Abstract: The invention relates to a combination of optical elements comprising at least one optical retardation film and at least one broadband reflective polarizer, characterized in that the optical retardation film is comprising at least one layer of an anisotropic polymer material having an optical symmetry axis substantially parallel to the plane of the layer, said optical retardation film being obtainable by polymerization of a mixture of a polymerizable mesogenic material comprising: a) at least one reactive mosogen having at least one polymerizable functional group; b) an initiator; c) optionally a non-mesogenic compound having two or more polymerizable functional groups; and d) optionally a stabilizer, and relates to an optical retardation film used in said combination of optical elements and to a liquid crystal display comprising said combination of optical elements.

Abstract: Methods for searching for possible forms of a sample and methods of screening a sample according to its form comprise disposing the sample in at least one receptacle that defines a capillary space, such as a capillary tube. The sample is solidified to generate at least one solid form or semisolid form, and the generated form is analyzed and classified. The analysis may determine differences in molecular arrangement of the various forms or characteristics that reflect the form. The methods may employ a plurality of samples, conditions, or receptacles in an effort to generate a variety of forms, so that all or a high percentage of possible forms are obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical retardation film comprising a layer of an anisotropic polymer material with an optical axis substantially parallel to the plane of the layer. The invention furthermore relates to a process of preparing the optical retardation film, to the use of such an optical retardation film in liquid crystal displays, and to a liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal cell and such an optical retardation film.

Abstract: To improve switching times, especially at low temperatures, one or more reactive liquid crystalline compounds is added to a liquid crystal mixture used in an electrooptical system. The electrooptical system comprises a PDLC film comprising a liquid crystal mixture forming micro- droplets in an optically isotropic, transparent polymer matrix between 2 electrode layers. The reactive liquid crystalline compounds are of formula II, R′—G′—R″, wherein R′, G′ and R″ are as defined herein. The liquid crystal mixture comprises one or more compounds of the formula I wherein R, A1, A2, Z1, Z2, X1, X2, Q, Y and n are as defined herein.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal alignment layer comprising an alignment layer; and chemically bound to said alignment layer, a transport material. Also provided are methods for forming the liquid crystal alignment layer and the use thereof in displays for electronic apparatus.

Abstract: To improve switching times, especially at low temperatures, one or more reactive liquid crystalline compounds is added to a liquid crystal mixture used in an electrooptical system. The electrooptical system comprises a PDLC film comprising a liquid crystal mixture forming micro- droplets in an optically isotropic, transparent polymer matrix between 2 electrode layers, one of the refractive indices of the liquid crystal mixture is matched to the refractive index of the polymer matrix, the PDLC film exhibits an electrically switching transparency essentially independent of the polarization of the incident light, the precursor of the PDLC film comprises one or more monomers, oligomers and/or prepolymers and a photoinitiator, and is cured photoradically, the liquid crystal mixture comprises one or more compounds of the formula I  wherein R, A1, A2, Z1, Z2, X1, X2, Q, Y and n are as defined herein.

Abstract: Described are chiral liquid crystalline polymer materials and polymerizable compounds used for preparing them. The polymer materials can serve as a carrier material or are coated onto a carrier material. Also described are methods of making such materials and using them to make pigment flakes used in paints, printing inks, spray paints, cosmetic products, colored plastics, optical elements and security applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to a combination of optical elements comprising at least one optical retardation film and at least one broadband reflective polarizer, characterized in that the optical retardation film is comprising at least one layer of an anisotropic polymer material having an optical symmetry axis substantially parallel to the plane of the layer, said optical retardation film being obtainable by polymerization of a mixture of a polymerizable mesogenic material comprising: a) at least one reactive mesogen having at least one polymerizable functional group; b) an initiator, c) optionally a non-mesogenic compound having two or more polymerizable functional groups; and d) optionally a stabilizer; and relates to an optical retardation film used in said combination of optical elements and to a liquid crystal display comprising said combination of optical elements.

Abstract: To improve switching times, especially at low temperatures, one or more reactive liquid crystalline compounds is added to a liquid crystal mixture used in an electrooptical system. The electrooptical system comprises a PDLC film comprising a liquid crystal mixture forming micro-droplets in an optically isotropic, transparent polymer matrix between 2 electrode layers. The reactive liquid crystalline compounds are of formula II, R′—G′—R″, wherein R′, G′ and R″ are as defined herein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermochromic liquid crystalline medium comprising a liquid crystalline host component and an active component, to a thermochromic ink comprising such a thermochromic liquid crystalline medium encapsulated in a light transmissive polymeric material, to the use of a thermochromic medium or ink in decorative applications like pigments, inks and paints, cosmetics, thermodiagnostic applications like medical thermography, thermometry, optical and electrooptical applications, and security applications and devices, to a security marking or device comprising a thermochromic liquid crystalline medium or thermochromic ink and to a document of value comprising such a security marking.

Abstract: A liquid crystal alignment layer that consists of an alignment layer and a transport material chemically bound to the alignment layer. Also, methods for forming the liquid crystal alignment layer, and displays for electronic apparatus incorporating the liquid crystal alignment layer.

Abstract: Described are chiral liquid crystalline polymer materials and polymerizable compounds used for preparing them. The polymer materials can serve as a carrier material or are coated onto a carrier material. Also described are methods of making such material and using them to make pigment flakes used in paints, printing inks, spray paints, cosmetic products, colored plastics, optical elements and security applications.

Abstract: A method of forming a liquid crystal polymer layer includes: coating a substrate with a release layer; coating the release layer with an alignment layer capable of aligning a liquid crystal polymer layer; coating the alignment layer with a layer of a liquid crystal polymer material, thereby forming a liquid crystal polymer layer in which the molecules have a predetermined orientation; solidifying the layer of liquid crystal polymer; and dissolving the release layer in a liquid which does not harm the solidified liquid crystal polymer layer to form a self supporting film. The release layer and alignment layer can be combined into a single layer, such as for example a layer of polyvinyl alcohol which may be dissolved in water. Thicker or multi-layer films can be fabricated by using the first solidified layer as an alignment layer for a subsequently deposited liquid crystal polymer layer.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a direactive compound which is of the formula IV A R1—(CH2)mO—MG—O—(CH2)n—R2  (IVA) wherein R1, R2, m, n, and MG are defined herein.

Abstract: The invention relativ to an electroptical system

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing a broadband reflective polarizer comprising the blending a first mixture A comprising at least one achiral polymerizable mesogenic compound with a second mixture B comprising at least one chiral polymerizable mesogenic compound; and coating a layer of the blended mixture onto a first substrate and aligning the chiral mesogenic material in a planar orientation so that the axis of the molecular helix extends transversely to the layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process as described in claim of preparing a reflective film comprising a layer of a polymerized mesogenic material with helically twisted structure, wherein the helix axis is perpendicular to the film plane, and containing regions with varying helical pitch, to a reflective film obtainable by such a process, to the use of such a reflective film as reflective broadband or notch polarizer or as a multicoloured film or image in liquid crystal displays, as colour filter, in effect pigments, for decorative or security applications, and to a liquid crystal display comprising a liquid crystal cell and a reflective polarizer as described in the foregoing and the following, and optionally further comprising one or more compensaters or polarizers.

Abstract: The invention relates to cholesteric polymer flakes obtainable from a chiral polymerizable mesogenic material, to methods of manufacturing such cholesteric flakes, to the use of certain chiral and achiral polymerizable compounds with one or more terminal polymerizable groups for the manufacturing of such flakes and to the use of such cholesteric flakes as effect pigments in spraying or printing inks or paints or colored plastics for different applications, especially for automotive use, cosmetic products and security applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to polymer beads comprising an anisotropic polymer material with helically twisted structure, to their use in reflective films, spraying or printing inks or as pigments, for optical or electrooptical, decorative or security applications, to a reflective film comprising one or more polymer beads in a transmissive binder, and to a security marking or security device comprising one or more polymer beads or comprising a reflective film.

Abstract: Novel phenylcyclohexanes of the formula I 1