| abstract |
Liquid crystal compositions comprising as a first part between 40 and 99% by weight in aggregate of one or more materials selected from one or more of the six compound classes (1) to (3'), wherein R is in every instance an alkyl chain containing between 2 and 18 carbon atoms and R' is in every instance an alkyl chain containing between 1 and 17 carbon atoms, wherein one or more non-adjacent CH2-groups are replaced by oxygen atoms, and as a second part between 1 and 60% by weight of one or more materials of high birefringence and high positive dielectric anisotropy which raise the SA-N transition temperature, exhibit a smectic A phase of relatively low melting point and wide smectic range. Such compositions may be used in liquid crystal cells, not only in display or optical information processing applications, but also for instance in temperature sensing applications. The operation of such cells may involve laser addressing, thermal or electrical addressing. |