Methacrylate networks containing chiral calamitic liquid crystalline side groups

A one-step copolymerization of ferroelectric methacrylate monomers leading to networks is presented. Oriented networks are obtained and electro-optical investigations are described. Smectic C* and another smectic phase are found in slightly crosslinked networks. For higher crosslinking densities, only the high temperature smectic C* phase was found. Electro-optical measurements were performed on the networks, and significant changes in the ferroelectrical properties were found. For crosslinking densities higher than 0.5 mol-%, switching times increased dramatically and the spontaneous polarization decreased. Networks with crosslinking densities of 2 mol-% did not exhibit ferroelectric properties.