| Abstract: | Chiral monomeric (+)‐bornyl methacrylate (BMA) was synthesized from (+)‐camphor. The normal mode of polymer‐stabilized cholesteric texture (PSCT) liquid crystal cells was fabricated using 97.3 wt% of liquid crystal (E48/CB15 = 92/8) and 2.7 wt% of various compositions of chiral and achiral monomers. BMA was used as a chiral monomer and, 4,4′‐bis6‐(acryloyloxy)hexyloxy]biphenyl and ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate were used as achiral difunctional monomers. The electro‐optical characteristics and the morphology of the PSCT cells with chiral and achiral polymer materials were investigated. The effects of monomer concentration and polymerization conditions of the chiral (+)‐bornyl methacrylate on the electro‐optical characteristics and morphology of PSCT cells were also investigated. It was found that the electro‐optical characteristics of PSCT cells were improved by using the chiral monomer of (+)‐bornyl methacrylate effectively. A PSCT cell was fabricated, and the reversible turbid and transparent changes were examined by applying a 15 V electric field. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
