Abstract: A liquid crystal display has a first substrate plate and a second substrate plate, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the plates. A polarizing coating, having molecules of one or more organic dyes capable of forming a lyotropic liquid crystalline phase, is formed overlying a selected surface of each plate. Orientation of the polarizing coating is obtained by applying a force to the dye molecules when in the liquid crystal phase and subsequently converting the liquid crystal phase to a solid film.

Abstract: Polarizing coatings are formed from dyestuffs which provide a stable liquid crystalline phase in a wide range of concentrations, temperatures and pH-values. Particles formed by aggregates of the liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a predetermined direction to polarize light. The stability of the liquid crystalline state allows orienting the particles by mechanical forces such as a shearing force applied when the liquid crystal (10) is spread on a support surface (20) by a knife-like doctor (90) or a tension deformation force acting on the meniscus of the liquid crystal deposited between two surfaces (20, 30) as the surfaces are peeled off one another. As a result, the polarizing coatings are formed in some embodiments by simple methods. In some embodiments, the polarizing coatings have a high lightfastness, a high thermal stability, and a high dichroic ratio.

Abstract: Polarizing coatings are formed from dyestuffs which provide a stable liquid crystalline phase in a wide range of concentrations, temperatures and pH-values. Particles formed by aggregates of the liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a predetermined direction to polarize light. The stability of the liquid crystalline state allows orienting the particles by mechanical forces such as a shearing force applied when the liquid crystal (10) is spread on a support surface (20) by a knife-like doctor (90) or a tension deformation force acting on the meniscus of the liquid crystal deposited between two surfaces (20, 30) as the surfaces are peeled off one another. As a result, the polarizing coatings are formed in some embodiments by simple methods. In some embodiments, the polarizing coatings have a high lightfastness, a high thermal stability, and a high dichroic ratio.