An additive, liquid-crystal composition and a liquid-crystal display using the additive are provided. The additive includes a first additive molecule having a structure represented by formula (I): ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.i1, R.sup.i2, R.sup.i3, A.sup.i1, A.sup.i2, Z.sup.i, m.sup.1 and m.sup.2 are defined as in the specification.

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal composition capable of forming an optically anisotropic layer with suppressed alignment defects and an excellent alignment degree, an optically anisotropic layer, a laminate, and an image display device. The liquid crystal composition of the present invention includes a rod-like liquid crystal compound, and an interface improver having a repeating unit B1 represented by Formula (N-1) and a repeating unit B2 having a fluorine atom. In Formula (N-1), R.sup.B11 and R.sup.B12 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and R.sup.B13 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, or a cyano group. Here, in a case where R.sup.B11 and R.sup.B12 represent a substituent, R.sup.B11 and R.sup.B12 may be linked to each other to form a ring.

##STR00001##

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal composition capable of forming an optically anisotropic layer with suppressed alignment defects and an excellent alignment degree, an optically anisotropic layer, a laminate, and an image display device. The liquid crystal composition of the present invention includes a rod-like liquid crystal compound, and an interface improver having a repeating unit B1 represented by Formula (N-1) and a repeating unit B2 having a fluorine atom. In Formula (N-1), R.sup.B11 and R.sup.B12 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and R.sup.B13 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, or a cyano group. Here, in a case where R.sup.B11 and R.sup.B12 represent a substituent, R.sup.B11 and R.sup.B12 may be linked to each other to form a ring.

##STR00001##

A polymerizable liquid crystal composition capable of manufacturing an optically anisotropic film having excellent light fastness; and an optically anisotropic film, an optical film, a polarizing plate, an image display device, and an organic electroluminescent display device, each of which uses the polymerizable liquid crystal composition. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition of an embodiment of the present invention contains a polymerizable liquid crystal compound having reverse-wavelength dispersion properties and an ultraviolet absorber represented by Formula (1), in which a maximum absorption wavelength A of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound and a maximum absorption wavelength B of the ultraviolet absorber satisfy Formula (2), and a content of the ultraviolet absorber is 1% to 20% by mass with respect to a content of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound. ##STR00001##

A polymerizable liquid crystal composition capable of manufacturing an optically anisotropic film having excellent light fastness; and an optically anisotropic film, an optical film, a polarizing plate, an image display device, and an organic electroluminescent display device, each of which uses the polymerizable liquid crystal composition. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition of an embodiment of the present invention contains a polymerizable liquid crystal compound having reverse-wavelength dispersion properties and an ultraviolet absorber represented by Formula (1), in which a maximum absorption wavelength A of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound and a maximum absorption wavelength B of the ultraviolet absorber satisfy Formula (2), and a content of the ultraviolet absorber is 1% to 20% by mass with respect to a content of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound. ##STR00001##

A compact camera module that contains a generally planar base on which is mounted a lens barrel is provided. The base, barrel, or both are molded from a polymer composition that includes a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer and a plurality of mineral fibers (also known as “whisker”). The mineral fibers have a median width of from about 1 to about 35 micrometers and constitute from about 5 wt. % to about 60 wt. % of the polymer composition.

A compact camera module that contains a generally planar base on which is mounted a lens barrel is provided. The base, barrel, or both are molded from a polymer composition that includes a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer and a plurality of mineral fibers (also known as “whisker”). The mineral fibers have a median width of from about 1 to about 35 micrometers and constitute from about 5 wt. % to about 60 wt. % of the polymer composition.

An object of the present invention is to provide a phase difference film having excellent alignment without the need for alignment treatment on a support, a method for manufacturing a phase difference film, a polarizing plate, and a liquid crystal display device. The phase difference film of the present invention includes a support, and a liquid crystal layer formed of a liquid crystal composition containing a liquid crystalline compound so as to be in contact with the support, in which a surface energy of a surface of the support on which the liquid crystal layer is formed is 45 mN/m or more and a non-polar dispersion force component included in the surface energy is 45 mN/m or more, the liquid crystalline compound is immobilized in an aligned state, and a contrast is more than 10000.

A liquid crystal polyester comprising a repeating unit (A1) represented by the formula (A1) and a repeating unit (A2) represented by the formula (A2). A molar ratio (phenolic hydroxyl groups derived from the repeating unit (A2)/phenolic hydroxyl groups derived from the repeating unit (A1)) is 1 or lower, as calculated by .sup.1H-NMR. A ratio [repeating unit (A2)/repeating unit (A1)] is 1.2 or larger. The number of the repeating unit (A1) is 20% or more and the number of the repeating unit (A2) is 58% or more based on 100% of a total number of all repeating units of the liquid crystal polyester. A flow starting temperature of the liquid crystal polyester is 250° C. or more.

—O—Ar.sup.11—CO—  (A1)

—O—Ar.sup.12—CO—  (A2)

Ar.sup.11 represents a phenylene group and Ar.sup.12 represents a naphthylene group. A hydrogen atom is optionally substituted.

A liquid crystal polyester comprising a repeating unit (A1) represented by the formula (A1) and a repeating unit (A2) represented by the formula (A2). A molar ratio (phenolic hydroxyl groups derived from the repeating unit (A2)/phenolic hydroxyl groups derived from the repeating unit (A1)) is 1 or lower, as calculated by .sup.1H-NMR. A ratio [repeating unit (A2)/repeating unit (A1)] is 1.2 or larger. The number of the repeating unit (A1) is 20% or more and the number of the repeating unit (A2) is 58% or more based on 100% of a total number of all repeating units of the liquid crystal polyester. A flow starting temperature of the liquid crystal polyester is 250° C. or more.

—O—Ar.sup.11—CO—  (A1)

—O—Ar.sup.12—CO—  (A2)

Ar.sup.11 represents a phenylene group and Ar.sup.12 represents a naphthylene group. A hydrogen atom is optionally substituted.