Optical anisotropy of alignment films and molecular alignment of liquid crystals

Abstract

Relation between optical anisotropy of an alignment film, polyimide SE150(Nissan Chem.), and molecular alignment quality of liquid crystals was examined. The alignment films were treated by oblique irradiation of unpolarized UV light with and without rubbing process. It can be said that the sign of the optical anisotropy of the film surface that contributes to the molecular alignment of liquid crystal may be opposite to that of the inside of the film.