Liquid Crystal and Polymer Dispersions in a Microgravity Environment
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-14-2001
Department
Polymers and High Performance Materials
Abstract
Liquid crystal and polymer dispersions (LCPD) fabricated using polymerization induced phase separation (PIPS) contain morphologies that range from a dispersion of micrometer-sized droplets of a liquid crystal in a solid polymer matrix to a polymer network dispersed in the liquid crystal. The interest in LCPDs continues to grow with applications that range from light shutters to flat panel displays, and to high-resolution projection displays. Herein, we investigate the fabrication of LCPDs processed in terrestrial and microgravity environments. The materials used in this investigation include the liquid crystal mixture E7, the single component liquid crystal K15; the thiol-ene based pre-polymer NOA65, and the liquid crystal monomer RM257. Scanning electron microscopy and laser-light transmission measurements were used to probe the sample morphology and electro-optic parameters of LCPDs processed in the terrestrial and microgravity environments. The results discussed here stem from four parabolic flights spanning the years of 1995-1997.
Publication Title
ACS Symposium Series
Volume
793
First Page
138
Last Page
152
Recommended Citation
Whitehead, J. B.,
Crawford, G. P.
(2001). Liquid Crystal and Polymer Dispersions in a Microgravity Environment. ACS Symposium Series, 793, 138-152.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/16137