LIQUID-CRYSTAL POLYMER COMPOSITE-MATERIALS - A THERMOPHYSICAL AND ELECTROOPTICAL STUDY

Polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films can be switched electric ally from a light-scattering off-state to a highly transparent on-stat e. Thin films were prepared via a polymerization-induced phase separat ion process, using electron beam radiation. The liquid crystal (LC)/po lymer materials were obtained from blends of an eutectic nematic mixtu re E7 and a polyester acrylate-based polymer precursor. The optical an d electro-optical properties of the PDLC films obtained depend strongl y on the LC concentration. The LC solubility limit in the polymer matr ix and the fractional amount of LC contained in the droplets were dete rmined by means of calorimetric measurements.