OPTICAL AND THERMOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYMER-DISPERSED LIQUID-CRYSTALS (PDLC)

Polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC)films can be switched electrica lly from a light scattering off-state to a highly transparent on-state . Thin films were prepared via a polymerization-induced phase separati on process using electron beam radiation. The liquid crystal (LC)/poly mer materials were obtained from blends of a eutectic nematic mixture E7 and a polyester acrylate based polymer precursor The optical and el ectrooptical properties of the obtained PDLC films strongly depend an the LC concentration. The LC solubility limit in the polymer matrix an d the fractional amount of LC contained in the droplets were determine d by calorimetric measurements. (C) Academie des Sciences/Elsevier Par is.