Alignment Layer
Precision Liquid Crystal Alignment Materials
The functional coating that sets the direction liquid crystal molecules follow — engineered to work on plastic film substrates.
Precise optical performance starts with molecular alignment you cannot see.
An alignment layer is the functional coating that induces liquid crystal molecules to line up in a single direction on a substrate. Where that direction is not uniform, the phase retardation and polarisation behaviour vary with it — which makes the alignment layer decisive for the uniformity and precision of displays and optical films.
The Ons Alignment Layer is a liquid-crystal alignment coating developed for plastic film substrates. A thin, even coat lets the LC-MN reactive liquid crystal that follows settle reliably into the intended direction, and improves the interfacial compatibility between substrate and liquid crystal layer.
It was developed to minimise chemical trouble on plastic as well as glass, and it applies to thin-film 3D optical films and a range of optical components. Ons developed and produced an LCD photo-alignment layer in 2013, and because we developed the alignment layer and the LC-MN reactive liquid crystal together, we can assess the process fit between the two materials rather than each in isolation.
The alignment layer designs the direction; LC-MN turns that direction into an optical function.
- 01
Coat the alignment layer
The alignment layer is coated thinly and uniformly onto a glass or plastic film substrate.
- 02
Define the alignment direction
The layer establishes the reference direction the liquid crystal will follow — its precision decides the optical result.
- 03
Apply LC-MN
The LC-MN reactive liquid crystal is coated thinly on top, with viscosity and thickness tuned to the target retardation and coating method.
- 04
Molecules align
LC-MN molecules line up along the alignment layer. Poor interfacial compatibility shows up here as mura.
- 05
UV curing
UV light crosslinks the diacrylate structure, freezing the aligned state in place.
- 06
The film performs
The finished thin film delivers phase retardation from its refractive-index anisotropy — birefringence put to work as polarisation control.
Because Ons developed both the alignment layer and LC-MN, we can look past individual material specs to the fit of the whole substrate–coating–alignment–curing sequence.
- 01
Precise alignment
Guides liquid crystal direction uniformly across the whole substrate
- 02
Even, thin coating
Reduces mura and retardation deviation in the finished film
- 03
Works on plastic film
Minimises chemical trouble on plastic substrates, not only glass
- 04
Thin and light
A thin layer suits lightweight, low-profile optical components
- 05
Interfacial compatibility
Designed around the LC-MN coating and UV curing steps that follow
- 06
Tunable to your process
Adjusted to substrate, coating method and required optical properties
Thin-film 3D optical film
Retardation film
Patterned retarder 3D film for polarised eyewear
LCD photo-alignment layer
Optical components on plastic film substrates
Both the alignment layer and the reactive liquid crystal developed in-house
Developed at the request of a major Korean display manufacturer
Track record of LCD photo-alignment layer production since 2013
Material design that accounts for both glass and plastic substrates
Process optimisation support by coating method and required optical properties
A recognised corporate R&D laboratory handling material and process together
The alignment layer lays the path the liquid crystal follows — and the precision of that path decides the optics.
Product data — SR-01
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Composition | Benzoic-acid-derivative acrylic polymer |
| Character | Strong photo-alignment, fast air drying |
| Substrates | Coats onto glass and a range of films |
| Alignment | Photo-aligned with linearly polarised UV |
| Storage | Clean room at 20–25 ℃, dry and sealed, away from light and moisture |
| Caution | Do not dilute before use |
- Can it be used on glass substrates?
-
Yes. It applies to both glass and plastic film, and was specifically developed to avoid chemical trouble on plastic. Coating conditions and thickness are set differently depending on the substrate.
- Can we use it with a reactive liquid crystal other than LC-MN?
-
Technically yes, but interfacial compatibility between the alignment layer and the liquid crystal layer governs the outcome. Because it was co-developed with LC-MN, that pairing is the one whose alignment stability and process window we know best. For other liquid crystals we recommend a trial first.
- Which coating methods does it support?
-
Several methods are supported; we adjust viscosity and solids to match the substrate and the production line. Tell us the intended coating method and line speed and we will scope a specification for it.
- Can we get numbers for coating thickness and alignment behaviour?
-
The figures depend on the substrate and on the liquid crystal layer that follows, so we issue test results and a specification against your stated conditions. Sending us the substrate, coating method and target retardation up front speeds this up.
What are you looking to solve?
Send us the substrate and your constraints — we will come back with an assessment and samples.