Full Permanent Memory Effect in PDLC Films

Permanent memory effect in polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films prepared by thermal polymerization induced phase separation (PIPS) were studied. New trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TMP3MA)/poly(propylene glycol) methacrylate (PPGMA375)/E7/AIBN and pentaerythritol tetraacrylate (PE4A)/poly(propylene glycol) acrylate (PPGA475)/E7/AIBN PDLC films showed 86% permanent memory effect with E90 = 6 V/μm and memory state contrast of 70% and full permanent memory effect with E90 = 3 V/μm and total memory state contrast, respectively. These materials with two stable states (opaque and transparent) seem to be promising for the development of a new class of optical memories as they can be used for electrically write information, optically read the written information and they can be thermally erased back to the initial scattered state.