Photopolymerization of oriented monomeric liquid crystals

Charles E. Hoyle; Tsuyoshi Watanabe; Joe B. Whitehead Jr.

doi:10.1117/12.60390

15 June 1992 Photopolymerization of oriented monomeric liquid crystals

Charles E. Hoyle, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Joe B. Whitehead Jr.

Proceedings Volume 1665, Liquid Crystal Materials, Devices, and Applications; (1992) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.60390
Event: SPIE/IS&T 1992 Symposium on Electronic Imaging: Science and Technology, 1992, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

In order to obtain oriented liquid crystalline films which maintain the alignment of monomeric species from whence they are derived, it is necessary to induce rapid, isothermal polymerization processes. In recent studies, monofunctional and difunctional mesogenic methacrylate monomers with nematic and smectic phases have been aligned and polymerized to yield macroscopically oriented polymers. In some cases, the orientation is maintained even after the polymer is heated above its clearing temperature. By utilizing a thin-foil calorimeter, we have succeeded in measuring polymerization rates in macroscopically oriented liquid crystalline monomers. Although the macroscopic structure of the aligned system may be locked-in during polymerization, this does not necessarily result in enhanced rates compared to non-oriented samples. The experimental techniques used to measure the polymerization exotherms of oriented liquid crystals are described. Initial results which illustrate the effect of macroscopic alignment are discussed with respect to polymerization kinetic rates. Implications for polymerization of oriented liquid crystals are briefly discussed in the context of optical properties of the final films.

Citation Download Citation

Charles E. Hoyle, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, and Joe B. Whitehead Jr. "Photopolymerization of oriented monomeric liquid crystals", Proc. SPIE 1665, Liquid Crystal Materials, Devices, and Applications, (15 June 1992); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.60390

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