Polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal materials fabricated with frontal polymerization

We report on the morphological and thermal properties of polymer‐dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) fabricated with frontal‐polymerization‐induced phase separation (FPIPS). Frontal polymerization is characterized by a rapid‐conversion, high‐temperature, and large‐thermal‐gradient environment. A comparison is made between the morphological and thermal properties of PDLCs fabricated with FPIPS and traditional thermal‐polymerization‐induced phase separation. Characterization includes differential scanning calorimetry to probe the glass and nematic‐to‐isotropic transitions and scanning electron microscopy to evaluate the phase‐separated morphology. In addition, the frontal temperatures and velocities are reported for PDLCs fabricated with frontal polymerization. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 204–212, 2003 This report investigates the morphological and thermal properties of polymer‐dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) fabricated with frontal‐polymerization‐induced phase separation (FPIPS). Frontal polymerization is characterized by a rapid‐conversion, high‐temperature, and large‐thermal‐gradient environment. A comparison is made between the morphological and thermal properties of PDLCs fabricated with FPIPS and traditional thermal‐polymerization‐induced phase separation.