Aligning effect of magnetic field on PDLC films during the phase separation

Abstract

The results ofthe study ofthe uniaxially oriented PDLC films prepared by solvent induced phase separation (SIPS) method are presented. The samples were obtained applying a longitudinal magnetic field while the phase separation of the liquid crystal and polymer occurs due to the evaporation of common solvent from the uniform solution. In the presence of magnetic field the nematic liquid crystals 4-n-pentyl-4' -cyanophenylcyclohexane (5PCH), the 4-n-pentyl-4'- cyanobiphenyl (SCB) and nematic mixture LN-394 form the separate droplets in polyvinylbutyral (PVB) matrix. At that, the nematics 5PCH and LN-394 form always the stable bipolar structures with the order parameter of the droplet axes depending on the value of the applied field. In 5CB droplets the bipolar structure is realized only in a weak magnetic field and the radial one is formed in a strong magnetic field. At intermediate field the non-equilibrium structures are appeared that are characterized by the flickering textures.