An object of the present invention is to provide a polarizer having a high degree of alignment and an image display device including the polarizer. The polarizer according to the embodiment of the present invention is a polarizer which is formed of a polarizer-forming composition containing a polymer liquid crystal compound and a dichroic material, in which the polymer liquid crystal compound is a thermotropic liquid crystal and a crystalline polymer, and the polymer liquid crystal compound and the dichroic material are horizontally aligned.

A composite includes a liquid crystal polyester that is soluble in a solvent; and liquid crystal polymer particles that are insoluble in a solvent, have a melting point of 270° C. or more, and have a cumulative distribution 50% diameter D.sub.50 of 20 μm or less and a cumulative distribution 90% diameter D.sub.90 of 2.5 times or less the D.sub.50 in a particle size distribution.

A composite including a base polymer and a surface-treated inorganic moisture absorbent. The surface-treated inorganic moisture absorbent is surface-treated with a surface-treating agent having a solubility parameter difference of less than or equal to about 3.5 from that of the base polymer. An article including the composite, a battery case including the composite or the article, and a battery including the battery case and an electrode assembly including a positive electrode and a negative electrode.

A composite including a base polymer and a surface-treated inorganic moisture absorbent. The surface-treated inorganic moisture absorbent is surface-treated with a surface-treating agent having a solubility parameter difference of less than or equal to about 3.5 from that of the base polymer. An article including the composite, a battery case including the composite or the article, and a battery including the battery case and an electrode assembly including a positive electrode and a negative electrode.

A compound represented by Formula (1) or (11) below,

X-A.sup.1-(N═N-A.sup.2).sub.n-N═N-A.sup.3-Y  (1) (in Formula (1), -A.sup.1- and -A.sup.2- each independently represent an unsubstituted or substituted divalent group of an aromatic heterocyclic ring including one or more S atoms wherein atoms constituting the aromatic heterocyclic ring other than a carbon atom are not adjacent to one another, an unsubstituted or substituted divalent group of a benzisothiazole ring, or an unsubstituted or substituted divalent group of an aromatic hydrocarbon ring; -A.sup.3- represents an unsubstituted or substituted divalent group of an aromatic hydrocarbon ring; —X represents a branched alkyl, alkoxy, or alkylsulfanyl group having 3 or more carbon atoms; —Y represents a monovalent organic group; n represents 1, 2, or 3; when n is 2 or 3, a plurality of -A.sup.2-'s may be identical to or different from one another; and -A.sup.1- and -A.sup.2- do not represent an unsubstituted or substituted divalent group of an aromatic hydrocarbon ring at the same time),

X-A.sup.41-(N═N-A.sup.42).sub.n-N═N-A.sup.43-Y  (11) (in Formula (11), at least one -A.sup.42- represents an unsubstituted or substituted divalent group of an aromatic heterocyclic ring including one or more S atoms; -A.sup.41- and -A.sup.43- each independently represent an unsubstituted or substituted divalent group of an aromatic hydrocarbon ring; —X represents a branched alkyl, alkoxy, or alkylsulfanyl group having 3 or more carbon atoms; —Y represents a monovalent organic group; n represents 1, 2, or 3; and when n is 2 or 3, a plurality of -A.sup.42-'s may be identical to or different from one another).

A fluorine-containing polymer includes a repeating unit represented by General Formula (I). In General Formula (I), L.sub.1 represents a single bond or a divalent linking group, R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, or an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and R.sub.2 represents a group including a fluorine atom

##STR00001##

A polymerizable liquid crystal compound represented by the following general formula (1):

##STR00001##

(the symbols in the general formula (1) are as described in the DESCRIPTION.)

A method for preparing a liquid crystal alignment layer, a liquid crystal alignment layer, and a display device. The method for preparing a liquid crystal alignment layer includes: S1, dripping liquid crystals and performing cell-assembling, wherein a liquid alignment material is added to the liquid crystals and the alignment material is curable and includes molecules capable of inducing alignment of liquid crystal molecules S2, applying an electric field or a magnetic field, wherein the direction of the electric field is approximately the same as a preset direction of the liquid crystal alignment layer, and the direction of the magnetic field is perpendicular to the preset direction of the liquid crystal alignment layer; and S3, performing curing while maintaining the electric field or the magnetic field until the alignment material completes the curing reaction.

A method for preparing a liquid crystal alignment layer, a liquid crystal alignment layer, and a display device. The method for preparing a liquid crystal alignment layer includes: S1, dripping liquid crystals and performing cell-assembling, wherein a liquid alignment material is added to the liquid crystals and the alignment material is curable and includes molecules capable of inducing alignment of liquid crystal molecules S2, applying an electric field or a magnetic field, wherein the direction of the electric field is approximately the same as a preset direction of the liquid crystal alignment layer, and the direction of the magnetic field is perpendicular to the preset direction of the liquid crystal alignment layer; and S3, performing curing while maintaining the electric field or the magnetic field until the alignment material completes the curing reaction.

The present invention aims to provide a polymerizable compound that has high storage stability without causing crystal precipitation when added to a polymerizable composition and to provide a polymerizable composition containing the polymerizable compound. A polymer film produced by polymerization of the polymerizable composition has a low haze, high thickness uniformity, low occurrence of nonuniform orientation, high surface hardness, high adhesiveness, and good appearances and fewer orientation defects even after ultraviolet irradiation. The present invention also aims to provide a polymer produced by polymerization of the polymerizable composition and an optically anisotropic body produced from the polymer.