Abstract: A method is disclosed for making a liquid crystal composite including a component such as a pleochroic dye. The component is imbibed into droplets of a liquid crystal material in a containment medium.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display is made from an encapsulated liquid crystal structure comprising a liquid crystal composition dispersed in a containment medium. Selected additives may be added to the encapsulated liquid crystal structure to improve performance characteristics such as the operating field, the hysteresis, and the voltage holding ratio.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display is made from an encapsulated liquid crystal structure comprising a liquid crystal composition dispersed in a containment medium. Selected additives may be added to the encapsulated liquid crystal structure to improve performance characteristics such as the operating field, the hysteresis, and the voltage holding ratio.

Abstract: A method is described for making a liquid crystal composite in which droplets of a liquid crystal material dispersed in a matrix material. An encapsulating material at least partially separates the liquid crystal material from the matrix material. This construction permits the matrix material to be selected on the basis of its processing and environmental properties and the encapsulating material to be selected on the basis of its emulsifying ability and orientational interactions with liquid crystal material. Light valves made from such a composite exhibit improved electro-optical properties.

Abstract: An encapsulated liquid crystal material which comprises a liquid crystal composition dispersed in a containmant medium and is responsive to an applied electric field to transform from a first visual state to a second visual state is made by: (a) providing a liquid crystal composition having an ordinary and an extraordinary refractive index; (b) providing a prepolymer material in which the liquid crystal composition is substantially immiscible and which is polymerizable into a containment medium having a refractive index which is substantially matched with the ordinary refractive index of the liquid crystal composition; (c) forming a dispersion of the liquid crystal composition in the prepolymer material, the dispersion having a mean volume diameter of less than 20 .mu.m; and (d) polymerizing the prepolymer material to form the encapsulated liquid crystal material.

Abstract: Encapsulated liquid crystal is deposited onto an electrode by providing a substrate having an electrode pattern thereon; placing the substrate and the electrode pattern in contact with an electrodeposition medium comprising a liquid crystal composition, a containment medium or precursor therefor, and optionally a carrier medium; and depositing encapsulated liquid crystal material comprising the liquid crystal composition dispersed in the containment medium onto the electrode pattern or selected portions thereof by applying a voltage to the electrode pattern or selected portions thereof. The coated substrate-electrode combination can then be made into displays, privacy screens, signs, architectural partitions, and the like.

Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display having improved performance properties is made using an encapsulated liquid crystal structure comprising a containment medium having dispersed therein a liquid crystal composition having an average dielectric constant greater than about 6 and other specified characteristics.

Abstract: A display presenting a three-dimensional visual effect, has (I) a plurality of stacked layers of a display material containing a plurality of pixels which are each independently switchable from a first visual state to a second visual state, each layer having pixels of the same color or combination of colors; (II) switching means for independently switching each pixel from the first visual state to the second visual state; and (III) separating means for providing a separation between adjacent layers of display material. If the number of layers of display material is less than four, the separation between adjacent layers is at least 0.5 mm. Preferably, the display material is encapsulated liquid crystal material.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing a poly(arylene ether ketone), which method comprises in one embodiment heating the poly(arylene ether ketone) at a temperature between about 240.degree. C. and about 325.degree. C. for a period of between about 0.5 and about 24 hours, prior to any melt-processing of the poly(arylene ether ketone) and in another embodiment hydrothermally treating the poly(arylene ether ketone) by heating it to a temperature of at least 160.degree. C. while contacting it with water.

Abstract: The preparation of poly(arylene ether ketones) by Friedel-Crafts polymerization, in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst and a diluent, is conducted under conditions in which the polymer and/or its complex with the catalyst is suspended in the diluent during at least part of the polyreaction mixture if desired. The dispersant may be a polymer or an organic compound containing at least eight carbon atoms and is preferably a Lewis base. The dispersant preferably contains at least one molecular segment substantially compatible with the poly(arylene ether ketone) or its complex with the Lewis acid and substantially incompatible with the diluent and at least one molecular segment substantially compatible with the diluent and substantially incompatible with the poly(arylene ether ketone) or its complex with the Lewis acid.

Abstract: The preparation of poly(arylene ketones) and in particular all para-linked poly(arylene ether ketones) by Friedel-Crafts polymerization in the presence of a Lewis acid generally results in an intractible reaction product difficult to remove from the reaction vessel and difficult to purify. The addition of a liquefaction agent, such as a hydrogen halide and in particular hydrogen chloride, to the reaction mixture, results in a tractible gel or a liquid which can be readily handled. The hydrogen halide is preferably under pressure and a diluent may also be added along with the hydrogen halide.