Synthesis of diacetylene-containing copolyesters and their effect on electro-optical properties of liquid crystals

Some diacetylene-containing copolyesters with different ratios of diproparg yl 1,10-decanate and dipropargyl terephthalate were synthesized. Properties of these copolymers were characterized by differential scanning calorimetr y and polarizing optical microscopy. The copolymer could be cross-linked ea sily by UV irradiation in a liquid crystal matrix without adding any photoi nitiator. The preliminary studies showed that the diacetylene-containing po lymer network can assist liquid crystal molecules to align with the externa l electric field, thus reducing the response time of display devices.