Optomechanical Properties of Stretched Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Films for Scattering Polarizer Applications

TL;DR

This paper investigates how tensile strain affects the optical and mechanical properties of polymer dispersed liquid crystal films, aiming to improve scattering polarizer applications through combined experimental and simulation analysis.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive study linking mechanical deformation to optical properties and employs Monte-Carlo simulations to explain the influence of polymer orientation on liquid crystal alignment.

Findings

Polymer orientation and droplet shape anisotropy affect liquid crystal alignment.

Stress-strain measurements correlate with polarization-dependent transmittance.

Monte-Carlo simulation explains the influence of polymer orientation on liquid crystal behavior.

Abstract

A scattering polarizer is created by subjecting a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film to tensile strain. The optomechanical properties of the film are investigated by simultaneously measuring the stress-strain and polarization dependent optical transmission characteristics. The correlation between transmittances of two orthogonal polarizations and the stress-strain curve reveals that the polymer orientation as well as the droplet shape anisotropy influences the liquid crystal alignment within the droplets. A Monte-Carlo simulation based on the Lebwohl-Lasher model is used to explain the subtle influence of polymer orientation on liquid crystal alignment.