"Polymer Film Morphology and Liquid Crystal Anchoring"

Bharat Acharya

Physics Department,
Kent State University

Abstract

The morphological changes and chain reorientation induced by mechanical rubbing or exposure to linearly polarized UV light of polymer films affect liquid crystal anchoring at the air-film interface. These modifications were studied using x-ray reflectivity, optical retardation and anchoring energy measurements. The interface roughness anisotropy, optical retardation and anchoring energy are dependent on the degree of the mechanical/UV treatment of the film. The results will be discussed and a chain depletion/reorientation model will be presented to gain insight into the alignment mechanism. .