INTRODUCTION

y Polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) are a relatively new class

of materials that hold promise for many applications ranging from switchable windows to projection displays. These materials, which are simply a combined application of polymers and liquid crystals, are the focus of extensive research in the display industry.

INTRODUCTION
y PDLCs consist of liquid crystal droplets that are dispersed in a solid

polymer matrix. The resulting material is a sort of "swiss cheese" polymer with liquid crystal droplets filling in the holes. These tiny droplets (a few microns across for practical applications) are responsible for the unique behavior of the material. By changing the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules with an electric field, it is possible to vary the intensity of transmitted light.

Preparation of Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals

y Encapsulation
y In this method, a liquid crystal is mixed with a polymer dissolved in

water. When the water is evaporated, the liquid crystal is surrounded by a layer of polymers. Thousands of these tiny "capsules" are produced and distributed through the bulk polymer. Droplets produced with this method tend to be non-uniform in size and can even be interconnected with each other.

Preparation of Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals

y Phase Separation
y In order to obtain PDLCs by phase separation, a homogeneous

mixture of polymer (or prepolymer) and liquid crystal is first produced. The liquid crystal droplets are then formed by the separation of the two phases. The separation can take place in one of the following three ways:

Preparation of Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals

y Polymerization-Induced Phase Separation
y occurs when a liquid crystal is mixed with a solution that has not yet

undergone polymerization (a prepolymer). Once a homogeneous solution is formed, the polymerization reaction is initiated. As the reaction progresses, the liquid crystal molecules come out of solution and begin to form droplets. The droplets grow until the polymer binder becomes solid enough that the molecules are trapped and can no longer move easily. are the cure temperature and the type and proportions of materials used. The cure temperature affects the speed of the polymerization as well as the diffusion rate and solubility of the liquid crystal in the polymer. These factors can greatly influence the size of the liquid crystal droplets which translates into different macroscopic optical properties.

y The two main factors that influence the size of liquid droplets in PIPS

Preparation of Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals

y Thermally-Induced Phase Separation
y In this method, a homogeneous mixture of liquid crystal and a melted

polymer is formed. The solution is cooled at a specific rate to induce phase separation. Liquid crystal droplets begin to form as the polymer hardens. The droplets continue to grow until the glass transition temperature of the polymer is crossed.
y Droplet size is affected the most by the cooling rate of the polymer

melt/liquid crystal solution. Fast cooling rates tend to produce small droplets because there is not sufficient time for large particles to form. Therefore, droplet size and cooling rate are related inversely.

Preparation of Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals

y The following pictures are of the TIPS process taken at three

different times. Note that the droplets grow in size as time passes.

Preparation of Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals

y Solvent-Induced Phase Separation
y The third common type of phase separation is called solvent-induced

phased separation, or SIPS. This process requires both the liquid crystal and polymer to be dissolved in a solvent. The solvent is then removed (typically by evaporation) at a controlled rate to begin the phase separation. Droplets start growing as the polymer and liquid crystal come out of solution and stop when all of the solvent has been removed.
y The main factor affecting droplet size in SIPS is the rate of solvent

removal. Like TIPS, droplet size increases as the rate of solvent removal decreases.

Droplet Configuration
y The radial configuration occurs when the liquid crystal molecules are

anchored with their long axes perpendicular to the droplet walls. Note the point defect in the center of the droplet. The axial configuration of the liquid crystal droplets also occurs when the molecules are oriented perpendicular to the droplet wall, but only when there is weak surface anchoring. This configuration creates a line defect that runs around the equator of the spherical droplet. The bipolar configuration is obtained by tangential anchoring of the liquid crystal molecules. This creates two point defects at the poles of the droplet.

Radial

Bipolar

Axial

Droplet Configuration
y In a typical PDLC sample, there are many droplets with different

configurations and orientations. When an electric field is applied, however, the molecules within the droplets align along the field and have corresponding optical properties. In the following diagram, the director orientation is represented by the black lines on the droplet.

No Electric Field

Electric Field Applied

Applications of PDLCs
y In a typical application, a thin PDLC film (about 25 microns thick) is

deposited between clear plastic covers. The plastic substrates are coated with a very thin layer of a conducting material known as indium tin oxide (ITO). y Transmission of light through a PDLC window depends primarily on scattering which in turn depends on the difference in refractive index between droplets and their environment. In the case of high droplet density, the environment consists mainly of other droplets, which makes the relative orientation of their directors an important factor. The droplets are anisotropic with the index of refraction parallel to the director different from that perpendicular to it. y In the field OFF, the random array of droplet orientation provides significant differences in indices and hence strong scattering. In this state, the cell appears opaque. When a voltage is applied, however, the director of the individual droplets align with the field. There is now little difference in refractive index for neighboring droplets, and the cell appears transparent.

Applications of PDLCs
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