Electro-optical Properties of POLYSTYRENE-CO-ACRYLONITRIL (SAN) / Liquid Crystal (E-8) Composite Films

ABSTRACT

Elecro-optical properties of the SAN/E-8 composite films with 50%to 70% loading of E-8(LC) to polymer,under an alternating current electric field (0 – 300 Vp-p) and frequency (50 Hz -1KHz) were measured transmittancesby employing He-Ne laser (λ = 632.8 nm) as a light source. Scanning electron microscopic observation for the matrix polymer (SAN) after extraction of LC with methanol, exhibited that LC molecules with uniform dispersed spherical droplet morphology were continuously embedded in a continuous three – dimensional spongy network of polymer. As LC content increase to 50 % to70% in the composite film, the LC droplets become larger and irregular elongated and connected in three dimensions LC channel embedded in polymer matrix as a continuous phase separated by the thin matrix polymer walls.

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