A study on the mechanical and morphological behavior of polyurethane-encapsulated cholesteric liquid crystal composite films

Abstract

This study explores the preparation and mechanical behavior of free-standing polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film membranes. Polyurethane (PU) was used as a thermoplastic polymer matrix to form these free-standing film membranes. Cholesteryl oleyl carbonate (COC) and cholesteryl pelargonate were used as liquid crystals (LCs) with different molecular weights. PDLC membranes were produced by casting method after LCs and polymer were mixed in the tetrahydrofuran solvent at room temperature. These membranes were formed at different concentration ratios of polymer and LCs. The relationship among the phase separation, LCs and polymer contents as well as the LCs molecular weights was investigated. The morphological structures of these membranes were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM images exhibited that the shapes of LC droplets embedded in PU matrix were more uniform and smaller than those of the membranes which include LC with lower molecular weight. The mechanical properties of the PDLC membranes were determined by carrying out the tensile tests. It was found that the membranes which include COC LC were more flexible.