Abstract
We have analyzed the effect of polymer stabilization on the helical structure of FLCs, such as polymer stabilization strength and molecular-alignment-structural deformation, by the conoscopic figures of polymer-stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystals (PSFLCs) observed from computer simulation and experiment. In this study, we research the conoscopic figures and the polymer stabilization strength of PSFLCs fabricated using a new FLC material and several types of monomer. In the case using a photocurable monoacrylate LC-1, the elastic constant of PSFLC is as large as that of pure FLC. On the other hand, in the case of diacrylate 2A363, the elastic constant is one hundred times larger. Therefore, the polymer stabilization strength and the characteristics of PSFLC may be widely controlled by mixing several types of monomer.
Acknowledgment
The authors thank Mr. H. Fukuro and Mr. H. Endoh of Nissan Chem. Ind. for supplying polyimide materials and photocurable mesogenic materials. We also thank Dr. H. Takatsu and Dr. H. Hasebe of DIC for supplying photocurable mesogenic materials.