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Abstract
Cholesteric formulations (coco-cholesteryl esters:E7) were dispersed in commercial polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and in laboratory synthesized side-chain polymers (SCP). The side-chain copolymers were obtained via the ring opening reaction of a commercially available epon resin, ethyleneglycol diglycidyl ether, with the nematic 4-(ω -aminohexyloxy)-4′ -cyanobiphenyl and the twisted nematic cholesteryl 4-aminobutyrate. Switching properties of the resulting dispersions were evaluated. Cells using PMMA as matrix exhibited distinguishable droplet with bipolar and twisted radial configuration. A maximum voltage of 60 volts was needed to transform a 70:30 by weight (LC:PMMA) composite into a transparent state. LC formulations dispersed in the SCP bearing cholesteryl and cyanobiphenyl pendant groups were found to exhibit fingerprint texture. Compared to the LC/PMMA composite, the LC/SCP dispersions required lower voltage for switching.