TOKYO - 15 October 2010- JSR Corporation (President: Mitsunobu Koshiba) has announced plans to expand the sales of highly-functional ARTON resin, which also excels in transparency and heat resistance. ARTON has applications as optical components and lenses in optical devices such as digital and video cameras. In addition, sales of ARTON will be expanded as an ultra-thin retardation film; useful in improving the image quality of flat-screen liquid crystal displays (LCD) that are used in tablet PCs and smartphones.

By using JSR's newly-developed special monomer in the cyclo-olefin ARTON resin, an optically, completely-homogeneous resin has been produced, which also has excellent transparency and heat-resistance, being able to withstand temperatures of over 150ºC. In addition, this monomeric structure enables superior compatibility with other resins and additives, and has the ability to improve the optical and mechanical performance of resins. At the same time, when using ARTON as an optical film (i.e. retardation film), compared to other cyclo-olefin resins, it has the ability to show phase contrast appearance, even with a thin membrane.

The following products are what JSR has developed and launched. Adoption by customers has already been decided in Asia, including Japan.

1.	Highly refractive/highly fluid resins and optical filters which are used in the lenses of optical devices such as CMOS image sensors:
	CMOS image sensors are not only used in home electrical appliances such as cell phones and digital cameras; they are also used in applications such as in-car use and security cameras, with an increasingly wide scope of applications. Recently, market demand for CMOS image sensors is for high resolution, rather than a high number of pixels. The newly-developed resin not only satisfies the necessary optical requirements such as refraction index and Abbe number, but has superior formability and is perfect as a mold for aspherical lens, etc. In addition, by utilizing the excellent compatibilizing properties of ARTON, JSR has developed and launched a filter which shields particular wavelengths by laminating an optical membrane. This has been achieved by added an additive to the ARTON resin. By using this special optical filter, compared to the infra-red shield filter of glass, thin membrane formation and lightweightiness can be drastically achieved. This enables the prevention of color shifts, which frequently arises due to the difference in angle of incidence when using CMOS image sensors. In turn, prevention of color shifts enables clear images to be taken.
2.	Ultra-thin retardation film:
	Electronic devices such as tablet PCs and smartphones are becoming increasingly popular, and there is very strong demand for the highly-efficient LCDs of mobile terminals to become thinner. For this to be achieved, all components need to be made thinner, including the LCD panels. JSR's newly-developed (and launched) ultra-thin retardation film is very strong, even with a thin membrane and as it has the ability to show phase contrast appearance, the film displays homogeneity and great phase contrast, even with a "thickness" of 20 micron. This large phase contrast is due to the special monomeric structure included in the ARTON resin. In order for this same degree of phase contrast to be seen in other cyclo-olefin resins, a film thickness of 30 to 40 micron or more is necessary, and is said to be the limit. As part of the company's mid-term business plan JUMP2010, precision materials and processing have been defined as one of the strategic businesses. Instead of simply providing innovative materials, further added value can be offered by adding processing to materials. JSR will strive to do this by focusing on the allocation of resources, pushing the business forward. Since FY2009, precision processing technologies have been forged at JSR. Instead of simply providing further value by combining materials together, the company will strive to enhance technological know-how for its customers, mainly through JSR's innovative materials. JSR's corporate philosophy of "Materials Innovation" will continue to be the foundation of the company's business activities, and through the development of leading materials that are both innovative and cost competitive, JSR will make a great contribution to society.