Transparency of anisotropic films made by polymerization of UV-curable liquid crystals

Influence of photopolymerization condition of UV-curable liquid crystals on the transparency of optical anisotropic plastic films was investigated. Ne matic phase was observed at room temperature in novel compositions investig ated in this study. Transparency of the optical anisotropic films was impro ved by adding the swallow-tailed com pounds to UCL-001. Diffusion transmitt ance reduced as increasing either intensity or total energy of UV irradiati on. Retardation of these films decreased as increasing not only intensity b ut also total energy of irradiated UV light. It was suggested that haze was caused by light scattering from small regions of differing refractive inde x. Retardation and total transmittance showed opposite behavior against the conditions of UV irradiation.