Abstract: This invention provides a high polymer having the following repeating unit (I), a diene compound which is represented by the following formula (II) and is a raw material of the high polymer: ##STR1## and a ferroelectric liquid-crystalline composition containing the high polymer and a low molecular weight smectic liquid-crystalline compound. The ferroelectric liquid-crystalline composition is easy to orient and exhibits a fast response against applied electric field.

Abstract: A high polymer comprising a recurring unit (I) represented by the formula: ##STR1## and a recurring unit (II) represented by the formula: ##STR2## wherein r, u, p and s each represent an integer of 2 to 5, q represents a number of 0 to 20, m represents an integer of 8 to 12, n represents an integer of 6 to 15, a represents an integer of 1 to 8, b represents an integer of 5 to 15, Y represents --0-- or --COO--, Z represents --O-- or a single bond, and * represents an asymmetric carbon,and a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition comprising the high polymer and a low molecular weight smectic liquid crystal are disclosed.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal composition comprising (A) a ferroelectric liquid crystal material and (B) a non-liquid-crystalline polymeric material;a liquid crystal optical device comprising a layer of the ferroelectric liquid crystal composition, the (A) ferroelectric liquid crystal material in the ferroelectric liquid crystal composition has been uniaxially oriented and two substrates which support the layer of the ferroelectric liquid crystal composition between them and carry on their surfaces facing each other their respective electrode layers, at least one of the electrode layers being a transparent electrode layer; and p1 a method of producing the liquid crystal optical device, which method comprises orienting a liquid crystal optical device yet to be oriented which includes a layer of the ferroelectric liquid crystal composition andtwo flexible substrates which support the layer of the ferroelectric liquid crystal composition between them and carry on their surfaces facing each other their respectiv

Abstract: A liquid-crystalline copolymer comprising the repeating units represented by the following general formulas ##STR1## wherein each of r and p is an integer of 2 to 5, q is an integer of 0 to 3, m is an integer of 1 to 20, and R.sup.1 is ##STR2## R.sup.2 being --COOR.sup.3, --OR.sup.3 or --OCOR.sup.3, R.sup.3 being ##STR3## each of R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 being --CH.sub.3 or a halogen atom, each of a and d being an integer of 0 to 10, b being an integer of 0 or 1, with the proviso that d is not 0 when R.sup.5 is --CH.sub.3,the repeating units [I] and [II] being present in the liquid-crystalline copolymer in a substantial molar ratio [I]:[II] of 1:1, exhibits ferroelectricity even at a temperature neighboring room temperature and having a high response speed to changes of external electric fields.

Abstract: A high polymer comprising a recurring unit (I) represented by the formula: ##STR1## and a recurring unit (II) represented by the formula: ##STR2## wherein r, u, p and s each represent an integer of 2 to 5, q represents a number of 0 to 20, m represents an integer of 8 to 12, n represents an integer of 6 to 15, a represents an integer of 1 to 8, b represents an integer of 5 to 15, Y represents --O-- or --COO--, Z represents --O-- or a single bond, and * represents an asymmetric carbon, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition comprising the high polymer and a low molecular weight smectic liquid crystal are disclosed.

Abstract: A liquid-crystalline copolymer having a long helical pitch, the liquid-crystalline copolymer comprises the copolymerization product of;(a) at least one liquid-crystalline epoxy compound having a helical structure and(b) at least one liquid-crystalline epoxy compound having a helical structure opposite in twining direction of helix to the helical structure of the liquid-crystalline epoxy compound (a) or(c) at least one non-liquid-crystalline epoxy compound.

Abstract: A liquid-crystalline polymer having the repeating units represented by the following general formula (II): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is ##STR2## wherein a is an integer having a value of 1 to 10,b is an integer having a value of 0 or 1,c is an integer having a value of 1 to 30,X.sup.1 is --COO--, --O-- or a single bond,M.sup.1 is ##STR3## and d is an integer having a value of 1 to 5.The liquid-crystalline polymer exhibits ferroelectricity in a wide temperature range including room temperature and has a high speed of response to electric field.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal composition comprising (A) a ferroelectric liquid crystal material and (B) a non-liquid-crystalline polymeric material;a liquid crystal optical device comprisinga layer of the ferroelectric liquid crystal composition, the (A) ferroelectric liquid crystal material in the ferroelectric liquid crystal composition has been uniaxially oriented andtwo substrates whichsupport the layer of the ferroelectric liquid crystal composition between them andcarry on their surfaces facing each other their respective electrode layers, at least one of the electrode layers being a transparent electrode layer; anda method of producing the liquid crystal optical device, which method comprises orienting a liquid crystal optical device yet to be oriented which includesa layer of the ferroelectric liquid crystal composition andtwo flexible substrates whichsupport the layer of the ferroelectric liquid crystal composition between them andcarry on their surface facing each other their respective electrode

Abstract: A liquid-crystalline polymer having the repeating units represented by the following general formula (II): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is ##STR2## wherein a is an integer having a value of 1 to 10,b is an integer having a value of 0 or 1,c is an integer having a value of 1 to 30,X.sup.1 is --COO--, --O-- or a single bond,M.sup.1 is ##STR3## d is an integer having a value of 1 to 5. The liquid-crystalline polymer exhibits ferroelectricity in a wide temperature range including room temperature and has a high speed of response to electric field.

Abstract: A liquid-crystalline copolymer having a long helical pitch, the liquid-crystalline copolymer comprises the copolymerization product of;(a) at least one liquid-crystalline epoxy compound having a helical structure and(b) at least one liquid-crystalline epoxy compound having a helical structure opposite in twining direction of helix to the helical structure of the liquid-crystalline epoxy compound (a) or(c) at least one non-liquid-crystalline epoxy compound.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid-crystalline polymer consisting essentially of at least one repeating unit represented by the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein k is an integer having a value of 2 to 30;R.sup.1 is ##STR2## X is --COO-- or --OCO--; and R.sup.2 is --COOR.sup.3, --OCOR.sup.3 or --OR.sup.3 ;wherein R.sup.3 is ##STR3## wherein each of R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 is independently --CH.sub.3, a halogen atom or --CN;each of m and n is independently an integer having a value of 0 to 10, with the proviso that when R.sup.4 is --CH.sub.3, n is not an integer having a value of 0;p is an integer having a value of 0 or 1; andC marked with * is an asymmetric carbon atom.

Abstract: This invention comprises a liquid crystalline high molecular weight polymer material which comprises the hydrogen bonded reaction product of a non-liquid crystalline polymer having a proton donor and/or a proton acceptor and a low molecular weight compound having bonded in the molecule respectively a proton acceptor and/or a proton donor which can be bond to said proton donor and/or proton acceptor respectively through hydrogen bonding and having liquid crystallinity. This material forms a smectic phase at a lower temperature than a simple mixture and has usefulness in the field of optical electronics.

Abstract: A liquid crystal optical element comprising: (a) an oriented ferroelectric liquid-crystalline polymer layer which exhibits chiral smectic C phase, and (b) two electrically conducting layers which support the oriented ferroelectric liquid-crystalline polymer layer between them, where at least one of the two electrically conducting layers is transparent. The liquid crystal optical element can be easily made into one having a large area and can be used as a flexible display screen. Further, it has excellent electric field response property and high contrast. Furthermore, the production of the liquid crystal optical element and the control of its thickness can be easily conducted.

Abstract: A liquid-crystalline polymer comprising the repeating units of the general formula (I) ##STR1## in which: k is an integer from 1 to 30; andR.sup.1 is ##STR2## where: X is --COO-- or --OCO--; andR.sup.2 is --COOR.sup.3, OCOR.sup.3, or --OR.sup.3where:R.sup.3 is ##STR3## R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 being each independently --CH.sub.3, a halogen radical, or --CN, m and n being each independently an integer from 0 to 10 with the proviso that n is not 0 when R.sup.4 is --CH.sub.3, p being 0 or 1, and C marked with * being an asymmetric carbon atom.The polymers of the present invention exhibit a ferroelectricity even at temperatures around room temperature and as well such a high speed of response to external factors that they can be used for displaying motion pictures, and the polymers may also be advantageously used as display elements for large displays or curved displays.

Abstract: A liquid-crystalline polymer comprising repeating units of the following general formula ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1 is --H, --CH.sub.3 or --C.sub.2 H.sub.5,1 is an integer having a value of 1 to 20,k is an integer having a value of 1 to 30,A is --O-- (oxygen) or --COO--,m is 0 or 1, andR.sup.2 is ##STR2## wherein Y is --COO-- or --OCO--, and R.sup.3 is --COOR.sup.4, --OCOR.sup.4, --OR.sup.4, --COR.sup.4 or --R.sup.4 whereR.sup.4 is ##STR3## R.sup.5 being --CH.sub.3, --CN or a halogen radical, n and p being independently an integer having a value of 0 to 10 with the proviso that if R.sup.5 is --CH.sub.3, p is not 0, X being a halogen radical, q being 0 or 1, and C* being an asymmetric carbon atom.