Thermally switched PDLC liquid-crystalline composites

Abstract

The thermooptical properties of conventional polymer-dispersed nematic liquid crystals (PDLC) composites in visual and near IR ranges have been studied. It has been confirmed that the composite film can be switched from the scattering milky state to the transparent state just by reaching a threshold temperature range, namely liquid crystal clearing phase transition to the isotropic one with satisfactory contrast ratio. The optical contrast and switching temperature range can be adjusted by the proper choice of the components of liquid crystalline mixture. This effect could be adopted for a construction of panes with “intelligent” heat transmission.[b]Keywords[/b]: materials engineering, liquid-crystalline composites, thermooptical effect

Keywords

• materials engineering
• liquid-crystalline composites
• efekt termooptyczny