Anisotropic gels and plasticized networks formed by liquid crystal molecules

Abstract Two component mixtures containing liquid crystalline diacrylates and liquid crystal molecules with no reactive groups have been made. Upon photopolymeriz-ation of the mixtures anisotropic networks containing liquid crystal molecules which were not chemically attached to the networks were created. In these systems the behaviour of the liquid crystal molecules was found to be dominated by the network molecules. Even when the liquid crystal molecules in these networks were heated above their isotropic transition temperature they remained partly oriented, thus contributing to the anisotropy of the system.