Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition for forming a substrate, comprising: a liquid crystal thermosetting oligomer having one or more soluble structural units in the main chain thereof and having thermosetting groups at one or more ends of the main chain thereof; and a metal alkoxide compound having reaction groups which can be covalently bonded with the thermosetting groups.

Abstract: The compound of the present invention is represented by the formula (1). In the formula (1), R1 and R2 are hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, methyl or ethyl; X1 and X2 are hydrogen, fluorine, methyl or trifluoromethyl; Z1 and Z2 are a single bond, —COO—, —OCO—, —CH?CH—COO—, —OCO—CH?CH—, —CH2CH2—COO—, —OCO—CH2CH2—, —CH2O—, —CONH—, —(CH2)4—, —CH2CH2— or —C?C—; Z3 and Z4 are a single bond or —O—; A1 and A2 are 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene, 1,3-phenylene, pyridin-2,5-diyl, pyrimidin-2,5-diyl, naphthalen-2,6-diyl or tetrahydronaphtlane-2,6-diyl; and Y1 and Y2 are alkylene having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A polymerizable liquid crystal compound shown by the following formula (I), a polymerizable liquid crystal composition that includes the polymerizable liquid crystal compound and a chiral compound polymerizable with the polymerizable liquid crystal compound, a liquid crystalline polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable liquid crystal compound or the polymerizable liquid crystal composition, and an optical anisotropic article that includes the liquid crystalline polymer. The polymerizable liquid crystal compound shows a liquid crystal phase over a wider temperature range, is chemically stable, can be inexpensively produced, and has a wide selective reflection wavelength band ?? (i.e., a large value ?n).

Abstract: The present invention provides a vertical alignment film having a polymerizable liquid crystal compound having negative dielectric constant anisotropy, where the polymerizable liquid crystal compound is vertically aligned against the surface of the substrate, and then the polymerizable liquid crystal compound is fixed to form the vertical alignment film.

Abstract: A system having a ferroelectric liquid host material and a small amount of polymer additive is provided. In an embodiment, the polymer additive improves the physical characteristics of the system. In an embodiment, the system can be used in FLC applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds represented by Formula (1): wherein Ra is alkyl or the like; Rb is hydrogen, alkyl or the like; A is 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene or the like; Z is a single bond, alkylene or the like; Y is a single bond, alkylene or the like; and m and n are each an integer of approximately 0 to approximately 5.

Abstract: The cholesteric liquid crystal composition includes at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by Formulas (1) to (8): wherein R1 represents independently alkyl having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or alkoxy having 1 to 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium based on a mixture of polar compounds, characterized in that it comprises one or more compounds of the formula I and one or more compounds of the formula IA in which R1, R1A, X, XA, L1-7, A1, Z1 and n have the meanings indicated in claim 1.

Abstract: The invention is to provide such a liquid crystal compound that has general properties required for a liquid crystal compound, stability to heat, light and the like, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a negatively large dielectric anisotropy, a wide temperature range of a nematic phase, and favorable compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds, and a liquid crystal composition containing the compound. The invention provides a compound represented by Formula (1), wherein Ra and Rb are hydrogen or an alkyl having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; ring A1 is 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene, pyridine-2,5-diyl, pyridazine-3,6-diyl, decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl, or naphthalene-2,6-diyl; Z1 is a single bond or an alkylene having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; Y1 is hydrogen, halogen, —CN, —CF3, —CHF2, —CH2F, —OCF3, —OCHF2, or —OCH2F; and m is 1, 2, or 3.

Abstract: A polymerizable liquid crystal composition is provided that can exhibit a uniform homogeneous alignment by coating the composition on a supporting substrate having been subjected to an alignment treatment. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition contains a mixture of polymerizable compounds containing a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by the formula (1-1) as a component A and a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by the formula (2-1) as a component B as essential components, and optionally containing a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by the formulae (3-1) to (3-3) as a component C and/or a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by the formula (4-1) as a component D, and contains at least one nonionic surfactant as a component E. Examples of each of the components are shown below, in which T represents triptycen-1,4-diyl.

Abstract: A liquid crystal material including an optical compensated bend mode liquid crystal molecule and a bend molecule is provided. The bend molecule has a structure presented as formula (1): In formula (1), the symbol A represents one of the following formulas: The symbol L represents hydrogen or fluorine, and the value r is one, two, three, four, five, six, seven or eight. Besides, the symbol X represents carboxyl group or cyano group. The symbol B represents one of the following formulas: The symbol L represents hydrogen or fluorine, and the value r is one, two, three, four, five, six, seven or eight. The symbol C represents alkyl, alkoxyl, alkylcarbonyl or alkoxycarbonyl group with 1 to 12 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A liquid crystalline compound shown by the following formula (I). wherein R1 to R13 represent a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a methyl group, a trifluoromethoxy group, or a cyano group, X represents —O—, —O—CO—, or the like, n is 0 or 1, and R14 represents -A-CO—CH?CH2, wherein A is a linking group. The liquid crystalline compound has a higher liquid crystal phase upper limit temperature, is chemically stable, can be inexpensively produced, and exhibits a large selective reflection wavelength zone ?? (a large ?n). A liquid crystalline composition comprising the liquid crystalline compounds, an optical film having a liquid crystal layer formed using the liquid crystalline composition, and an optical laminate comprising a substrate, an alignment film formed on the substrate, a liquid crystal layer formed using the liquid crystalline composition on the alignment film are also disclosed.

Abstract: A compound represented by formula (1): wherein R1 is hydrogen or alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons, in which in the alkyl, arbitrary —CH2— may be replaced by —O—, —S—, —COO—, —CH?CH— or —C?C—, and arbitrary hydrogen may be replaced by halogen or alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons; ring A1, ring A2, ring A3, ring A4 and ring A5 are each independently a benzene ring, a piperidine ring, a tetrahydropyrane ring or a dioxane ring, in which in the rings, arbitrary hydrogen may be replaced by halogen, alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons, alkoxy having 1 to 3 carbons or halogenated alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons, and —CH? may be replaced by —N?; Z1, Z2, Z4, Z5 and Z6 are each independently a single bond, —COO— or —CF2O—; Z3 is a single bond or —CF2O—, and in the case where Z3 is a single bond, ring A3 is a ring represented by formula (RG-5), or L1 and L2 are both fluorine, or at least one of Z1, Z2, Z4, Z5 and Z6 is —CF2O—; L1, L2, L3 and L4 are each independently hydrogen or halogen; X1 is hydrogen, halogen, —C?N, —N?C?S, —C?C—C?N, —S

Abstract: Disclosed are a biaxial liquid crystal compound, a liquid crystal composition comprising the same, and an optical film using the same liquid crystal composition. More particularly, there is provided a liquid crystal material of a viewing angle compensation film with high quality characteristics, which can improve a contrast ratio and minimize variations in color with viewing angles in a black state, a liquid crystal composition comprising the same liquid crystal material, and a compensation film obtained from the same liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: The invention includes compounds represented by Formula (1): wherein R represents hydrogen or methyl; A represents alkylene having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, wherein in the alkylene, arbitrary —CH2— may be replaced by —O—, —S—, —CH?CH—, —CO—, —COO— or —OCO—; X and Y each independently represent an aromatic ring or a cyclohexane ring, wherein in the rings, arbitrary hydrogen may be replaced by alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; Z independently represents a single bond, —O—, —S—, —COO—, —OCO—, —CON(R1)— or —N(R1)CO—, wherein R1 represents hydrogen or methyl; and m represents an integer of from 0 to 3.

Abstract: A polymerizable compound represented by general formula (1) of the invention has good solvent solubility and excellent alignment control properties and optical characteristics. In formula (1), M1 and M2 are each hydrogen or methyl; X1 and are each a single bond, or an optionally branched C1-10 alkylene, alkyleneoxy or alkyleneoxycarbonyloxy; X3 is optionally branched C1-10 alkylene; Y1 and Y2 are each an ester linkage, etc.; and rings A, B, C, and D are each a cyclic structure, such as 2,6-naphthlene.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide a liquid crystal display device excellent in moving picture characteristics in view of the temperature dependence of the viscosity of a liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: The invention is generally related to a polymer/liquid crystal composite, which includes a liquid crystal material which exhibits an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase in the temperature range of approximately 5° C. or more in the elevated temperature process but does not exhibit a nematic phase; and a polymer, and which is used for an element driven in a state of the optically isotropic liquid crystal phase.

Abstract: A liquid crystal compound represented by the formula CH2?CR1—COO-(L)k-E1-E2-E3-E4-R2 wherein R1: a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R2: a C1-8 alkyl group; k: 0 or 1; L: —(CH2)pO— or —(CH2)q— (wherein each of p and q which are independent of each other, is an integer of from 2 to 8); E1: a 1,4-phenylene group; E2, E3, E4: each independently a 1,4-phenylene group or a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group and at least one of E2 and E3 is a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group, provided that the 1,4-phenylene group and trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group in E1 to E4, may be such that a hydrogen atom bonded to a carbon atom in each group may be substituted by a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom or a methyl group. To provide a novel liquid crystal compound for preparing an optical element which can exhibit a proper Rd value depending upon usable wavelength and application and which is excellent in durability against a blue laser beam.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device has a liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules, each of which has an asymmetric carbon atom, and has a core portion and an organosilane or organosiloxane structure at positions opposed to each other with the asymmetric carbon atom therebetween.

Abstract: Shape memory main-chain smectic-C elastomers are described. The elastomers are prepared by hydrosilylation of a reaction mixture including a liquid crystalline diene, a crosslinking agent, and a bis(silyl hydride) compound. The elastomers exhibit shape-memory properties and spontaneously reversible shape changes. They are useful for fabrication of shape memory articles including, for example, implantable medical devices, contact lenses, reversible embossing media, and Fresnel lenses.

Abstract: Described are compositions that include a crosslinked polymer obtained on crosslinking a particular class of uncrosslinked polymers having in-chain aliphatic double bonds. The compositions exhibit unusual shape memory properties, and they may be used to form objects that exhibit at least three different shapes as a function of temperature.

Abstract: The compound of the invention is represented by Formula (1a) or Formula (1b) wherein R1 is a monovalent group; P1 and P2 are a monovalent group having an acrylic group and a hydroxyl group; A1, A2, and B1 are a divalent cyclic group; X1, X2, X3, X4, Y1 and Y2 are a bonding group.

Abstract: The invention reports on the use of multi-reactive polymerizable surfactants in mixtures of polymerizable mesogenic materials. The polymerizable surfactants are readily polymerized into the liquid crystal film and build a protective topcoat layer. The invention also relates to a method of producing polymeric optical films with improved stability by using the surfactants. Uses of these films are given for various applications including security applications and displays.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a liquid crystal composition intended to be applied to the surface of a base material to form a phase difference layer, the liquid crystal composition being capable of forming a phase difference layer well indicating homeotropic orientation without the presence of an oriented film, even if the liquid crystal composition is directly applied to the base material surface, as well as a phase difference layer formed by the liquid crystal composition, a color filter and a liquid crystal display apparatus using the phase difference layer, and further a method of forming the phase difference layer. To a liquid crystal composition containing one kind or two or more kinds of crosslinking liquid crystal compounds is further added at least an amino-based silane coupling agent to prepare a liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: The use of a mesogenic compound having a terminal end chain comprising carbon, oxygen, or sulphur, which has at least one pendent C1-4alkyl, C1-4alkoxy or a cycloalkyl ring, arranged no more than 6 atoms from the end of the chain either decreasing the melting point, increasing the clearing point, increasing the speed of switching and/or increasing the tilt angle of a liquid crystal mixture. Examples of such compounds are of formula (I) where M is a mesogenic core group, and X and Y are terminal groups, provided that at least one group X or Y is a group of sub-formula (i) where Z1, Z2, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, s, q, m and n are as defined in the specification. Novel compounds of formula (I) are also described and claimed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal composition obtained by dissolving a dichroic dye in a mixture of a cross-linked polymer having a liquid crystalline group in the side chains and a low molecular weight liquid crystal, and preferably the cross-linked polymer is a cross-linked siloxane polymer having a liquid crystalline group in the side chains, and the dielectric constant anisotropy of the liquid crystal composition is changed from positive to negative by increasing the frequency of the voltage to be applied. The present invention further provides a liquid crystal element containing the liquid crystal composition and a cross-linked siloxane polymer preferably usable for the liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photopolymerizable liquid crystal composition comprising at least a compound having oxiranyl as a first component and at least a compound having oxetanyl as a second component, a polymer or a polymer composition obtained from the liquid crystal composition, a film obtained from the polymer or polymer composition, and an optical compensation element using the film.

Abstract: The present invention provides organogermanium compounds and liquid crystal compositions comprising such a compound.

Abstract: A polymerizable liquid crystalline composition comprises a side chain liquid crystalline polymer obtained by radical-copolymerizing a (meth)acrylic compound has an optically active site and a (meth)acrylic compound having an oxetanyl group, and a cation generator and thus have no functional group the synthesis of which is difficult, such as an epoxy group. The use of the polymerizable liquid crystalline composition provides a cholesteric liquid crystal film which is excellent in a capability of retaining the orientation after being aligned and fixed in a liquid crystal orientation and in mechanical strength without the necessity of a complicated operation such as photo irradiation under an inert gas atmosphere.

Abstract: Provided are a polymerizing liquid-crystalline compound of formula (1). In formula (1), Q1 to Q4 each independently represent a formula (2), a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group or the like; at least two of Q1 to Q4 are a formula (2) and may differ from each other. In formula (2), A independently represent a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a 1,4-phenylene group or the like; X independently represents a single bond, an alkylene group or the like; Z represents a single bond, —COO—, —OCO— or the like; n indicates an integer of from 0 to 3; p represents any one polymerizing group of formulae (P1) to (P8); W represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group or the like. When Q1 and Q2 are both hydrogen atoms and when Q3 and Q4 are both formula (2), then p must not be (P8).

Abstract: Provided are a liquid-crystal compound and a liquid-crystal composition containing the compound, of which the advantages are that they show nematic hybrid orientation on a rubbed TAC substrate, they are polymerizable in open air and they readily give a polymer having a high degree of polymerization even when exposed to a relatively small total quantity of light. The films formed by photopolymerizing them keep nematic hybrid orientation. The compound is represented by formula (1): wherein R1 is a hydrogen or an alkyl; R2 is a hydrogen, —OCF3, etc.; A1 is a 1,4-phenylene, etc.; A2 and A3 are independently a 1,4-cyclohexylene, a 1,4-phenylene, etc.; X1 is a single bond, —O—, etc.; X2 and X3 are independently a single bond, —COO—, —C?C—, —CONH—, etc.; m is an integer of from 0 to 20; and n is 1 or 0.

Abstract: A mixture which is polymerizable to polymers exhibiting a high optical anisotropy which is stable during polymerization. The mixture contains a first monomer or (and/or) oligomer having two or more polymerizable functional groups and optionally a mesogenic group; a second monomer or oligomer bearing at least one mesogenic group having an aromatic double ring structure and only one polymerizable group; and from 1 to 50% by weight of a monomer non-polymerizable with the first or second monomer, but which also contains a mesogenic group having an aromatic double ring structure.

Abstract: A method of using a liquid crystal composition in a bistable liquid crystal device having a weak zenithal anchoring comprising at least 40% by weight of compounds with strong molecular polarisability and strong dipole moment.

Abstract: Rod-like molecules (1) are admixed into a smectic C liquid crystal (2). According to the least-energy principle for electrostatic energy each rod-like molecule (1) has its permanent dipole moment aligned in a direction along a boundary layer between adjacent molecular layers of the liquid crystal and such permanent dipoles in adjacent boundary layers are aligned with their dipole moments opposed to each other in the direction of orientation. The character “<” bar regions of rod-like molecules (1) cause liquid crystal molecules inclined along their major axes to be axially inclined in an opposite direction every other layer whereby a smectic CA phase is formed in which the layer of liquid crystal molecules inclined in one direction and the layer of those inclined in the other direction alternate.

Abstract: The invention provides a cholesteric liquid crystal composition that includes at least one cholesteric liquid crystal precursor, and at least one non-liquid crystalline additive that is a non-liquid crystalline compound of formula I The invention also provides cholesteric liquid crystal films and optical bodies formed from cholesteric liquid crystal compositions of the invention. The invention further provides an optical display that includes a display medium, and a reflective polarizer including a cholesteric liquid crystal composition in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to multireactive polymerizable mesogenic compounds of formula I R1—MG—R2 I wherein R1, R2 and MG have the meaning given in claim 1, to a polymerizable mesogenic composition comprising at least two components, at least one which is a compound of formula I, to a linear or crosslinked polymer obtainable by polymerization of one or more compounds of formula I or of a polymerizable composition comprising one or more compounds of formula I and to the use of a compound of formula I, or a polymerizable composition or polymer obtainable thereof, in optical elements such as polarizers, optical retardation or compensation films, alignment layers, colour filters or holographic elements, in liquid crystal displays such as PDLC, polymer gel or polymer stabilized cholesteric texture (PSCT) displays, in adhesives, synthetic resins with anisotropic mechanical properties, cosmetics, diagnostics or liquid crystal pigments, for decorative and security applications, and for nonlinear optics or optical info

Abstract: The invention relates to chiral photoisomerizable compounds of formula (I) wherein X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6 have the meanings given in claim 1, to liquid crystalline mixtures and polymers containing them, and to the use of chiral photoisomerizable compounds, liquid crystalline mixtures and polymers containing them in optical and electrooptical devices like liquid crystal displays or projection systems, in optical elements like polarizers, retardation films, compensators, color filters or holographic elements, in liquid crystal pigments and colored films or coatings for decorative or security applications, cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions, in nonlinear optics and optical information storage.

Abstract: Nematic liquid crystal mixtures with weak zenithal anchoring energy for bistable display devices, comprising at least 40% by weight of compounds with strong molecular polarisability and strong dipole moment.

Abstract: New, efficient methods for making novel platform molecules and polymerizable mesogens are provided, as well as the novel mesogens and methods of using same.

Abstract: A resin blend and method of producing the resin blend, the resin blend comprising one or more first liquid crystal monomer at a ratio to one or more secondary monomer, said secondary monomer and said ratio being adapted to maintain said resin blend in a nematic liquid crystalline state after addition of an inorganic filler at a temperature of 20° C. for about 30 minutes or more, the resin blend having a polymerization shrinkage of 3 vol. % or less.

Abstract: The invention provides LC compositions that exhibit V-shaped switching when aligned in an analog device configuration and exhibit bistability when aligned in a bookshelf-type device configuration. The invention more specifically provides LC compositions of formula 1 and particularly chiral nonracemic compounds of formula 1 which exhibit bistable switching as well as V-shaped switching when aligned in appropriate device configurations. The invention also provides methods of using the compounds of the invention in making LC compositions and electooptical devices comprising an aligned layer of the compositions of this invention.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises a transparent support and an optically anisotropic layer. The optically anisotropic layer is formed from liquid crystal molecules and monomers having four or more double bonds. The monomers are polymerized to form a polymer in the optically anisotropic layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds of the formula I and to a liquid-crystalline medium based on a mixture of polar compounds of positive dielectric anisotropy, characterized in that it comprises one or more compounds of the general formula I in which R, A1, A2, Z1, Y, Z, L1, L2 and m are as defined herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound represented by formula (1) defined in the specification and a liquid crystal composition comprising the compound. The invention further provides a polymer obtained by polymerization of compound or composition above, and further the present invention provides a film, an optical anisotropic material, A ¼ or ½ wavelength functional plate, an optical compensation element, an optical element and a liquid crystal display element employing the polymer.

Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid crystalline polyacetylene having a repeat structure of the formula where spa is a spacer group and mes is a mesogenic substituent.

Abstract: Liquid crystalline compositions contain no functional group the synthesis of which is difficult, such as (meth)acrylate and epoxy group and comprise (A) an oxetane compound having an optically active portion, (B) a side chain liquid crystalline polymeric substance having an oxetanyl group, and (C) a photo cation generator and/or a thermal cation generator. The use of the composition can provide a cholesteric-aligned liquid crystal film with excellent alignment retention properties after being fixed in the liquid crystal state and mechanical strength, without employing any complicated step such as photo irradiation under an inert gas atmosphere.

Abstract: A method for producing platform molecules comprising: forming a mixture comprising first and second phenylene rings comprising halogenated carboxylic groups, and a third phenylene ring comprising a desired substituent and a first functionality at a para-position to a second funcitonality; and exposing the mixture to conditions effective to react the first halogenated carboxylic group with the first functionality to produce a first ester bond, and the second halogenated carboxylic group with the second functionality to produce a second ester bond; producing platform molecules comprising terminal groups comprising the first functional group at a position para to first ester bond and the second functional group at a position para to the second ester bond.

Abstract: The invention provides a cholesteric liquid crystal composition that includes at least one cholesteric liquid crystal precursor, and at least one non-liquid crystalline additive that is a non-liquid crystalline compound of formula I The invention also provides cholesteric liquid crystal films and optical bodies formed from cholesteric liquid crystal compositions of the invention. The invention further provides an optical display that includes a display medium, and a reflective polarizer including a cholesteric liquid crystal composition in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: A glassy chiral-nematic liquid crystal composition includes a compound having the structural formula wherein each N represents a nematic group connected to the 1, 3, 5-benzenetricarbonyl central moiety by a carboxylic ester linkage and Ch represents a chiral group connected to the central moiety by a carboxylic ester linkage. An optical device is formed from at least one of the glassy chiral-nematic liquid crystal compositions.