Polymer films derived from aligned and polymerised reactive liquid crystals

The principles and methods of fabricating thin polymer films with particula r optical properties via the process of in-situ photopolymerisation of reac tive liquid crystals are described. The optical properties of these films a re described in terms of their retardation profile. Some possible applicati ons, such as compensation films for improving the viewing angle of a TN-TFT liquid crystal display are discussed. A novel way of combining the propert ies of a quarter wave foil and a compensation film for a broad band cholest eric brightness enhancement film is also described.