A Calorimetric Determination of Fundamental Properties of Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals

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Abstract
We have developed a combined calorimetric/electron microscopic technique for determining several fundamental properties of polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films. Calorimetry allows us to determine the solubility limit of liquid crystal in the polymer matrix as well as the fraction of liquid crystal which is dispersed in the form of microdroplets. By combining the calorimetry results with electron microscopy measurements of D, the microdroplet diameter, we are able to calculate the functional relationship between the droplet number density and D. All of these parameters are of considerable importance in assessing the behavior of PDLCs. The usefulness of the method is illustrated by applying it to thermally-cured epoxy-based systems.