Mixtures of a fluorescent liquid crystalline side chain polyacrylate a
nd its corresponding ferroelectric monomer were studied by optical mic
roscopy, DSC, X-ray and electro-optic techniques. For some of these mi
xtures we surprisingly found the emergence of the ferroelectric se pha
se? which is not exhibited by the single components. The crystalline p
hase of the monomer is completely suppressed by polymer concentrations
above 25 per cent. The 50 per cent polymer-containing mixture shows a
clear eutectic effect for the tilted phases and allows electro-optic
switching, close to room temperature, more than 40 K below the melting
point of the monomer.