Stabilization of Liquid Crystal-in-Water Dispersion with Polymer/Surfactant Mixture: Nematic Curvilinear Aligned Phase Composite Film

The effect of nonionic surfactant (H(OCH2-CH2)8-OC6H4-C9H19) on the stability of liquid crystal-in-water dispersions stabilized by copolymers of acrylamide with hydrophobic monomers have been studied. It was observed that the addition of surfactant increases the stability of liquid crystal (LC) dispersion and improves the electrooptical properties of the nematic curvilinear aligned phase (NCAP) system. According to the interfacial tension measurements, it was proposed that the presence of surfactant allows to form the nonpolar microenvironment in the round of LC droplet and finally reduces the anchoring effect between LC and the polymeric wall. Copyright 1998 Academic Press. Copyright 1998Academic Press