PHASE-DIAGRAMS AND ELECTROOPTICAL PROPERTIES OF NOVEL FERROELECTRIC MIXTURES

Two binary mixtures were prepared, based on three members of the homol ogous series of 4-n-alkoxyphenyl esters of the 4'-n-alkoxybenzoic acid s. Three structurally different chiral compounds were used to make nov el ternary and four-component mixtures with chiral smectic C phase. Th e phase diagrams of two-component, the ternary and four-component mixt ures are presented and the corresponding physical and electro-optical properties such as spontaneous polarization, tilt angle and switching time are discussed. Spontaneous polarization values up to 200 nC/cm(2) were found and two distinct modes of electro-optical switching, assoc iated with different stages of helix distortion, were observed.