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Polymerization Effects on the Electro-Optic Properties of a Polymer Stabilized Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

C. Allan Guymon ,
Lisa A. Dougan ,
Erik N. Hoggan  and
Christopher N. Bowman
C. Allan Guymon
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Colorado, Campus Box 424, Boulder CO 80309–0424
Lisa A. Dougan
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Colorado, Campus Box 424, Boulder CO 80309–0424
Erik N. Hoggan
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Colorado, Campus Box 424, Boulder CO 80309–0424
Christopher N. Bowman
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Colorado, Campus Box 424, Boulder CO 80309–0424
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Abstract

The introduction of polymeric materials into liquid crystal (LC) matrices has been the focus of much interest in recent years. When a small percentage of polymer network is introduced, the mechanical strength of an LC system increases dramatically without significantly altering the electro-optic properties of the LC. One particular group of LCs, namely, ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs), are excellent candidates for such stabilization. FLCs, despite showing great potential for use in electro-optic and display technology due to inherently fast switching times and bistability, have found limited use as they are extremely susceptible to mechanical shock. This study examines the effects of polymerization conditions of a diacrylate monomer in an FLC on its inherent electro-optic properties. The LC phase in which polymerization occurs has a dramatic effect on the polymerization behavior and formation of the polymer network. Such effects have interesting implications on the ferroelectric polarization and switching speed of the FLC. As the temperature of polymerization increases and thus the order of the LC phase decreases, the ferroelectric polarization and the switching time increase.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 425: Symposium I – Liquid Crystals for Advanced Technologies , 1996 , 197
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1996

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