Dispersive stabilization of liquid crystal-in-water with acrylamide copolymer/surfactant mixture: Nematic curvilinear aligned phase composite film

The effect of nonionic surfactant, (H(OCH2-CH2)(8)-OC6H4C9H19), on the disp ersion stabilization of liquid crystal (LC)-in-water with acrylamide copoly mer containing the related non-ylphenyl groups was studied. It was observed that the addition of nonionic surfactant increases the stability of LC dis persions and improves the electrooptical properties of the nematic curvilin ear aligned phase (NCAP) composite film, On the basis of the surface tensio n, reduced viscosity, cloud point, and coalescence time measurements, it wa s proposed that formation of an integrated structure induced by interaction s between hydrophobic groups in the polymer chains is probably important to fabrication of a polymer composite film made of LC and polymer matrix. (C) 1999 Academic Press.