Abstract: Cubic liquid crystalline gel precursors, bulk cubic liquid crystalline gels, and dispersions of cubic liquid crystalline gel particles, and methods for their preparation, are disclosed. The precursors, gels, and dispersions can be used as skin penetration enhancers. The precursors, gels, and dispersions are prepared by methods employing hydrotropes that do not detrimentally affect the cubic liquid crystalline structure of the gels and particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of polymerizable liquid-crystalline compounds for the production of optical elements having color- and polarization-selective reflection, and to optical elements comprising these compounds in monomeric or polymerized form.

Abstract: A reversible information liquid crystal display medium is disclosed which is capable of long term information display, even through extremes of heat and pressure, without the addition of energy to maintain the display. A primary ingredient of the liquid crystal display medium is a liquid crystalline composition of high-molecular liquid crystal in which molecules that can function as a liquid crystal are chemically bound to side chains of a high-molecular polymer skeleton through a flexing group. Low-molecular liquid crystal may be added to the liquid crystalline composition in order to reduce the response speed of the liquid crystalline composition. The liquid crystal display medium may be used in the display portion of a contactless integrated circuit (IC) card.

Abstract: An optically anisotropic sheet comprises an optically anisotropic layer, an orientation layer and a transparent support in this order. The optically anisotropic layer is formed from discotic liquid crystal molecules. The orientation layer is subjected to rubbing treatment. The discotic liquid crystal molecules are aligned with the orientation layer. An average inclined angle of discotic planes of the discotic liquid crystal molecules is in the range of 50° to 90°. An average direction of optical axes of the discotic liquid crystal molecules is essentially parallel to a rubbing direction of the orientation layer.

Abstract: A compound having formula (1) wherein: A1 is an electron acceptor moiety; C1 is a conjugated bridging moiety; D1 is an electron donor moiety, S1 is a hydrocarbon, a heterocyclic moiety, or a hetero-acyclic moiety; and a′ is an integer, excluding an excluded compound defined by a′ is 2, A1 is cyano, C1 is phenyl, D1 is nitrogen, and each S1 is the same alkyl group.

Abstract: A stratified-phase-separated composite comprises a liquid layer, such as a liquid crystal layer, and a polymeric layer. In order to obtain a more complete stratification resulting in less liquid being present in the polymeric layer, the polymeric layer is crosslinked. The stratified composite is preferably obtained by photo-polymerization induced phase-separation of a phase-separable composition provided on a single substrate or dispersed between two opposite substrates.

Abstract: A process to produce a liquid crystalline polymer film comprises electrostatically depositing a fine powder of liquid crystalline polymer resin onto a carrier and fusing the deposited fine powder to form a liquid crystalline polymer film that is isotropic in the x-y plane. The electrostatic deposition of the resin particles results in a substantially random molecular alignment of the liquid crystalline polymer. The carrier can comprise an all metal foil, a metal foil laminate, a polymer film material, or a release material.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a liquid crystal polymer molded article which has an excellent low warpage and is able to be suitably used particularly as a connector or the like. That is, a molded article of a liquid crystal composition in which 100 parts by weight of a liquid crystal polymer (A) and 5-100 parts by weight of a non-fibrous filler (B) are compounded where the non-fibrous filler is so dispersed that, when a diffraction peak of the non-fibrous filler is measured by a transmission method and a reflection method by means of a wide-angle X-ray diffraction, the diffraction peak of the non-fibrous filler which can be confirmed by the reflection method is not confirmed by the transmission method.

Abstract: An aromatic dicarboxylic acid composition, essentially consisting of (a) at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid; (b) 1-3000 ppm of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 6-formyl-2-naphthoic acid, 6-methoxycarbonyl-2-naphthoic acid and trimellitic acid; (c) 1-1000 ppm of at least one alkali metal and (d) 0-3000 ppm of at least one transition metal is provided. By employing the composition in manufacturing liquid crystalline polyester, LPCs with good coloring property and improved heat resistance as well as excellent mechanical property can be obtained. The present invention also provides a liquid crystalline polyester resin prepared by using the composition.

Abstract: Compounds for use in the preparation of polymerizable liquid crystalline mixtures, liquid crystalline polymers and optical devices prepared from such mixtures and polymers. The compounds include novel compounds comprising an organosiloxane portion and a portion having a structure that is compatible with a mesogenic molecular architecture.

Abstract: A liquid-crystalline resin composition comprising 0.01 to 10 parts by weight of an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene having a molecular weight of exceed 600,000 and 100 parts by weight of a liquid-crystalline resin that shows an anisotropic liquid-crystalline state in a molten state.

Abstract: A polymeric compound has a hexagonal system order (as its crystal system) in a higher order smectic phase, such as smectic B phase, smectic L phase, smectic E phase, etc. The polymeric compound is produced through polymerization of a liquid crystal compound having a polymerizable functional group, such as an acrylic group or a methacrylic group, in a state of assuming a hexagonal system order. An electronic device, preferably an electroluminescence device, using a layer of the polymeric compound disposed between a pair of electrodes exhibits good luminescence and carrier transport performances while retaining excellent reliability.

Abstract: A film for a liquid crystal display comprising a fatty acid celluose ester film having an acetyl group and a propionyl group is disclosed. Sum of degree of acetyl substitution (DSac) and degree of propionyl substitution (DSpr) of the fatty acid celluose ester film of the film is 2.8 or less, and a retardation value (Rt value) in the thickness direction defined by Formula 1 is 60 to 300 nm.

Abstract: In an identification medium for identifying an authenticity of an object either visually or optically by using an identification device, high polymer cholesteric liquid crystal is applied onto the object, onto a sticker adapted to be affixed to the object or onto a base for hot stamping onto the object, and the high polymer cholesteric liquid crystal is patterned, and/or a graphic representation layer such as a figure and letter is formed under or over the high polymer cholesteric liquid crystal to enhance the aesthetic quality of the identification medium or the object, and improve the capability to identify and prevent forgery.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention relates to compounds of the formula (I) wherein G1 and G2 independently represent a polymerisable mesogenic residue, X and Sp are as defined herein and M represents an achiral group of formula (II) as defined herein. The compounds of the invention may, for example, be useful as curable liquid crystals and for preparing liquid crystal films.

Abstract: A liquid-crystalline composition contains, as components, a liquid-crystalline mixture containing at least one compound having two polymerizable groups and at least one compound having only one polymerizable group, and optional further additives. The liquid crystalline composition can be used for printing or coating substrates, in electro-optical components, for counterfeiting-proof marking of articles and for the production of films or coatings which selectively reflect light in the wavelength range from 250 to 1300 nm.

Abstract: A glass-forming liquid crystal composition comprises a compound having a molecular weight in the range of about 1000 to 5000 grams per mole and having the formula (NEM)x—CYC—(CHI)y wherein CYC is a substituted cycloaliphatic core moiety containing about 24 to about 60 carbon atoms or a substituted aromatic core moiety containing about 6 to about 36 carbon atoms, NEM is a nematogenic pendant moiety, CHI is a chiral pendant moiety, x is 3 to 9, and y is 0 to 4. An optical device is formed from the liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a polymerizable liquid crystal composition incorporating a polymerizable liquid crystal compound which displays a low nematic phase temperature, displays excellent compatibility with other polymerizable liquid crystal compounds, and furthermore yields a product following polymerization, of good transparency and high mechanical strength.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises a transparent substrate, an orientation layer and an optically anisotropic layer in order. The optically anisotropic layer comprises discotic liquid crystal molecules. The orientation layer comprises a denatured polyvinyl alcohol having a hydrocarbon group containing 10 to 100 carbon atoms or a denatured polyvinyl alcohol containing fluorine atoms. The discotic liquid crystal molecules are aligned at an average inclined angle in the range of 50° to 90°. An orientation layer, a liquid crystal display of an STN mode and a method of alignment of discotic liquid crystal molecules are also disclosed.

Abstract: A liquid crystal/cured composite layer is formed by sandwiching a mixture of a liquid crystal with an uncured curable compound i.e. a curable compound represented by a structure of an acryloyl group—(OR1)n—O-mesogen structural portion-O—(R2O)m-acryloyl group structure (wherein each of R1 and R2 is a C2-6 alkylene group, and each of n and m is from 1 to 10), between a pair of substrates provided with transparent electrodes, and curing the curable compound.