Effect of Polymer Network Morphology on the Performance of Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) Composite Films

Abstract

The effects of the morphologies of liquid crystal (LC) droplets left in polymer network on the performance of polymer dispersed liquid crystal composite films were investigated. By adjusting the relative content range of the crosslinking and diluents, the morphologies of polymer network can be changed. Therefore, the properties of PDLC composite films with imparity polymer morphologies were obtained by experiments and the finite element simulation. Results of the experimental and finite element simulation showed that the electrooptical properties of PDLC composite films were inversely proportional to the domain size of the polymer network and the mechanical properties were proportional to the domain size of the polymer network.

Keywords

polymer dispersed liquid crystals / polymer network morphology / finite element simulation / mechanical properties / electro-optical properties