PHOTOPOLYMERIZATION KINETICS AND PHASE-BEHAVIOR OF ACRYLATE BASED POLYMER-DISPERSED LIQUID-CRYSTALS

Polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) materials were prepared by a p olymerization induced phase separation (PIPS) process using UV radiati on. The samples were obtained from the liquid crystalline component E7 and a blend of monofunctional (2-ethylhexyl acrylate) and difunctiona l (1,6-hexane diol diacrylate) monomers as precursors of the matrix. P olymerization energetics and thermodynamic properties of PDLC material s were studied by differential scanning calorimetry. Photopolymerizati on kinetics and phase behaviour of the PDLC are presented and discusse d as a function of UV polymerization conditions (UV light intensity, U V time exposure and isothermal curing temperature).