E-type polarizers are now available for industrial applications. New polarizers are produced as submicron thin film polarizing coating. Glass and plastic (PET) TN LCDs were manufactured with Thin Film Polarizers replacing conventional polarizers. Another design uses new polarizers to replace the alignment layer and performs both functions: polarization and LC alignment. Optical characteristics of new LCD design are comparable (Contrast Ratio =60) or better (Viewing Angle Cone) than conventional technology.

New LCD cell structure includes plastic or glass substrates with ITO layers, Thin Crystal Film (TCF) polarizers coated on the ITO and a polyamide alignment layer on the top of the TCF. The TCF polarizer is molecularly oriented nano-film with the thickness in the range 60-600nm made by crystallization from lyotropic liquid crystals. First samples produced by Tecdis have demonstrated acceptable optical performance with superior viewing cone characteristics and thickness determined by the thickness of the plastic or glass walls plus 7 microns optical management path. Birefringence of the cell wall material is now not relevant to functionality of the display. It allows manufacturing plastic LCD's with robust environmental characteristics by using high temperature stable and birefringent inexpensive plastic.