LIQUID CRYSTAL/POLYMER COMPOSITE

• Main Authors: KOYANAGI ATSUSHI, YAMAMOTO YUJI, TAJIMA KOICHI, SUEKANE MICHINOBU, KAIDA YURIKO
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 28.12.2006
• Subjects: ADHESIVES; CHEMISTRY; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS, THE OPTICAL OPERATION OF WHICH ISMODIFIED BY CHANGING THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIUM OF THEDEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF THE INTENSITY,COLOUR, PHASE, POLARISATION OR DIRECTION OF LIGHT, e.g.SWITCHING, GATING, MODULATING OR DEMODULATING; DYES; FREQUENCY-CHANGING; MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FORELSEWHERE; METALLURGY; MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS; MISCELLANEOUS COMPOSITIONS; NATURAL RESINS; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICS; PAINTS; PHYSICS; POLISHES; TECHNIQUES OR PROCEDURES FOR THE OPERATION THEREOF

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal/polymer composite capable of developing a polymer-stabilized blue phase within a wide temperature range, wherein the blue phase achieves a scattering state by electric field application. SOLUTION: The liquid crystal/polymer composite is obtained by polymerizing a liquid crystal composition within a temperature range represented by formula [1]: from TBP1to [(TBP2-TBP1)/2] (wherein TBP1and TBP2are the lowest and highest temperatures, respectively, at which the liquid crystal composition develops the blue phase), wherein the liquid crystal composition contains a liquid crystal compound, a chiral agent, a monofunctional polymerizable monomer and a polyfunctional polymerizable monomer. The combination of the liquid crystal compound and the chiral agent in the composite develops the blue phase whose light transmittance can be modified by adjusting the voltage applied. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT