HAZE AND OPACITY CONTROL IN POLYMER-DISPERSED LIQUID-CRYSTAL (PDLC) FILMS WITH PHASE-SEPARATION METHOD

Polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) are materials composed of li quid crystal microdroplets dispersed in a polymer matrix. Their electr o-optic properties make them useful for applications as large-area ele ctrically switchable architectural windows (smart windows). For these applications, the key parameters of performance are the haze (both nor mal and off-axis) and the opacity. In the present work we show how it is possible to prepare a high performance smart window by controlling the haze and opacity of PDLC films using the polymer induced phase sep aration (PIPS) method.