A polymer dispersed ferroelectric liquid crystal ~PDFLC! is a novel material combining propertiesof a polymer ~flexibility, elasticity! and ferroelectric liquid crystal ~low voltage, fast electro-opticalswitching!. Another interesting field of application of PDFLC is the detection of low intensityradiation using the pyroelectric response of the material. A PDFLC material containing aferroelectric liquid crystal ~FLC! with very high spontaneous polarization ~close to 200 nC/cm2 atroom temperature! was prepared to study its pyroelectric properties. The matrix was pure polymerpoly-butadiene-styrene which can be mixed with liquid crystals in volatile solvents. The pyroelectricresponse and the spontaneous polarization were measured over a wide temperature range of thesmectic C* phase and compared with the corresponding quantities of the pure FLC. Figures of meritof pyroelectric PDFLC films were estimated and compared with those known for conventionalferroelectrics.
Pyroelectric properties of polymer dispersed ferroelectric liquid crystals
BARTOLINO, Roberto;SCARAMUZZA, Nicola;
1998-01-01
Abstract
A polymer dispersed ferroelectric liquid crystal ~PDFLC! is a novel material combining propertiesof a polymer ~flexibility, elasticity! and ferroelectric liquid crystal ~low voltage, fast electro-opticalswitching!. Another interesting field of application of PDFLC is the detection of low intensityradiation using the pyroelectric response of the material. A PDFLC material containing aferroelectric liquid crystal ~FLC! with very high spontaneous polarization ~close to 200 nC/cm2 atroom temperature! was prepared to study its pyroelectric properties. The matrix was pure polymerpoly-butadiene-styrene which can be mixed with liquid crystals in volatile solvents. The pyroelectricresponse and the spontaneous polarization were measured over a wide temperature range of thesmectic C* phase and compared with the corresponding quantities of the pure FLC. Figures of meritof pyroelectric PDFLC films were estimated and compared with those known for conventionalferroelectrics.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
