Modeling the Effects of Microencapsulation on the Electro-Optic Behavior of Polymer Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Flakes

Journal Article · Sun Jan 10 00:00:00 EST 2010 · Journal of Applied Physics

OSTI ID:969889

A method for modeling the effect of microencapsulation on the electro-optical behavior of polymer cholesteric liquid crystal (PCLC) flakes suspended in a host fluid is introduced. Several microencapsulation configurations in an applied ac electric field are investigated using COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS software in combination with an analytical model. The field acting on the flakes is significantly altered as various encapsulant materials and boundary conditions are explored. The modeling predicts that test cells with multiple materials in the electric field path can have a wide range of electro-optic responses in ac electric fields. Both theoretical predictions and experimental evidence show that for PCLC flake reorientation to occur due to Maxwell–Wagner polarization, a reasonably strong electric field must be present along with at least moderately dissimilar PCLC flake and host fluid material dielectric constants and conductivities. For materials with low dielectric constants, electrophoretic behavior is observed under dc drive conditions at high field strengths for all evaluated microencapsulation configurations. This modeling method is shown to be a useful predictive tool for developing switchable particle devices that use microencapsulated dielectric particles in a host fluid medium.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FC52-08NA28302
• OSTI ID: 969889
• Report Number(s): DE/NA/28302-920; 2009-24; 1903
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 106, Issue 12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English