MORPHOLOGY AND ELECTROOPTIC RESPONSES OF POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE) NEMATIC LIQUID-CRYSTAL COMPOSITE FILMS - EFFECT OF THE POLYMER MOLECULAR-WEIGHT

The director configuration, state of liquid crystal (LC) phase aggrega tion, and the electooptic properties of thin polymer films of poly(met hyl methacrylate) (PMMA) containing nematic liquid crystal have been s tudied. Measurements included scanning electron micrograph (SEM), pola rized optical micrographs (POM), and transmittance response of the fil m with the applied electric AC voltage and frequency. Two types of PMM A with significantly different molecular weight (M(w)) were used, and the effects of polymer molecular weight on morphology and electro-opti c properties of the composite films were examined. (C) 1995 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.