OPTICAL FILM, POLARIZATION SELECTING ELEMENT, POLARIZING PLATE AND LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY DEVICE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an optical film which exhibits uniform scattering characteristics over a large area and whose scattering characteristics can easily be controlled. SOLUTION: In the optical film having a layer consisting of an optically anisotropic phase and an optically isotropic phase arranged on a transparent supporting body, refractive indexes are adjusted so as to make the refractive index of the optically anisotropic phase practically identical to that of the optically isotropic phase on either of the slow axis and the fast axis, the optically anisotropic phase is formed as a continuous phase out of a cycloketocarboxylic acid having a relatively rigid molecular structure and the optically isotropic phase is formed as a discontinuous phase within the layer.