Si-CONTAINING, FERROELECTRIC LIQUID CRYSTAL COPOLYMERS, A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME, MIXTURES OF THESE COPOLYMERS WITH LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT LIQUID CRYSTALS AND THEIR USE IN ELECTRO-OPTIC COMPONENTS

摘要

A copolymer of liquid crystal has the formula (I) wherein l, m, p, q, r, s are zero or an integer from 1 to 100, independently of each other, provided that the sum l + m + p + q + r + s is an integer greater than 2 and that at least two of m, p, q, r, s are greater than zero; n is between 1 and 500; Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5 independently of one another are a group having the general formula (CH2) a (-B) b-M1 (-A1) c (-M2) d (-A2) e (-M3 ) f (-A3) g-R1, wherein B is e.g. a group having the alpha formula wherein R6, R7, R8 represent, for example H or CH3 and X is for example chlorine; R1 is for example a straight chain alkyl having from 1 to 16 carbon atoms; a is between 2 and 20; b, c, d, e, f, g are 0 or 1; A1, A2, A3 are, for example phenylene or pyrimidine-2,5-diyl; M1, M2, M3 are for example COO or OCO. This copolymer is particularly useful as a component of liquid crystal switching devices.