ELECTROOPTIC PERFORMANCE OF POLYMER NETWORK LIQUID-CRYSTALS

Morphology and electro-optic properties of composite films composed of poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (SMA) and nematic liquid crystal ha ve been studied for a wide range (30 approximately 70wt% of liquid cry stal) of film composition. Effects of temperature, frequency and volta ge of applied AC electric field on the transmittance were measured for film containing 60 and 70 wt% LC, where the optical contrast was maxi mum, and the results were interpreted in terms of aggregation structur e of the film, the geometry of LC domains, dielectric constant, conduc tivity, birefringence, and the solubility of LC in polymer.