Liquid Crystals for Advanced Technologies

摘要

Liquid crystalline (LC) materials have found use in many areas of technology andtheir scope has been extended with the development of liquid crystalline polymers, elastomers, and composite systems. Considerable basic and applied research is being carried out in these areas as was recognized in Symposium I, 'Liquid Crystals for Advanced Technologies,' which presented an opportunity for researchers in different areas to come together, pool resources, and discuss common problems. Synthetic approaches were featured in two half day sessions which included polymers based upon polydienes, the right opening polymerization of oxiranes and oxitanes, block-LC copolymers photoreactive cholesteric materials, and fluorinated low molar mass compounds for LCD applications. A number of presentations throughout the program also centered on the development of glass forming, low molecular weight liquid crystals and their utility in both display and optical applications. Considerable work on polymer dispersed LC composites was also represented by two half day sessions highlighting progress in the understanding of switchable scattering films and diffractive gratings formed by a number of phase separation processes. Sessions on display and optical applications of these LC-based compounds, modeling, rheology, chiral smectics, thermosets, and processing techniques were complemented by over two dozen posters in the evening session.