Surface effects on photopolymerization induced anisotropic phase separation in liquid crystal and polymer composites

Abstract

The surface effects on the anisotropic phase separation in photopolymerization induced phase separation of liquid crystal and polymer composites have been studied. It was found that the surface interaction between the substrate and the prepolymer and/or liquid crystal plays a crucial role in anisotropic phase separation. A theoretical model is suggested to describe the surface effects by adapting a phenomenological free energy approach. The formation of polymer layer in the presence of surface effects can be understood as competition between entropic flow and surface directed flow of polymer and liquid crystal.