THERMAL-STABILITY OF MAGNETICALLY-ALIGNED NEMATIC LIQUID-CRYSTAL LAYER ON NONRUBBED POLYIMIDE SURFACE

We have studied the thermal stability of liquid crystal (LC) molecules adsorbed on two different polyimide films. LC molecules adsorbed on t he polymide film with a high polarity show higher thermal stability th an those adsorbed on the polyimide film with a lon polarity. This resu lt is strongly related to the nematic wetting property of the polyimid e films; the polyimide film that shows high wettability of the nematic phase gives high thermal stability of LC molecules adsorbed on the fi lm. The result is also analyzed using a two-dimensional rotation diffu sion model, and the importance of the nematic setting property for the thermal stability is emphasized in relation to the surface LC orderin g.