Liquid crystal composite and method of making
First Claim
1. A liquid crystal composite comprising plural volumes of liquid crystal material dispersed in a matrix material, wherein the liquid crystal material is at least partially separated from the matrix material by an interfacial material and an encapsulating material successively disposed around the liquid crystal material, wherein the interfacial material is selected from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates, epoxies, polyurethanes, polyureas, and siloxanes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is disclosed for making a liquid crystal composite in which droplets of a liquid crystal material are dispersed in a polymer matrix. At least one further material separates the liquid crystal material from the polymer matrix. This construction permits the polymer matrix to be selected on the basis of its environmental properties and the further material to be selected on the basis of its orientational interactions with liquid crystal material. Light valves made from such a composite exhibit improved electro-optical properties.
27 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A liquid crystal composite comprising plural volumes of liquid crystal material dispersed in a matrix material, wherein the liquid crystal material is at least partially separated from the matrix material by an interfacial material and an encapsulating material successively disposed around the liquid crystal material, wherein the interfacial material is selected from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates, epoxies, polyurethanes, polyureas, and siloxanes.
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2. A liquid crystal composite comprising plural volumes of liquid crystal material dispersed in a matrix material, wherein the liquid crystal material is at least partially separated from the matrix material by an interfacial material and an encapsulating material successively disposed around the liquid crystal material, wherein the encapsulating material is selected from the group consisting of poly(vinyl alcohol), poly/vinyl pyrrolidone), poly(ethylene glycol), poly(acrylic acid) and its copolymers, poly(hydroxy acrylate), cellulose derivatives, epoxies, silicones, acrylates, polyesters, styrene-acrylic acid-acrylate terpolymers, and mixtures thereof.
- 3. A liquid crystal composite comprising plural volumes of liquid crystal material dispersed in a matrix material, wherein the liquid crystal material is at least partially separated from the matrix material by an interfacial material and an encapsulating material successively disposed around the liquid crystal material, wherein the matrix material is selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), poly(ethylene glycol), poly(acrylic acid) and its copolymers, poly(hydroxy acrylate), cellulose derivatives, epoxies, silicones, acrylates, polyesters, styrene-acrylic acid-acrylate terpolymers, and mixtures thereof.
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5. A method of making a liquid crystal composite comprising plural volumes of liquid crystal material dispersed in a matrix material, wherein the liquid crystal material is at least partially separated from the matrix material by an interfacial material and an encapsulating material successively disposed around the liquid crystal material, comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming capsules in which the liquid crystal material is successively surrounded by interfacial material and encapsulating material; (b) dispersing the capsules in a medium in which the matrix material or a precursor thereof is present; and (c) causing the matrix material or precursor thereof to set around the capsules, to form the liquid crystal composite. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification