Preparation and characterization of polymer-stabilized cholesteric texturecells using (+)-bornylmethacrylate

Chiral monomeric (+)-bornyl methacrylate (BMA) was synthesized from (+)-cam phor. The normal mode polymer-stabilized cholesteric texture (PSCT) crystal cells was fabricated using 97.3wt% of liquid crystal (E48/CB15 = 92/8) and 2.7 wt% of various compositions of chiral and achiral monomers. BMA was us ed as a chiral monomer and, 4,4'-bis[6-(acryloyloxy)hexyloxy]biphenyl and e thyleneglycol dimethacrylate were used as achiral difunctional monomers. Th e electro-optical characteristics and the morphology of the PSCT cells with chiral and achiral polymer materials were investigated. The effects of mon omer concentration and polymerization conditions of the chiral (+)-bornyl m ethacrylate on the electro-optical characteristics and morphology of PSCT c ells were also investigated. It was found that the electro-optical characte ristics of PSCT cells were improved by using the chiral monomer of (+)-born yl methacrylate effectively. A PSCT cell was fabricated and the reversible turbid and transparent changes were examined by applying a 15 V electric fi eld. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.