Abstract:
The spontaneous formation of liquid crystal microdroplets by regulated phase separation from a solution of their isotropic state in matrix-producing composition, the matrix being solid and light transmissive synthetic resin, during solidification of such matrix yields a light modulating material consisting essentially of microdroplets (11) of liquid crystal dispersed in the matrix (10).
Abstract:
A material consisting of a dispersion of liquid crystal (11) in a clear resin matrix (10), preferably an epoxy, shows a reversible, high contrast change from an opaque mode (Fig. 2) to a clear light transmission mode (Fig. 1) when either the temperature of the material is changed to transform the dispersed liquid crystal into the isotropic phase (Fig. 1) or an electric field is applied across the material to align the liquid crystal directors (Figs. 1-3). The same material in a stretched condition becomes light transmissive (26) and acts to polarize the transmitted light (26') in a direction perpendicular to the direction of stretch (25) (Fig. 4).