Electrooptic response of pdlc light shutters

The response times and operating voltages for light shutters made from polymer dispersed liquid crystals' are studied. Alterations in the resistivity of the polymer binder are made by varying the degree of cross-linking to demonstrate and quantitize the strong effect of resistivity on the switching voltage. The voltage response from transitions in the nematic director configuration is studied in radially configured droplets and the molecular anchoring energy at the droplet wall is measured. Measurements of the relaxation time, response time, and voltage response are also reported on uniformly elongated and aligned droplets to study the effect of droplet shape. The results of these measurements are compared with calculations based on simplified models for ellipsoidal shaped droplets with major and minor axes a and b respectively. Response equations in terms of the aspect ratio = a/b are experimentally examined. © SPIE.