Electro-optical properties of an epoxy-based polymer-dispersed liquid crystal

Electro-optical properties of an epoxy-based polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) have been investigated. A morphological analysis has been performed by optical microscopy in order to estimate initially the average diameter of the liquid crystal microdroplets dispersed in the polymeric matrix. We present the observation of an electro-optical switching effect from an opaque to a transparent state occurring at a threshold value of the applied field in a PDLC. Optical responses of the composite film under the conditions of an externally applied ac electric field and a film thickness of 50μm, were determined using an Argon laser. The experimental result showed promising switching times with a rise time of 200 μsec and a decay time of 2.2 msec and an exceptionally high contrast ratio up to 410. These result demonstrate the validity of employing this new PDLC in electro-optical devices.