Alteration of glass surface via polyvinyl butyral (PVB) layer for reverse mode polymer dispersed liquid crystal (R-PDLC) display

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to optimize the optical contrast of reverse mode polymer disperse liquid crystal (R-PDLC) display by applying an extra polyvinyl butyral (PVB) layer. The resin PVB has been selected due to its characteristics for the glasses such as strong binding, optical clarity, strong adhesion, toughness and flexibility. It has been found that on coating of PVB (0.1 wt%) layer considerably enhanced the optical contrast of R-PDLC display by increasing the ON-state scattering. The basis of following behavior has been investigated by special techniques such as UV-spectroscopy, thermo-optic evaluations for variations in nematic to isotropic transition temperature (T_NI) and contact angle measurements. Following findings have revealed a raise in contrast ratio by increasing ON-state scattering with slight alterations in OFF-state transmittance. This behavior has been considered due to increase in roughness and hydrophobicity towards LC molecules that alter the ON-state scattering.

KEYWORDS:

• Reverse-polymer dispersed liquid crystal (R-PDLC)
• polyvinyl butyral (PVB)
• surface free energies
• liquid crystals

PACS classification numbers:

• 61.30.-v
• 61.30.pq
• 61.30.Hn

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was supported by the KU Research Professor Program of Konkuk University 2016-2018.