Abstract: A new family of liquid crystalline or potential liquid crystalline compounds is made relatively cheaply generally by reducing an acid chlorine derivative alkyl or alkoxy benzene or its analogues of an alkyl cyclohexanoic acid to an alkanol derivative, converting the alkanol derivative to a halide such as the bromide or chloride and reacting said halide with a cyano phenol, cyanodiphenol and related compound to form a compound having the formula of equation 1.

Abstract: A method of making liquid crystalline compounds of the formula ##STR1## where A represents a cyclohexane ring, n has values of 1, 2 or 3, R1 is an alkyl radical, R2 is an alkyl, alkoxy, or alkylcyclohexyl or cyanide radical, and X1 is lower alkyl and X2, X3 and X4 is alkyl and preferably methyl, ethyl or propyl, hydrogen, halogen and preferably fluorine or cyanide and to the compound.

Abstract: A liquid crystalline material for use in optic displays has the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 can be the same or different and are generally an alkyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, or other groups as set forth herein. Z.sub.1 and Z.sub.2 can be the same or different and generally is an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a halogen, a cyano, or hydrogen. Such a material has a wide nematic range, good viscosity and good solubility such that it can be readily utilized in commercial applications. The nematic material can also be utilized with small amounts of dichroic dyes or mixed with other liquid crystalline materials.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical conductor for conveying electricity between electrically conductive coatings and disposed respectively on plates and of the display that are spaced-apart from each other by means of a hermetic seal enclosing a cavity between the plates for containment of the electro-optical material. The conductor is made from a thermoplastic phenoxy resin or one or more epoxy resin and mixtures thereof and an amount of conductive particles sufficient to provide the amount of conductivity desired in addition to containing an amount of an organic glycol sufficient to insure that electrical continuity is maintained between the plates when the display is subjected to temperature cycling. The material is also useful for conducting electricity at other locations on the display.

Abstract: Disclosed are liquid crystal displays utilizing an electrically insulative hermetic seal for enclosing the liquid crystalline material between the plates of the display. The seal provides a durable improved barrier to the penetration of vapor into the display by being the crosslinked thermoset product of a composition comprising at least one phenoxy resin and at least one epoxy resin in conjunction with a sufficient amount of crosslinking agent to crosslink the composition sufficiently to provide the seal with improved resistance to vapor penetration.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reflector for use in electro-optical displays utilizing electro-optical materials. The reflector is made from a composition comprising a blend of at least one alkali earth metal salt with a binder such as sodium carboxy methyl cellulose or thermoplastic phenoxy and an amount of solvent sufficient to provide suitable viscosity to permit the reflector to be deposited as a reflector on the display. The reflector composition comprises from about 30% to about 99.9% by weight of the alkali earth metal salt to the weight of binder casted to be adjacent to and directly adhered to the side of the back plate facing away from the electro-optical material and is able to provide a wide reflecting angle in conjunction with maintaining a high contrast ratio between the electrically energized state and the electrically un-energized state of the electro-optical material contained within the display.

Abstract: Disclosed is a new family of Liquid Crystalline Materials for use in optical display devices having the general formula: ##STR1## The members of the family of materials are characterized by having a broad nematic operating range in conjunction with low viscosity and exhibit fast response times to a controlled electrical field in the lower temperature regions of their nematic operating range and may be mixed with other members of the family or with other liquid crystalline materials and/or homologous non-liquid crystalline materials.