Patent ID: 7397530
Filing Date: 2008-07-08
Classification: C09K

Abstract:
1. A method for encapsulating liquid crystal materials in a polymeric spherical shell with a narrow size distribution, which comprises preparing an aqueous emulsion with a narrow size distribution of an oily phase containing a polymer forming material and an initiator material, wherein the oily phase is homogenised in a hydrophilic phase in which the oily material is more soluble than in water, but sufficiently insoluble to form an emulsion by homogenisation, stabilising the emulsion by diluting the aqueous phase by addition of a high portion of water, and polymerising the polymer forming material to form polymer particles with a narrow size distribution, characterised in that a liquid crystal material is dissolved into the oily phase during the preparation of the aqueous emulsion in a sufficient amount to form one or several separate phase(s) of the liquid crystal within the polymer forming material during polymerisation, such that the one or more liquid crystal phase(s) become(s) encapsulated inside the spherical polymeric particle being formed.