LIQUID CRYSTAL LIGHT CONTROL ELEMENT AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE LIQUID CRYSTAL LIGHT CONTROL ELEMENT

摘要

Disclosed is a process for producing a liquid crystal light control element, comprising emulsion-polymerizing a group of monomers, which includes a monomer (A) which is an alkyl (meth)acrylate, the alkyl group being a chain group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms or a cyclic group having 5 to 20 carbon atoms, and a monomer (B) containing a nonionic hydrophilic group, such as a polyoxyalkylene group, an amide group, or a hydroxyl group, and a carbon-carbon double bond, the monomer (A) constituting a main monomer, to give an emulsion comprising a copolymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of -50°C to 20°C. A liquid crystal is dispersed in the emulsion. The dispersion is coated onto a base with an electroconductive film. The assembly is combined with another base with an electroconductive film to prepare a liquid crystal light control element. A method may also be adopted in which a monomer (C) containing a carboxyl group and/or an amino group and a carbon-carbon double bond is used together with a crosslinking agent to introduce a crosslinked structure into the copolymer. The liquid crystal light control element can simultaneously realize transparency upon the application of a voltage and cutting-off properties upon the release of the voltage on a high level.