COUPLING OF LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE AND POLYMER NETWORK PROPERTIES IN LC-ELASTOMERS

Electromechanical and electro-optical properties which result from an interplay of ferroelectricity and elasticity in slightly crosslinked f erroelectric liquid crystalline elastomers are studied in the vicinity of the smectic C-smectic A* phase transition. In the chiral smectic C phase, the formation of the network during the crosslinking procedu re stabilizes the polar orientation which is present. On heating the s mectic C network into the chiral smectic A* phase, an induced tilt is observed (mechanoclinic effect). The internal mechanical stress induc ed by the network formation appears to act like an external electric b ias-voltage. The results are discussed in terms of a simple Landau mod el.