Dispersive stabilization of liquid crystal-in-water with acrylamide copolymer/surfactant mixture: Nematic curvilinear aligned phase composite film

The effect of nonionic surfactant, (H(OCH₂-CH₂)₈-OC₆H₄-C₉H₁₉), on the dispersion stabilization of liquid crystal (LC)-in-water with acrylamide copolymer containing the related nonylphenyl groups was studied. It was observed that the addition of nonionic surfactant increases the stability of LC dispersions and improves the electrooptical properties of the nematic curvilinear aligned phase (NCAP) composite film. On the basis of the surface tension, reduced viscosity, cloud point, and coalescence time measurements, it was proposed that formation of an integrated structure induced by interactions between hydrophobic groups in the polymer chains is probably important to fabrication of a polymer composite film made of LC and polymer matrix.