| abstract |
A ferroelectric liquid crystal composition, which may be used in a light switching element, comprises a ferrorelectric liquid crystal composition comprising three liquid crystal components A, B and C, and containing from 10 to 70% by weight, based on the total of components A, B and C, of component A which comprises one or more compounds of the formulae:n (in which R¹ and R² are the same or are different and each is a C₁-C₁₈ group), andn (in which R³ and R⁴ are the same or are different, and each is a C₁-C₁₈ alkyl or C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy group); from 10 to 50% by weight, based on the total of components A, B and C, of component B which comprises one or more compounds of the formula: n (in which R⁵ is a C₁-C₁₈ alkyl group, n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 10; and * indicates an asymmetric carbon atom); and nfrom 10 to 40% by weight, based on the total of components A, B and C, of component C which comprises one or more compounds of the formuale:n (in which R⁶ is a C₁-C₁₈ alkyl or C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy group and * represents an assymmetric carbon atom), andn (in which R⁷ is a C₁-C₁₈ alkyl group or C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy group and * indicates an asymmetric carbon atom). |