SIDE-FACE LIGHT-EMITTING OPTICAL TRANSMISSION BODY

PURPOSE:To obtain a side-face light-emitting optical transmission body which is flexible, light in weight, and large in diameter and has excellent heat resistance and high display effect by using a thermoplastic resin having specified or higher thermal deformation temp. as the essential component. CONSTITUTION:This optical transmission body is a side-face light-emitting optical fiber which emits light in the different direction from the transmission direction of light, and consists of a thermoplastic resin having >=120 deg.C thermal deformation temp. This thermoplastic resin has high transmittance of light and >=120 deg.C thermal deformation temp. For example, norbornene-base resin, amorphous polyolefin resin, polycarbonate resin, and the like are used, and norbornene resin is preferable from a viewpoint of transparency and heat resistance. This resin has a norbornene skeleton in the repeating unit. The weight average mol.wt. of the resin is 5000-10 , preferably 8000-200000 in order to obtain enough strength. The thermal deformation temp. is preferably >=140 deg.C, and more preferably >=160 deg.C, and the refractive index is 1.4-1.7.