Effect of macro-RAFT agent on the morphology of polymer dispersed liquid crystals |
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Authors: | Leishan Shao Jingjing Li Yuliang Zhang Shiming Gong |
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Affiliation: | 1. State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China;2. Research Institute of Maoming Petrochemical Company, SINOPEC, Maoming, PR China |
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Abstract: | In this study, macro-(RAFT) reversible additional fragmental chain transfer agent prepared by reversible additional fragmental chain transfer polymerisation has been incorporated into polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs). The effects of concentration, molecular weight and glass transition temperature of macro-RAFT agent were studied in terms of morphology, polymerisation kinetics, molecular weight of polymer matrix and electro-optical properties of the films. It was found that the key factor influencing morphology was the mobility of macro-RAFT agent chain rather than polymerisation rate and molecular weight of polymer matrix. Furthermore, the decrease in the mobility of macro-RAFT agent chain caused less liquid crystal nematic fraction, smaller liquid crystal domain size and greater driving voltage. |
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Keywords: | morphology macro-RAFT agent mobility PDLC |
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