The present invention relates to a method of producing liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) based components. The method comprises the steps of (i) providing or creating micro-sized or nano-sized LCE particles, (ii) dispersing the particles in an uncured liquid polymer, (iii) aligning the nematic directors of the particles and, (iv) shaping and curing the matrix/particles mixture. The composite material formed by this method is a polymer dispersed liquid crystal elastomer (PDLCE) with custom-tailored properties which can be shaped into arbitrary forms.

A liquid crystal element includes a pair of substrates disposed to face each other, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the pair of substrates, and a liquid crystal alignment layer provided on each of the liquid crystal layer sides of the pair of substrates. The liquid crystal layer includes a compound having an alkenyl structure and a compound having a terphenyl ring structure, or includes a compound having an alkenyl structure and a terphenyl ring structure in the same molecule, and the liquid crystal alignment layer is a layer comprising a liquid crystal alignment agent containing a polymer (P) which has at least one selected from the group consisting of a radical polymerizable group, a photoinitiator group, a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring (excluding imide rings in polyimides), an amino group and a protected amino group.

The present invention relates to a method of producing liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) based components. The method comprises the steps of (i) providing or creating micro- sized or nano-sized LCE particles, (ii) dispersing the particles in an uncured liquid polymer, (iii) aligning the nematic directors of the particles and, (iv) shaping and curing the matrix/particles mixture. The composite material formed by this method is a polymer dispersed liquid crystal elastomer (PDLCE) with custom-tailored properties which can be shaped into arbitrary forms.

A polysiloxane elastomer containing liquid crystal lateral chain, and a smart watch made therefrom are disclosed. The polysiloxane elastomer containing liquid crystal lateral chain includes a polysiloxane backbone chain and a lateral chain formed by a liquid crystalline monomer and connected with the polysiloxane backbone chain, wherein the polysiloxane backbone chain is crosslinked by a crosslinking agent.

A liquid crystal alignment agent capable of forming a liquid crystal alignment film having good pre-tilt angle light stability, the liquid crystal alignment film, and a liquid crystal display element having the liquid crystal alignment film are provided. The liquid crystal alignment agent includes a polymer (A), a photosensitive polysiloxane (B), and a solvent (C). The polymer (A) is obtained by reacting a mixture, wherein the mixture includes a tetracarboxylic dianhydride component (a1) and a diamine component (a2). The diamine component (a2) includes a diamine compound (a2-1) represented by formula (1). The photosensitive polysiloxane (B) is obtained by reacting a silane compound (b1-1) containing an epoxy group and a cinnamic acid derivative (b2).

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