Dow Corning Corporation

Cambridge Enterprise Limited

Dow Silicones Corporation

Jonathan Hannington

Terry Clapp

William Alden Crossland

Anthony Bernard Davey

Huan Xu

Russell Keith King

Martin Grasmann

Harry J Coles

Fumito Nishida

Mykhaylo Pivnenko

Omar Farooq

Bianxiao Zhong

Oliver Hadeler

Joo-Nyung Jang

Nanguo Liu

Steven Robson

Mikhael Pivnenko

Russel Keith King

A non-linear side chain liquid crystal polyorganosiloxane differs from previous side chain liquid crystal polyorganosiloxanes. A method for preparing the non-linear side chain liquid crystal polyorganosiloxane involves hydrosilylation reaction of a SiH rich intermediate with an aliphatically unsaturated mesogenic compound. A liquid crystal composition containing the non-linear side chain liquid crystal polyorganosiloxane is useful in dynamic scattering mode electro-optic device for various applications.

Non-linear side chain liquid crystal polyorganosiloxanes and methods for their preparation and use in electro-optic applications and devices

Various embodiments disclosed related to UV-curable silicone composition, cured products thereof, and methods of using the same. Various embodiments provide a shear-thinning UV-curable silicone composition. The composition can include (A) a mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxane having the unit formula [(CH)SiO][(CH)SiO][R(CH)SiO]wherein x is about 0.01 to about 0.1, y is about 0 to about 0.94, z is about 0.05 to about 0.99, and at each occurrence R is independently a mercapto(C)hydrocarbyl group. The composition can include (B) at least one of (B1) a polyorganosiloxane comprising at least two aliphatic unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds, and (B2) an organic molecule comprising at least two aliphatic unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds; the composition can include (C) a filler. The composition can also include (D) a photoinitiator.

UV-curable silicone composition, cured products thereof, and methods of using the same

The present, invention relates to liquid crystal compositions having a smectic A structure for use in an optical device in which the composition is sandwiched between a pair of electrodes (-). In essence the composition includes a siloxane oligomer (component (a)) which may be seen to construct a layered SmA system of particular spacing and 'strength'. Within this structure a low molar mass nematic mesogen (component (c)) is provided that may be considered to be that of a 'plasticiser' which moderates the layer &#x201c;strength&#x201d;, while simultaneously providing tuneability to the properties of the composition, e.g. its refractive index or dielectric anisotropy. The addition of a side chain liquid crystal polysiloxane (component (d)) allows such systems to be further moderated since they can be considered as binding together the la&#x3e;&#xbe;rs, both within a given layer and between layers. An ionic dopant (component (b)) is also included in the composition that migrates through the composition when low frequency electric fields are applied to the composition by the electrodes, thereby disrupting the order to the composition. Order in the composition can be restored by applying a higher frequency field that does not allow the dopant time to migrate significantly. Chromophores may also be included in the formulation.

Liquid crystal formulations and structures for smectic A optical devices

A liquid crystal formulation is described. The liquid crystal formulation comprises a first oligosiloxane-modified nano-phase segregating liquid crystalline material; and at least one additional material selected from a second oligosiloxane-modified nano-phase segregating liquid crystalline material, non-liquid crystalline oligosiloxane-modified materials, organic liquid crystalline materials, or non-liquid crystalline materials, wherein the liquid crystal formulation has an I&#x2192;SmA*&#x2192;SmC* phase transition, with a SmC* temperature range from about 15&#xb0; C. to about 35&#xb0; C., a tilt angle of about 22.5&#xb0;&#xb1;6&#xb0; or about 45&#xb0;&#xb1;6&#xb0;, a spontaneous polarization of less than about 50 nC/cm2., and a rotational viscosity of less than about 600 cP. Devices containing liquid crystal formulations are also described. The device has a stable bookshelf geometry, bistable switching, and isothermal electric field alignment, a response time of less than 500 &#x3bc;s when switched between two stable states, and an electric drive field of less than about 30 V/&#x3bc;m.

Oligosiloxane modified liquid crystal formulations and devices using same

A liquid crystal formulation is described. The liquid crystal formulation comprises a first oligosiloxane-modified nano-phase segregating liquid crystalline material; and at least one additional material selected from a second oligosiloxane-modified nano-phase segregating liquid crystalline material, non-liquid crystalline oligosiloxane-modified materials, organic liquid crystalline materials, or organic non-liquid crystalline materials, wherein the liquid crystal formulation is nano-phase segregated in the SmC* phase, has an I&#x2192;SmC* phase transition, with a SmC* temperature range from about 15&#xb0; C. to about 35&#xb0; C., has a tilt angle of about 22.5&#xb0;&#xb1;6&#xb0; or about 45&#xb0;&#xb1;6&#xb0;, and has a spontaneous polarization of less than about 50 nC/cm2, and a rotational viscosity of less than about 600 cP. Devices containing liquid crystal formulations are also described. The device has a stable bookshelf geometry, bistable switching, and isothermal electric field alignment, a response time of less than 500 &#x3bc;s when switched between two stable states, and an electric drive field of less than about 30 V/&#x3bc;m.

A liquid crystal electro-optic device. The liquid crystal electro-optic device comprises at least one liquid crystal cell comprising: a pair of substrates having a gap therebetween; a pair of electrodes, the pair of electrodes positioned on one of the substrates or one electrode positioned on each substrate; and a ferroelectric, oligosiloxane liquid crystal material disposed in the gap between the pair of substrates, the ferroelectric, oligosiloxane liquid crystal material exhibiting an I-&#x2666; SmC* phase sequence wherein the liquid crystal electro-optic device is bistable in operation. The invention also involves a method for making a liquid crystal electro-optic device.

Bistable ferroelectric liquid crystal devices

A blue phase liquid crystalline material comprising a mixture comprising at least one bimesogenic compound and at least one chiral compound, wherein the material is capable of stable existence in the blue phase over a temperature range of at least 5&#xb0; C. A process for the preparation of the above blue phase liquid crystalline material, an optical device comprising it, a process of mirrorless lasing and a slotted monolithic optical waveguide using it are also disclosed.

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Midland, MI, United States of America

Jonathan Hannington