Japan’s Ube Industries (Tokyo; www.ube.com) has synthesised what it claims are the first high-dispersion strontium carbonate nanoparticles for optical applications. The material is being utilised in the development of retardation films, used for optical film applications with LCDs and organic electroluminescent displays, to enhance the usable viewing angle by correcting for light distortion and polarisation when viewed at an angle.

Single-layer retardation films are presently being developed using resins formulated with inorganic filler additives. Strontium carbonate is a promising inorganic filler, due to its controllable optical properties, the company said. These single layer films could replace the multiple layer films that are used presently, which are complex and expensive to manufacture.

Ube Industries has developed a gas-liquid reaction method that enables the synthesis of nano-size acicular (needle-shaped) strontium carbonate particles. Resins formulated with the particles enable manufacturing of ultra-high transparency films with less than 1% haze, it claims.

The company plans to provide evaluation samples of the material for retardation film applications, to facilitate adoption in the display market. It is also studying applications including the use of the particles in condensers and LED phosphors.