Optical functional materials and process for producing the same

Abstract

A antiglare layer 12 having a fine uneven surface is formed directly or through other layer(s) on a transparent substrate film 11, and a layer 13 having a low refractive index, which is lower than the refractive index of the antiglare layer 12, is formed thereon. The refractive index of the antiglare layer 12 is higher than the refractive index of a layer in contact with said antiglare layer 12 on its surface remote from the layer 13 having a low refractive index. An SiO.sub.x film may be used as the layer 13 having a low refractive index. The SiO.sub.x film per se has excellent gas barrier property and antifouling property as an optical functional membrane and is an optical functional material characterized by having excellent moistureproofness, scratch resistance, adhesion to a substrate, transparency, low refractive index, dye deterioration preventive property, and other properties. A layer 13 having a low-refractive index as a surface layer is formed through other layer(s) on a transparent substrate film 11, and at least one of the other layer(s) is a hard coat layer 12 of 0.5 .mu.m or more in thickness, having a high refractive index, composed mainly of a resin. The hard coat layer 12 having a high refractive index is in direct contact with a layer 13 having a low refractive index. The refractive index of the hard coat layer 12 having a high refractive index is higher than the refractive index of a layer in contact with the hard coat layer 12 having a high refractive index on its surface remote from the layer 13 having a low refractive index. For use, the antireflection film is laminated to a polarizing plate or a liquid crystal display device.