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Liquid crystals and some of their applications

A brief review

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Abstract

This paper is a brief review of some of the properties and applications of liquid crystals. By studying the references, a reader can gain a more extensive insight into the liquid crystalline state. Classifications of liquid crystalline materials and nomenclature characteristic of the field give the reader a working knowledge of the subject. Polymorphism is one of the common properties of liquid crystalline materials; the subject is covered in the text and summarized in tabular forms. The fundamental properties of liquid crystals are correlated with some of the behaviors and uses of liquid crystals. Optical properties, curvature elastic properties, surface effects, external field effects and hydrodynamics of the liquid crystalline state are discussed as necessary to describe recent practical applications; these include displays, storage of images and other electrooptic devices.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, 44240, Kent, Ohio, USA

    G. H. Brown

  2. Department of Physics and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, 44240, Kent, Ohio, USA

    J. W. Doane

Authors
  1. G. H. Brown
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  2. J. W. Doane
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Additional information

Some of the results presented in this review were obtained under NSF Grant No. GH-34164X.

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Brown, G.H., Doane, J.W. Liquid crystals and some of their applications. Appl. Phys. 4, 1–15 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00884147

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00884147

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