SHEAR-INDUCED SURFACE ALIGNMENT OF POLYMER-DISPERSED LIQUID-CRYSTAL MICRODROPLETS ON THE BOUNDARY-LAYER

Polymer dispersed liquid crystal thin films have been deposited on a g lass substrate, utilizing the processes of polymerization and solvent evaporation induced phase separation. Liquid crystal microdroplets tra pped on the upper surface of the thin film respond to the shear stress due to air or gas flow on the surface layer. Response to an applied s tep shear stress input on the surface layer has been measured by measu ring the time response of the transmitted light intensity. Initial res ults on the measurements of the light transmission as a function of th e air flow differential pressure indicate that these systems offer fea tures suitable for boundary layer and gas flow sensors.