Polymeric compositions are provided that include a furan 2,5-di-ester or tetrahydrofuran 2,5-di-ester plasticizer. The plasticizer has low odor, has good compatibility with a variety of polymers such as hydrophilic polymeric materials, and can be formed from renewable resources. Further, the plasticizer can be used at temperatures often encountered during hot melt processing of polymeric compositions.

Provided are an adhesive composition for a polarizing plate, a polarizing plate, and an optical display device, the adhesive composition comprising an epoxy-based compound, a (meth)acrylate-based compound, a photo-acid generator, and an optical radical initiator, the (meth)acrylate-based compound comprising a mixture of a bifunctional (meth)acrylate-based compound and a monofunctional (meth)acrylate-based compound having a hydrophobic functional group, wherein the adhesive strength measured after the adhesive composition for a polarizing plate is separately applied to a PET film, a TAC film, and a COP film, to which a polarizer is then bound, followed by photo-curing, is about 200 gf/inch or more.

The present invention relates to a biodegradable polyester resin, in which the first repeat unit comprising a first diol residue and an aromatic dicarboxylic acid residue and the second repeat unit comprising a second diol residue and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid residue satisfy a ratio of the number of repeat units in a specific range, and the softness index of the resin satisfies a specific range, and to a process for preparing the same. Since the biodegradable polyester resin can provide a biodegradable polyester sheet or film that can be simultaneously enhanced in productivity, processability, and moldability and is excellent in tensile strength, tear strength, and friction coefficient and excellent in biodegradability and water degradability, it can be utilized in more diverse fields.

The present invention relates to a biodegradable polyester resin, in which the first repeat unit comprising a first diol residue and an aromatic dicarboxylic acid residue and the second repeat unit comprising a second diol residue and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid residue satisfy a ratio of the number of repeat units in a specific range, and the softness index of the resin satisfies a specific range, and to a process for preparing the same. Since the biodegradable polyester resin can provide a biodegradable polyester sheet or film that can be simultaneously enhanced in productivity, processability, and moldability and is excellent in tensile strength, tear strength, and friction coefficient and excellent in biodegradability and water degradability, it can be utilized in more diverse fields.

Provided is a novel cyclic oligosaccharide derived from cellulose. The cyclic oligosaccharide is a cyclic oligosaccharide of Formula (1) having a β-1,4 glucosidic bond. In the formula, R represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent thereof, a plurality of the Rs may be identical or different, and n represents an integer of 0 to 3.

Provided are: a retardation-increasing agent that has excellent compatibility and, when incorporated into a resin film, is capable of not only adjusting the thickness-direction phase difference toward a positive direction but also imparting the film with high retardation; a cellulose-based resin composition comprising the retardation-increasing agent; and a film that is obtained from the cellulose-based resin composition and has excellent optical properties. The retardation-increasing agent comprises a compound represented by the following Formula (1) or (2):

##STR00001## (wherein, R.sup.1 to R.sup.10 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or the like); or

##STR00002## (wherein, R.sup.21 to R.sup.28 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or the like).

Provided are: a retardation-increasing agent that has excellent compatibility and, when incorporated into a resin film, is capable of not only adjusting the thickness-direction phase difference toward a positive direction but also imparting the film with high retardation; a cellulose-based resin composition comprising the retardation-increasing agent; and a film that is obtained from the cellulose-based resin composition and has excellent optical properties. The retardation-increasing agent comprises a compound represented by the following Formula (1) or (2):

##STR00001## (wherein, R.sup.1 to R.sup.10 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or the like); or

##STR00002## (wherein, R.sup.21 to R.sup.28 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or the like).

Provided are: a retardation-increasing agent that has excellent compatibility and, when incorporated into a resin film, is capable of not only adjusting the thickness-direction phase difference toward a positive direction but also imparting the film with high retardation; a cellulose-based resin composition comprising the retardation-increasing agent; and a film that is obtained from the cellulose-based resin composition and has excellent optical properties. The retardation-increasing agent comprises a compound represented by the following Formula (1) or (2):

##STR00001## (wherein, R.sup.1 to R.sup.10 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or the like); or

##STR00002## (wherein, R.sup.21 to R.sup.28 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or the like).

Disclosed is a stretched optical compensation film which is a phase difference film containing a cellulose-based resin and having excellent optical properties. The stretched optical compensation film of the present invention contains 0.5 to 30 parts by mass of a β-diketone compound represented by Formula (I) with respect to 100 parts by mass of the cellulose-based resin. Positions R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which is optionally substituted, an arylalkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms which is optionally substituted or an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms which is optionally substituted. Position R.sub.3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms. ##STR00001##

Disclosed is a stretched optical compensation film which is a phase difference film containing a cellulose-based resin and having excellent optical properties. The stretched optical compensation film of the present invention contains 0.5 to 30 parts by mass of a β-diketone compound represented by Formula (I) with respect to 100 parts by mass of the cellulose-based resin. Positions R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which is optionally substituted, an arylalkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms which is optionally substituted or an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms which is optionally substituted. Position R.sub.3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms. ##STR00001##