Recent progress in dichroic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal materials

Abstract

Polymer dispersed liquid crystal films incorporating dichroic dyes can be used to produce high-performance reflective displays using either glass or plastic substrates. The absorbance of PDLC films is predictable, based on a simple alignment model. The photostability properties of the dichroic dyes is an important device criterion. The photostability of dyes can depend on the choice of substrate. With plastic substrates dye fading occurs under aerobic conditions, while in glass substrates any photoreactions are anaerobic in nature; these differences can lead to significant lifetime differences in displays. © 1996, Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston. All rights reserved.