Refflective film and method for making reflective film

1. A method of making a reflective film, the method comprising:

(a) preparing a cholesteric mixture that includes a cholesteric liquid crystal material and at least one type of polymerizable compound;

(b) forming a cholesteric mixture layer in which the cholesteric liquid crystal material forms a helical structure, having continuously changing helical pitches, approximately along a normal to the layer;

(c) exposing the cholesteric mixture layer to an actinic ray at a temperature, at which the cholesteric mixture exhibits a cholesteric phase, thereby polymerizing the at least one type of polymerizable compound,

wherein a Tni point of the cholesteric mixture increases by performing the step (c);

wherein the step (a) includes the step of preparing the cholesteric mixture that includes a non-polymerizable nematic liquid crystal material and a polymerizable chiral agent, and the step (c) includes the step of causing a variation ΔTni of about 5 degrees C. to about 30 degrees C. in the Tni point of the cholesteric mixture.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step (c) includes the step of exposing the cholesteric mixture layer to the actinic ray without decreasing the Tni point of the cholesteric mixture throughout the step (c) and without decreasing a difference between the temperature and Tni point of the cholesteric mixture throughout the step (c).

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step (c) includes the step of exposing the cholesteric mixture layer to the actinic ray at a temperature that is lower than the Tni point of the cholesteric mixture by about 0.5° C. or more.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step (c) includes: an initial stage of increasing the Tni point of the cholesteric mixture as the at least one type of polymerizable compound is going to be polymerized; and

a late stage of keeping the Tni point of the cholesteric mixture unchanged no matter whether the at least one type of polymerizable compound is still being polymerized or not.

5. A reflective film having a helical structure with continuously changing helical pitches, the reflective film being made by a method that comprises:

(a) preparing a cholesteric mixture that includes a cholesteric liquid crystal material and at least one type of polymerizable compound;

(b) forming a cholesteric mixture layer in which the cholesteric liquid crystal material forms the helical structure approximately along a normal to the layer;

(c) exposing the cholesteric mixture layer to an actinic ray at a temperature, at which the cholesteric mixture exhibits a cholesteric phase, thereby polymerizing the at least one type of polymerizable compound,

wherein a Tni point of the cholesteric mixture increases by performing the step (c);

wherein the cholesteric mixture includes a non-polymerizable nematic liquid crystal material and a polymerizable chiral agent, and wherein the Tni point of the cholesteric mixture causes a variation ΔTni of about 5 degrees C. to about 30 degrees C. as a result of the step (c).

6. The reflective film of claim 5 , wherein neither the Tni point of the cholesteric mixture nor a difference between the temperature and Tni point of the cholesteric mixture decreases throughout the step (c).

7. The reflective film of claim 5 , wherein the cholesteric mixture layer is exposed to the actinic ray in the step (c) at a temperature that is lower than the Tni point of the cholesteric mixture by about 0.5 □ or more.

8. The reflective film of claim 5 , wherein the step (c) includes: an initial stage of increasing the Tni point of the cholesteric mixture as the at least one type of polymerizable compound is going to be polymerized; and a late stage of keeping the Tni point of the cholesteric mixture unchanged no matter whether the at least one type of polymerizable compound is still being polymerized or not.

9. The reflective film of claim 5 , wherein the reflective film has a reflectance of about 40% or more with respect to incoming light falling within the wavelength range of about 470 nm to about 670 nm.

10. A display device comprising: the reflective film as recited in claim 5 ; and a display medium layer that is provided on one side of the reflective film that is closer to an observer.