Shock-free ferroelectric liquid crystal displays with high optical contrast

Shock-free ferroelectric liquid crystal displays with high optical contrast and low operating voltage are the concern of this contribution. Ferroelectric liquid crystal compositions with a wide temperature range of the chiral smectic C phase are designed. The influence of the chiral fragments of the molecules, especially their length, on the mechanical stability of the SmC phase has been investigated. The relation between the surface anchoring energy of the aligning polymer and the viscoelastic properties of the SmC phase has been described. Our qualitative model reflects the resistance of the SmC layer structure against mechanical and thermal action