Abstract: The invention relates to copolymers made from mono-reactive liquid and/or di-reactive liquid crystals which can be photopolymerized to form copolymers and to novel reactive liquid crystal compound having a nematic phase. Preferentially the reactive liquid crystal is polymerized while in the liquid crystal phase to produce an oriented birefringent polymer film. To do this, the reactive liquid crystal, in its nematic or smectic phase is aligned (by well known techniques such as rubbed polyimide, etc.) and the thin film containing a small amount of photoinitiator, is subjected to ultraviolet light whereupon it polymerizes into a thin, aligned polymer film.

Abstract: The invention relates to copolymers made from mono-reactive liquid and/or di-reactive liquid crystals which can be photopolymerized to form copolymers and to novel reactive liquid crystal compound having a nematic phase. Preferentially the reactive liquid crystal is polymerized while in the liquid crystal phase to produce an oriented birefringent polymer film. To do this, the reactive liquid crystal, in its nematic or smectic phase is aligned. (by well known techniques such as rubbed polyimide, etc.) and the thin film containing a small amount of photoinitiator, is subjected to ultraviolet light whereupon it polymerizes into a thin, aligned polymer film.

Abstract: Disclosed are liquid crystal compounds of formula IR.sup.1 --P--X--(A.sup.1 --Z.sup.1).sub.n --A.sup.2 --R.sup.2 IwhereinR is ##STR1## W is H, Cl or C.sub.1-5 -alkyl, and m is 1-7,P is C.sub.1-12 alkylene, one or more CH.sub.2 groups optionally being replaced by O,X is --O--, --S--, --COO--, --OCO-- or a single bond,R.sup.2 is C.sub.1-15 -alkyl optionally substituted by halogen, one or more CH.sub.2 groups optionally replaced by --O--, --S--, --CO--, --O--CO--, --CO--O-- or --O--CO--O--; R.sup.1 --P--X, CN, F, Cl or --V--Q--T,V is --O--, --S-- or a single bond,Q is --CH.sub.2 --, --CHF--, --CF.sub.2 --,T is F or Cl,n is 1 or 2,A.sup.1, A.sup.2 are 1,4-phenylene optionally substituted by F, Cl, CN or --W--C.sub.r H.sub.s F.sub.2r+1-s, or one of A.sup.1 or A.sup.2 is ##STR2## pyrimidine-2,5-diyl or pyrimidine-2,5 diyl, Z.sup.1 is --CO--O--, --O--CO--, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.

Abstract: The invention relates to copolymers made from mono-reactive liquid and/or di-reactive liquid crystals which can be photopolymerized to form copolymers and to novel reactive liquid crystal compound having a nematic phase. Preferentially the reactive liquid crystal is polymerized while in the liquid crystal phase to produce an oriented birefringent polymer film. To do this, the reactive liquid crystal, in its nematic or smectic phase is aligned (by well known techniques such as rubbed polyimide, etc.) and the thin film containing a small amount of photoinitiator, is subjected to ultraviolet light whereupon it polymerizes into a thin, aligned polymer film.