Polymers for polymer-dispersed liquid crystal displays

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Project objective

Polymer-dispersed liquid crystal films are thin films composed of microdomains of a liquid crystalline material in a polymeric matrix. A display cell is formed by placing such a film between glass plates, coated with transparent electrodes. In the 'off' state the cell is highly opaque due to strong scattering by the LC domains. By switching on an electric field across the cell it becomes transparent. Contrary to conventional TN displays PDLC's don't need polarisers. Switching is based on changes in scattering rather than absorption. This makes PDLC a favoured display principle where high brightness is required. One way of making these displays is polymerisation-induced phase separation in a solution of monomer in LC. Photopolymerisation is the preferred method of inducing the reaction since it allows independent choice of temperature. A problem still to be solved is the proper control and minimisation of hysteresis. It is proposed to investigate the origin of hysteresis using simple model systems, the morphology of which can be well controlled.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

• NEDERLANDSE PHILIPS BEDRIJVEN BV · EINDHOVENCoordinatorNetherlands

Links

• View on CORDIS