Formation of polymer network liquid crystal microcomposites: evolution of mechanical properties during the curing process

Abstract

Liquid crystal/polymer network composites with small amounts of photocrosslinkable cholesteric prepolymer are described. Rheological experiments are used to study the evolution of the mechanical properties of the composite material during the UV curing process. The behaviour of the complex shear modulus during the formation of the polymer network leads to a gelation-like description. Corresponding critical exponents have been proposed and discussed in the frame of percolation.