| 摘要 |
<p>This invention relates to a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition exhibiting an Sc* phase over a wide temperature range including room temperature and having a spontaneous polarization value of 30 nC/cm<2> or less and a quick response, i.e., a response time of 100 mu sec or less, and also to an optical switching element comprising the ferroelectric liquid crystal composition. The ferroelectric liquid crystal composition comprises the following three components of A, B and C in respective amounts of 75 to 95 % by weight, 3 to 9 % by weight and 3 to 12 % by weight based on the total amount of the components A, B and C and having a phase sequence series of an isotropic liquid, a cholesteric phase, a smectic A phase and a chiral smectic C phase in that order from the high temperature side and a spontaneous polarization value of 30 nC/cm<2> or less. The component A is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by the general formulae: <CHEM> The component B is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by the general formulae: <CHEM> The component C is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by the general formula: <CHEM> In the above formulae, R<1> to R<1><0>, X, m, n and * are as defined in the claims.</p> |
