Effect of molecular weight on the static electro-optic properties of polysiloxane liquid crystal polymers

Abstract EN

This study focused on the electro - optic properties of a total or a series of polymers that have different molecular weights and are based on the polymer backbone.

It is found that low molecular weights reduces the transition temperature and eventually leads to a destabilisation of the nematic phase, the effect of reducing the molecular weight of the polymer is to lower the observed threshold voltage.

This may be related to an increase in the intrinsic elastic constant of the liquid crystal polymers.

It is found that there is a strong coupling between the mesogenic side chain groups and the polymer chain and that the elasticity of the polymer chain plays a strong role in the static electro–optic properties.