is obtained by photopolymerizing a photopolymerizable composition so as to comprise a matrix and numerous columnar structure bodies oriented in one direction within the matrix, wherein the columnar structure bodies differ in refractive index from the matrix and are arrayed in a lattice in the plane perpendicular to said orientation direction to have a highly arrayed structure whose refractive index periodically changes on the order of 80 nm to 1,000 micrometer. The optical component according to the invention is imparted with a structure whose refractive index periodically changes with high regularity on the order of about 80 nm to 1,000 micrometer and, owing to this property, is usable in optical sheet, optical film and other ordinary optical applications.

1 . A shaped article for use as an optical component obtained by photopolymerizing a photopolymerizable composition so as to comprise a matrix and numerous columnar structure bodies oriented in one direction within the matrix, 
 wherein the columnar structure bodies differ in refractive index from the matrix and are arrayed in a lattice in a plane perpendicular to said orientation direction to have a highly arrayed structure whose refractive index periodically changes on the order of 80 nm to 1,000 micrometer.    
   
   
       2 . The shaped article for use as an optical component according to  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the columnar structure bodies is not less than 80 nm and not greater than 1,000 micrometer.  
   
   
       3 . The shaped article for use as an optical component according  claim 1 , wherein the array periodicity of the columnar structure bodies is not less than 80 nm and not greater than 1,000 micrometer.  
   
   
       4 . A method of producing a shaped article for use as an optical component comprising: 
 a step of injecting into a cell a photopolymerizable composition containing a multifunctional monomer or oligomer comprising two or more functions and a photopolymerization initiator and    a step of directing parallel rays onto the photopolymerizable composition, thereby polymerization-curing the photopolymerizable composition to form a shaped article for use as an optical component composed of a matrix and numerous columnar structure bodies arrayed in one direction within the matrix.    
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the full width at half maximum of the parallel rays is not greater than 100 nm.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the optical intensity distribution of the parallel rays is substantially constant.  
   
   
       7 . A shaped article for use as an optical component obtained by photopolymerizing a photopolymerizable composition, which when exposed to a laser beam produces a diffraction pattern exhibiting the influence of a periodic change in refractive index imparted to the shaped article.  
   
   
       8 . The shaped article for use as an optical component according  claim 2 , wherein the array periodicity of the columnar structure bodies is not less than 80 nm and not greater than 1,000 micrometer.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the optical intensity distribution of the parallel rays is substantially constant.