"Liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal shutter"

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition comprising (1) an achiral host mixture comprising (a) at least 20 % by weight, based on the total weight of the host mixture, of a mixture of fluorinated phenylpyrimidine compounds capable of exhibiting an SmC phase, and (b) at least 10 % by weight, based on the total weight of the host mixture, of at least one fluorinated terphenyl compound which enhances the phase sequence of said mixture, wherein the total amount of (a) and (b) is at least 50 % by weight based on the total weight of the host mixture; and (2) at least one chiral dopant in an amount of not more than 10 % by weight of the total weight of the composition.

Description: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal composition and a liquid crystal shutter arrangement containing such a composition, for example a liquid crystal display device including a multiplicity of liquid crystal shutters. Liquid crystal devices including ferroelectric liquid crystal compositions are the subject of active research interest. It is particularly required for there to be a good contrast ratio between the switched states of the liquid crystal device. In this regard, the bistable nature of these devices, and the switching properties and memory angle ( m ) thereof are important. The memory angle ( m ) is half the angular difference between the optic axes of the two latched orientation states of the liquid crystal molecules and is optimally 22.5 °, which is difficult to achieve in practice. A target value of greater than 15 ° is advantageous. The required alignment of the molecules within the liquid crystal layer results from appropriate treatment of substrates on opposite sides of such layer. The liquid crystal layer is formed by introducing the liquid crystal composition at an elevated temperature so as to cause it to be in the isotropic, free flowing, phase into a narrow gap (the cell gap) between the substrates. At this stage, the liquid crystal composition is at a temperature somewhat higher than its operating temperature. The liquid crystal composition is then cooled in a controlled manner until an optically active tilted smectic phase is achieved, typically the smectic C phase, SmC*, (the * denotes chirality or optical activity). In order for the liquid crystal composition to have the required advantageous properties, it is desired for it to pass from the isotropic phase (I) through chiral nematic (N*) and smectic A (SmA) phases before reaching the operative smectic C* phase. This is referred to as an I-N *-SmA-SmC* phase sequence. These phases must be of acceptable width (greater than about 2 °C wide). Liquid crystal compositions commonly comprise a host material such as those based on mixtures of two or more fluorinated phenylpyrimidinyl compounds exhibiting or capable of exhibiting a smectic C phase and, optionally, other materials (phase sequence enhancers) which may be included to modify the properties of the host material, for example to impart chirality if the host material is not inherently chiral, or to induce or enhance formation of certain phases so as to result in the required phase sequence. US 5232624 and EP-A-0332025 disclose a wide variety of chiral 1,2-difluorobenzene derivatives for imparting chirality in achiral smectic liquid crystal host mixtures. In one particular example, there is described the addition of 10 % of a chiral dopant, ethyl 2-[4-(4'-nonyloxy-2',3'-difluorobiphenyl-4-yl)phenoxy] propionate, to a host mixture which consists mostly of unfluorinated phenylpyrimidine compounds and phenyl-substituted thiadiazoles but which contains minor proportions of two difluorinated phenylpyrimidines and a difluorinated biphenylpyrimidine. WO 95/16760 discloses ferroelectric liquid crystal devices containing a layer of smectic liquid crystal material consisting of two components A and B. Component A is present in the range of 0.1 to 50 wt% and is one or more optically active compounds capable of imparting spontaneous polarisation to the material. Component B is at least two compounds selected from a list of sixteen classes of multiple ring organic compounds of which one class is a phenylpyrimidine which is optionally substituted with up to two fluorine atoms in the phenyl ring, and another class is a terphenyl which is optionally substituted with up to two fluorine atoms in each of the three phenyl rings. It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal composition which can have advantageous switching properties, a high memory angle and a good contrast ratio in a suitable device. According to the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal composition comprising (1) an achiral host mixture comprising (a) at least 20 % by weight, based on the total weight of the host mixture, of at least two difluorinated phenylpyrimidine compounds capable of exhibiting an SmC phase, and (b) at least 10 % by weight, based on the total weight of the host mixture, of at least one fluorinated terphenyl compound which is selected from difluorinated terphenyl compounds and trifluorinated terphenyl compound and which enhances the phase sequence of said ' mixture, wherein the total amount of (a) and (b) is-at least 50 % by weight based on the total weight of the host mixture; and (2) at least one chiral dopant in an amount of not more than 10 % by weight of the total weight of the composition. Preferably, (a) is present in an amount of at least 30 % by weight based on the total weight of the host mixture. The total amount of (a) and (b) is preferably 50 to 98 % by weight, and more preferably 60 to 95 % by weight, based on the total weight of the host mixture. The difluorinated phenylpyrimidine compounds are preferably those which are difluorinated on the phenyl rings. Such compounds preferably fall within the following general formula [I]:- wherein X 1 and X 2 are usually independently selected from the group consisting of (C 1 -C 12 )alkyl and (C 1 -C 12 )alkoxy, more preferably (C 5 -C 10 )alkyl and (C 5 -C 10 )alkoxy, and most preferably (C 7 -C 9 )alkyl and (C 7 -C 9 )alkoxy. The alkyl groups are preferably linear. However, it is also within the scope of the present invention for either or both of X 1 and X 2 to be selected from (C 2 -C 12 )alkenyl, (C 2 -C 12 )alkenyloxy, (C 1 -C 12 )alkoxycarbonyl, (C 2 -C 12 )alkenyloxycarbonyl, (C 1 -C 12 )alkanoyl, (C 2 -C 12 )alkenoyl and (C 2 -C 12 )ether groups, whereof the carbon chain lengths are preferably (C 5 -C 10 ), and most preferably (C 7 -C 9 ). It is also within the scope of the invention for either or both of X 1 and X 2 to be at least partially fluorinated. Such difluorinated phenylpyrimidinyl compounds of the formula [I] above will sometimes be referred to for convenience under the designation "diFPYP". Also for convenience, the lengths of the alkyl chains in X 1 and X 2 will be given by reference to the number of carbon atoms. Thus, for example, 8.O9diFPYP designates a compound of the formula [I] where X 1 is the alkyl group C 8 H 17 and X 2 is the alkoxy group OC 9 H 19 , and 9O.8diFPYP designates a compound of the formula [I] where X 1 is the alkoxy group C 9 H 19 O and X 2 is the alkyl group C 8 H 17 . In this designation, the substituent group X which is on the fluorinated ring is positioned adjacent "diF". The mixture of difluorinated phenylpyrimidinyl compounds may comprise at least two diFPYP compounds wherein (i) X 1 and X 2 in at least one diFPYP compound are both (C 1 -C 12 )alkoxy, for example (C 7 -C 10 )alkoxy, and (ii) one of X 1 and X 2 in at least one other diFPYP compound is (C 1 -C 12 )alkyl, preferably (C 7 -C 9 )alkyl and the other of X 1 and X 2 is (C 1 -C 12 )alkoxy, preferably (C 7 -C 9 )alkoxy. It is preferred for these compounds (i) and (ii) to be present in a mutual weight ratio of about 1:4 to 4:1. The fluorinated terphenyl compound is preferably a difluorinated compound, more preferably one in which the fluorine groups are adjacent substituents on one of the phenyl rings. The fluorinated terphenyl compound preferably has the general formula [II], [III], [IV] or [V]: - wherein X 1 and X 2 are as defined above. Such fluorinated terphenyl compounds will sometimes be referred to for convenience under the designation "FTP". Thus "diFTP" designates difluorinated FTP compounds of the formula [II] and/or [III] above, and "triFTP" designates trifluorinated FTP compounds of the formula [IV] and/or [V] above. The same designations as used above for X 1 and X 2 for diFPYP compounds will also be used for the FTP compounds. The liquid crystal composition may contain one such compound, for example a diFTP wherein both X 1 and X 2 are (C 1 -C 12 )alkyl, or it may contain at least two such compounds of the general formula [II] and/or [III]. As an example of this latter type, in at least one of such compounds, X 1 is (C 1 -C 12 )alkoxy and X 2 is (C 1 -C 12 )alkyl and, in at least one other of such compounds, X 1 and X 2 are both (C 1 -C 12 )alkyl. Preferably, the alkoxyalkyl compound is present in a lesser amount than the dialkyl compound, the ratio being preferably not more than about 0.5:1. The liquid crystal composition may further include a fluorinated biphenyl. compound which preferably has the formula [VI]:- Such fluorinated biphenyl compounds will sometimes be referred to for convenience under the designation "FBP". Thus "diFBP" designates difluorinated FBP compounds of the formula [VI] above. The same designations as used above for X 1 and X 2 for diFPYP compounds will also be used for the FBP compounds. As an example of this, the liquid crystal composition may contain a mixture of (a) at least two diFTP compounds wherein, in at least one of such diFTP compounds, X 1 is (C 1 -C 12 )alkoxy and X 2 is (C 1 -C 12 )alkyl and, in at least one other of such diFTP compounds, X 1 and X 2 are both (C 1 -C 12 )alkyl; and (b) a compound of the general formula [VI] wherein one of X 1 and X 2 is (C 1 -C 12 )alkoxy and the other of X 1 and X 2 is (C 1 -C 12 )alkyl. The compound (b) is preferably present in a smaller amount by weight than the compounds (a). In the case where the liquid crystal composition containing the above-described compounds is not inherently chiral, where a ferroelectric liquid crystal material is required, it is necessary for there to be at least one chiral dopant, as is per se known in the art Said at least one chiral dopant may be used in an amount of about 1.2 to 4.2 wt%, more preferably about 2.7 to 3.3 wt%, based on the total weight of the liquid crystal composition. Typical examples of chiral dopants are:- and The liquid crystal composition may further include other additives which are per se known in the art, for example for producing improved phase transitions, birefringence, viscosity and cone angle and memory angle. Also according to the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal shutter comprising a pair of mutually spaced substrates upon which are provided respective opposed alignment surfaces which are spaced apart, a layer of liquid crystal composition according to the present invention filling the space between the alignment surfaces, and electrodes to enable a switching voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal layer. The accompanying drawing is a schematic view of a typical liquid crystal optical shutter incorporating a liquid crystal composition according to the present invention. Referring to the drawing, the liquid crystal optical shutter comprises a pair of parallel, spaced-apart glass substrates 10 and 12 having alignment layers 14 and 16 on mutually facing inner surfaces thereof. Transparent electrode layers 18 and 20 are provided on the substrates 10 and 12, respectively, and serve to enable a switching voltage to be applied across a layer 22 of liquid crystal composition disposed between and in contact with the alignment layers 14 and 16 to enable the layer 22 to be switched between bistable dark and light states between crossed polarizers in a manner well known per se. Shutters of this type can be employed in a wide variety of liquid crystal display devices. The present invention will now be described in further detail in the following Examples. Example 1 A basic difluorophenylpyrimidine host material-(HM1) was formulated which comprised a 1:1 ratio (by weight) of the following diFPYP compounds:- The resultant host material HM1 had the following properties:- Phase property I 64.4-62.3 N 63.3 SmC 15 K (crystal) Melting point 27.4 °C A mixture was formulated which comprised 69 wt% of the above host material HM1 and 31 wt% of the following phase enhancing compound:- The resultant three-component host mixture had the following properties:- Phase property I 74.2-72.9 N 70.1 SmA 69.2 SmC-2 insoluble -9 K Melting point 22 °C To introduce chirality, 2 wt% of the following chiral dopant material was mixed with 98 wt% of the above three-component host mixture:- The resultant liquid crystal composition consisted of, in weight%:- 33.81 8O.O8diFPYP 33.81 9.O8diFPYP 30.38 5.7diFTP 2 BE8OF2N and had the following properties:- Phase property 1 73.3 N* 70.7 SmA 67.5 SmC* 0 insoluble -3 K Temp. (°C) T(A-C*) (°C) d (µm) Ps (nC. cm -2 ) τ min (µs) V min (V)  (°) Mv Mt Mo  m 5Vac (°) 36.1 66.1 1.52 8.62 15 37.2 24.8 2.51 0.18 0.45 14.6 25 66.1 1.52 10.61 26 35.2 26.8 1.93 0.31 0.60 16.0 0 66.1 1.52 14.1 113 30.1 28 1.23 1.44 1.77 17.1 In the above: - Temp. is the temperature at which the relevant property is measured, T (A-C*) is the transition temperature from SmA to SmC*, d is the cell gap, Ps is the spontaneous polarisation coefficient (i.e. the bulk ferroelectric polarisation induced by the chiral dopant), τ min is the minimum switching response time (pulse width), V min is the minimum switching voltage at τ min ,  is the cone angle, Mv is a merit figure relating to the switching voltage properties (Mv=ε o .V min /d.Ps), Mt is a merit figure relating to the switching speed properties (Mt=V min .τ min .Ps/d.sin 2 ), Mo is a merit figure relating to the overall properties (Mo=Mv.Mt),  m is the memory angle measured with applied ac (5 Vac rms), and ε o is the permittivity of free space The above merit figures are obtained as described in Slaney et al, Ferroelectrics, 1996, 178(1), 65-74. Example 2 Example 1 was repeated except that 2.2 wt% of BE8OF2N was mixed with 97.8 wt% of the three-component host mixture. The resultant liquid crystal composition consisted of, in weight%:- 33.74 8O.O8diFPYP 33.74 9.O8diFPYP 30.32 5.7diFTP 2.2 BE8OF2N and had the following properties:- Phase property I 70.0 N* 67.1 SmA 63.9 SmC* 3.6 insoluble -0.8 K Melting point 25.2 °C (glass slides) Temp. (°C) T (A-C*) (°C) d (µm) Ps (nC. cm -2 ) τ min (µs) V min (V)  (°) Mv Mt Mo  m 5Vac (°) 35.4 65.4 1.51 11.5 9 46.4 26.2 2.36 0.16 0.38 14.0 25 65.4 1.51 12.8 16 41.3 28.1 1.87 0.25 0.47 16.7 0 65.4 1.51 17.2 78 36.4 28.7 1.24 1.40 1.74 17.6 Example 3 Example 1 was repeated except that 2.7 wt% of BE8OF2N was mixed with 97.3 wt% of the three-component host mixture. The resultant liquid crystal composition consisted of, in weight%:- 33.57 8O.O8diFPYP 33.57 9.O8diFPYP 30.16 5.7diFTP 2.7 BE8OF2N and had the following properties:- Phase property I 71.2 N* 70.0 SmA 66.3 SmC* 0 K Melting point 29.4 °C (glass slides) Temp. (°C) T (A-C*) (°C) d (µm) Ps(nC. cm -2 ) τ min (µs) V min (V)  (°) Mv Mt Mo  m 5Vac (°) 35.6 65.6 1.35 12.2 25.1 - - - 13.4 25 65.6 1.35 14.1 9 48 26.9 2.23 0.22 0.49 14.7 Example 4 The same two components of the host material HM1 were used to form a host material (HM2) containing 9.O8diFPYP and 8O.O8diFPYP in amounts of 55 wt% and 45 wt%, respectively. The resultant host material HM2 had the following properties:- Phase property I 63.6-61.3 N 63.2 SmC 12.6 K Melting point 27.4 °C A mixture was formulated which comprised 69 wt% of the above host material HM2 and 31 wt% of 7.5diFTP identified in Example 1 above. The resultant three-component host mixture had the following properties:- Phase property I 74.9-71.1 N 68.6 SmA 67.4 SmC -5.5 K Melting point 22.8 °C To 76 wt% of the three-component host mixture was added 22.7 wt% of the following compound: - The resultant four-component host mixture had the following properties:- Phase property I 66.3-62.4 N 57.8 SmA 56.3 SmC -12.5 K Melting point 15 °C To introduce chirality, 2.1 wt% of the chiral dopant material BE8OF2N referred to in Example 1 above was mixed with 97.9 wt% of the above four-component host mixture. The resultant liquid crystal composition consisted of, in weight%:- 23.50 8O.O8diFPYP 28.73 9.O8diFPYP 23.47 5.7diFTP 22.2 8O.5diFBP 2.1 BE8OF2N and had the following properties:- Phase property I 60.2-57.2 N* 53.3 SmA 48 SmC* -40 insoluble Soluble 14.2 °C Temp. (°C) T (A-C*) (°C) d (µm) Ps (nC. cm -2 ) τ min (µs) V min (V)  (°) Mv Mt Mo  m 5Vac (°) 25 48 1.26 8.31 18 29.6 23.3 2.50 0.22 0.55 C1T 18 48 1.26 8.99 24 28.4 24.5 2.22 0.28 0.62 C1T 0 48 1.26 12.05 97 25.6 27.4 1.49 1.12 1.67 C1T Example 5 68 wt% of the host material HM2 was mixed with 32 wt% of the following compound:- The resultant three-component host mixture had the following properties:- Phase property I 63.1-62.3 N 61.2 SmA 59.6 SmC-3 K Melting point 21.2 °C To introduce chirality, 2.0 wt% of the chiral dopant material BE8OF2N referred to in Example 1 above was mixed with 98 wt% of the above three-component host mixture. The resultant liquid crystal composition consisted of, in weight%: - 30 8O.O8diFPYP 36.65 9.O8diFPYP 31.35 9.7triFTP 2 BE8OF2N and had the following properties: - Phase property I 60.0-59.0 N* 58.2 SmA 54.9 SmC* -31.4 insoluble and crystallizes Melting Point 7.8 °C Temp. (°C) T( A-C*) (°C) d (µm) Ps (nC. cm -2 ) τ min (µs) V min (V)  (°) Mv Mt Mo  m 5Vac (°) 25 54.9 1.45 9.43 32.7 31.5 25.5 2.04 0.36 0.73 C2T 0 54.9 1.45 12.95 183 24.9 27.3 1.17 1.91 2.23 C2T Examples 6 to 12 In a similar manner to the previous Examples, further liquid crystal compositions were formulated according to Table 1 below and the properties of such compositions are shown in Tables 2, 3 and 4 below. Ingredient Example Number and Amount (wt%) 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 8O.O8diFPYP 30.4 23.5 21.84 15.86 16.36 21.72 15.70 9O.O8diFPYP - - 7.67 19.38 5.75 7.63 19.18 9.O7diFPYP - - 12.53 - 9.38 12.47 - 9.O8diFPYP 37.2 28.6 12.53 - 9.38 12.47 - 9.O9diFPYP - - 12.53 - 9.38 12.47 - 5O.6diFTP - - - 5.93 4.63 - 5.87 5.O8diFTP - - - 3.65 2.85 - 3.61 5.O6mdiFTP - - - 4.11 3.20 - 4.07 5.7diFTP - 23.4 30.5 15.97 12.47 30.34 15.81 7.9diFTP - - - 15.97 12.47 - 15.81 9.7triFTP 30.4 - - - - - - 8O.5diFBP - 22.5 - - - - - 5.O8diFBP - - - 17.3 11.13 - 16.95 BE8OF2N 2.0 2.0 2.4 2.0 3.0 2.9 3.0 Best Align. P1 P1 P1 P1 P1 Ex. No. Phase Property (between glass slides) °C 6 I 60-59 N* 58.2 SmA 54.9 SmC* -31.4 mpt 7.8°C 7 I 60.2-57.2 N* 53.3 SmA 48 SmC* 40 is 14.2 °C 8 I 72.5-68.0 N* 69.5-68 SmA 64.6 SmC* -4.8 mpt 14.5-15.6°C 9 I 77.6-72.3 N* 63.1 SmA 57.7 SmC* -22 K mpt - 5°C 10 I 74-68.4 N* 65.5 SmA 57.8 SmC* -20 K mpt 6.8 °C 11 I 70.9-65.7 N* 65.7 SmA 62.38 SmC* 62.8 mpt 29.4 °C 12 I 76.1-70.9 N* 71.4-70.9 SmA 63.3 SmC* 57.3 mpt 5 °C Examples 13 to 17 In a similar manner to the previous Examples, further liquid crystal compositions were formulated according to Table 6 below and the properties of such compositions are shown in Tables 7, 8 and 9 below. Ingredient Example Number and Amount (wt%) 13 14 15 16 17 8O.O8diFPYP 17.52 18.04 16.36 16.36 16.36 9O.O8diFPYP 5.98 6.16 5.75 5.75 5.75 9.O7diFPYP 10.13 10.43 9.38 9.38 9.38 9.O8diFPYP 10.14 10.44 9.38 9.38 9.38 9.O9diFPYP 10.14 10.44 9.38 9.38 9.38 5.O6diFTP 4.97 5.04 4.63 4.63 4.63 5.O8diFTP 3.06 3.10 2.85 2.85 2.85 5.O6mdiFTP 3.44 3.49 3.20 2.85 2.85 5.7diFTP 13.38 13.58 12.47 12.47 12.47 7.9diFTP 13.39 13.58 12.47 12.47 12.47 5.7triFTP - - 5.56 11.13 - 9.5triFTP - - - - 4.56 9.9triFTP - - - - 1.89 9.7triFTP - - - - 4.68 5.O8diFBP 4.85 2.8 5.57 - - BE8OF2N 3.0 2.9 3.0 3.0 3.0 Ex. No. Phase Property ( °C) 13 I 78.6-74.5 N* 70.9 SmA 64.5 SmC* -17 K mpt 7 14 I 60.2-57.2 N* 53.3 SmA 48 SmC* -30 (10 mins) K mpt 9 15 I 84-76.6 N* 76.5-75.7 SmA 69.3 SmC* -14 K mpt ∼ 5 16 I 76.4-73.1 N* 70.1 SmA 62.8 SmC* -30 K mpt 4.2 17 I 75.2-71.4 N* 71.6 SmA 62.8 SmC* -30 (10 mins) oos is 0 Examples 18 to 22 In a similar manner to the previous Examples, further liquid crystal compositions were formulated according to Table 10 below and the properties of such compositions are shown in Tables 11, 12 and 13 below. Ex. No. Phase Property ( °C) 18 I 77.9-74.8 N* 71.2 SmA 63.2 SmC* -20 K mpt 4.5 19 I 71.5-67.2 N* 62.2 SmA 53 SmC* <-30 K mpt 4.5 20 I 100.1-84.9 N* 77.0-75.5 SmA 70.1 SmC* -40 , is 0 21 I 75.0-73.1 N* 67.4 SmA 61.3 SmC* 22 I 89.5-85.9 N* 82.95 SmA 62.8 SmC* -25 K mpt -12 Examples 23 to 25 In a similar manner to the previous Examples, further liquid crystal compositions were formulated according to Table 14 below and the properties of such compositions are shown in Tables 15,16 and 17 below. Ex. No. Phase Property (°C) 23 I 93.5-79.9 N* 77.7-75.5 SmA 64.4 SmC did not crystallize 24 I 90.8-78.0 N* 76.5-73.5 SmA 58.6 SmC did not crystallize 25 I 81.0-75.4 N* 69.7 SmA 67.5 SmC -28 ( oos)

Claims: A liquid crystal composition comprising: (1) an achiral host mixture comprising (a) at least 20 % by weight, based on the total weight of the host mixture, of at least two difluorinated phenylpyrimidine compounds capable of exhibiting an SmC phase, and (b) at least 10 % by weight, based on the total weight of the host mixture, of at least one fluorinated terphenyl compound which is selected from difluorinated terphenyl compounds and trifluorinated terphenyl compounds and which enhances the phase sequence of said mixture, wherein the total amount of (a) and (b) is at least 50 % by weight based on the total weight of the host mixture; and (2) at least one chiral dopant in an amount of not more than 10 % by weight of the total weight of the composition. A liquid crystal composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein (a) is present in an amount of at least 30 % by weight based on the total weight of the host mixture. A liquid crystal composition as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the total amount of (a) and (b) is 50 to 98 % by weight based on the total weight of the host mixture. A liquid crystal composition as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the total amount of (a) and (b) is 60 to 95 % by weight based on the total weight of the host mixture. A liquid crystal composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the difluorinated phenylpyrimidine compounds fall within the following general formula [I]:- wherein X 1 and X 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of (C 1 -C 12 )alkyl and (C 1 -C 12 )alkoxy. A liquid crystal composition as claimed in claim 5, wherein the mixture of difluorinated phenylpyrimidinyl compounds comprise at least two difluorinated phenylpyrimidine compounds wherein (i) X 1 and X 2 in at least one difluorinated phenylpyrimidine compound are both (C 1 -C 12 )alkoxy, and (ii) one of X 1 and X 2 in at least one other difluorinated phenylpyrimidine compound is (C 1 -C 12 )alkyl and the other of X 1 and X 2 is (C 1 -C 12 )alkoxy. A liquid crystal composition as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said at least one fluorinated terphenyl compound is selected from one or more fluorinated terphenyl compounds having the general formula [II], [III], [IV] or [V]:- where X 1 and X 2 are as defined in claim 5. A liquid crystal composition as claimed in claim 7, wherein said at least one fluorinated terphenyl compound is at least one difluorinated terphenyl compound of the general formula [II] and/or [III]. A liquid crystal composition as claimed in claim 8, wherein said at least one fluorinated terphenyl compound is a mixture of at least two difluorinated terphenyl compounds of the general formula [II] and/or [III]. A liquid crystal composition as claimed in claim 9, wherein, in at least one of such difluorinated terphenyl compounds, X 1 is (C 1 -C 12 )alkoxy and X 2 is (C 1 -C 12 )alkyl and, in at least one other of such difluorinated terphenyl compounds, X 1 and X 2 are both (C 1 -C 12 )alkyl. A liquid crystal composition as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one alkoxyalkyldifluorinated terphenyl compound is present in a lesser amount than the at least one other dialkyldifluorinated terphenyl compound. A liquid crystal composition as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, further including a fluorinated biphenyl compound. A liquid crystal composition as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fluorinated biphenyl compound is a difluorinated biphenyl compound of the formula [VI]:- where X 1 and X 2 are as defined in claim 5. A liquid crystal composition as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the fluorinated biphenyl compound is present in a smaller amount by weight than the mixture of fluorinated terphenyl compounds. A liquid crystal composition as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 14, wherein the (C 1 -C 12 )alkyl is a (C 5 -C 10 )alkyl. A liquid crystal composition as claimed in claim 15, wherein the (C 5 -C 10 )alkyl is a (C 7 -C 9 )alkyl. A liquid crystal composition as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 16, wherein the (C 1 -C 12 )alkoxy is a (C 5 -C 10 )alkoxy. A liquid crystal composition as claimed in claim 17, wherein the (C 5 -C 10 )alkoxy is a (C 7 -C 9 )alkoxy. A liquid crystal composition as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said at least one fluorinated terphenyl compound (b) is present in an amount of 10 to 60 % by weight of the total weight of the liquid crystal composition. A liquid crystal composition as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said at least one chiral dopant is present in an amount of 1 to 5 % by weight based on the total weight of the liquid crystal composition. A liquid crystal composition as claimed in claim 20, wherein said at least one chiral dopant is present in an amount of about 1.2 to 4.2 wt%, based on the total weight of the liquid crystal composition. A liquid crystal shutter comprising a pair of mutually spaced substrates upon which are provided respective opposed alignment surfaces which are spaced apart, a layer of a liquid crystal composition as claimed in any preceding claim filling the space between the alignment surfaces, and electrodes to enable a switching voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal layer.

Inventors: JONES JOHN CLIFFORD, SLANEY ANDREW JOHN, JONES, JOHN CLIFFORD, SLANEY, ANDREW JOHN
Applicants: DEFENCE EVALUATION AND RES AGE, SHARP KK, DEFENCE EVALUATION AND RESEARCH AGENCY, SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1998
Main classification: C09K19
IPC codes: G02F1, C09K19