About cookies on this site Our websites require some cookies to function properly (required). In addition, other cookies may be used with your consent to analyze site usage, improve the user experience and for advertising. For more information, please review your options. By visiting our website, you agree to our processing of information as described in IBM’sprivacy statement. To provide a smooth navigation, your cookie preferences will be shared across the IBM web domains listed here.
Publication
MRS Spring Meeting 1994
Paper
Mechanisms of liquid crystal alignment on buffed polyimide surfaces
Abstract
The surfaces of poly(amic acid) and cured polyimide films, subjected to different buffing and cure profiles, have been examined by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The ability of these buffed polymer surfaces to align nematic and chiral smectic C liquid crystals were also investigated. These studies show that the presence of microgrooves on buffed polymer surfaces are not necessary for alignment of liquid crystals. Rather, it is concluded that the liquid crystal alignment is mainly caused by the anisotropic intermolecular interactions between liquid crystal molecules and the polymer chains oriented by buffing. For the alignment of smectics, both the degree of order and mechanical properties of polyimide films are found to be important factors.