Evolution of the switching current during the preparation of polymer network-ferroelectric liquid crystal microcomposites

The polymer network-ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) microcomposites are prepared by UV crosslinking of a chiral prepolymer diluted in a FLC. A fast cross-linking process involving 20 mW cm^-2 UV intensity produces material with ferroelectric properties which have strongly deteriorated compared with the pure FLC. By a slow process using a UV intensity of 2 mW cm^-2 the ferroelectric properties are less affected. It is supposed that the very dense polymer network, which arises during the fast process, is responsible for hindering the switching process and decreasing the spontaneous polarization. The photopolymerization kinetics are determined by measuring the switching current during the UV irradiation. The characteristic time of cross-linking is mainly reflected in the evolution of the spontaneous polarization and rotational viscosity with time.