A liquid crystal composition that satisfies a plurality of characteristics in characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of the nematic phase, small viscosity, large optical anisotropy, large dielectric anisotropy (1 kHz and 20 GHz), large specific resistance, high stability to ultraviolet light and high stability to heat, and that can be used in the form of a millimeter wave phase or microwave phase antenna.

The liquid crystal composition contains at least two specific compounds having the large optical anisotropy and the large dielectric anisotropy as a first component, and a specific compound having a wide nematic phase and capable of adjusting suitable optical anisotropy as a second component, and may contain such a component compound that can finely control the characteristics of the composition.

An actuator device comprises a stack formed from a plurality of photoresponsive layers, which deform in response to light, which are partitioned by respective deformable non-photoresponsive layers. The deformable non-photoresponsive layers guide light between and to the photoresponsive layers, and can follow the deformation of the photoresponsive layers.

A laminate has a first polarizer, a first patterned optical anisotropic layer, a second patterned optical anisotropic layer, and a second polarizer, in which an angle formed between transmission axes of the polarizers is 90+5; each of the patterned optical anisotropic layers has three or more phase difference regions, which have different slow axis directions and in which the slow axis directions continuously change, in a plane of each of the first patterned optical anisotropic layer and the second patterned optical anisotropic layer; a transmission display state and a light-blocking display state are switched with each other by changing an angle formed between the slow axis direction of each of the phase difference regions of the first patterned optical anisotropic layer and the slow axis direction of each of the phase difference regions of the second patterned optical anisotropic layer that is superposed on each of the phase difference regions of the first patterned optical anisotropic layer; a combination of the patterned optical anisotropic layers is a combination of a +A plate and A plate; and at least one of the polarizers is a reflective-type polarizer.

A method for improving wear control, while maintaining or improving energy efficiency, in an engine or other mechanical component lubricated with a lubricating oil, by using as the lubricating oil a formulated oil. The formulated oil includes at least one lubricating oil base stock having one or more liquid crystals represented by the formula:

R1-(A).sub.m-Y(B).sub.nR2

wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and are a substituted or unsubstituted, hydrocarbon, alkoxy or alkylthio group having from 2 to 24 carbon atoms; A and B are the same or different and are a cycloaliphatic group or aromatic group, provided at least one of A and B is an aromatic group; Y is a covalent bond, CH2-CH2-, CHCH, OCOO, CO, CSO, CSS, CS, O, S, SO, SO2-, CH2O, OCH2O, NO, ONO2, or CN; and m and n are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3. The lubricating oil base stock has a kinematic viscosity of 2 cSt to 200 cSt at 40 C., and 1 cSt to 25 cSt at 100 C. Also, this disclosure relates to low traction/energy efficient liquid crystal base stocks containing liquid crystals.

A composition for enhanced heat transfer fluid performance. The composition includes at least one base heat transfer fluid. The at least one base heat transfer fluid undergoes one or more phase changes in a heat transfer process. The heat transfer process includes a heated zone and/or a cooled zone. The one or more phase changes increase heat removal from the heated zone and/or increase heat rejection in the cooled zone, as compared to heat removal from a heated zone and/or heat rejection in a cooled zone of a heat transfer process having a base heat transfer fluid that does not undergo one or more phase changes. The base heat transfer fluids can exhibit liquid crystal behavior (e.g., heat transfer fluids having nematic, smectic or discotic liquid crystals). A method for conducting heat transfer in a heating and/or cooling system using the compositions comprising the base heat transfer fluids.

A method for improving friction and wear control, while maintaining or improving energy efficiency, in an engine or other mechanical component lubricated with a lubricating oil, by using as the lubricating oil a formulated oil. The formulated oil has a composition including at least one lubricating oil base stock. The at least one lubricating oil base stock includes one or more liquid crystals, wherein the one or more liquid crystals are represented by the formula:

A(R1).sub.n

wherein A is a mono-ring or a multi-ring aromatic group, R1 is the same or different and is a substituted or unsubstituted, hydrocarbon, alkoxy, or alkylthio group having from 2 to 24 carbon atoms, and n is a value from 1 to 12. The lubricating oil base stock has a kinematic viscosity of 2 cSt to 200 cSt at 40 C., as determined according to ASTM D445, and a kinematic viscosity of 1 cSt to 25 cSt at 100 C., as determined according to ASTM D445.

Provided is a lubricant base stock, a lubricating oil including the lubricant base stock and a method for improving viscosity temperature performance or viscosity index of an engine or other mechanical component lubricated with the lubricating oil. The lubricant base stock includes one or more liquid crystals represented by the formula:

R1-(A).sub.m-Y(B).sub.nR2

wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and are a substituted or unsubstituted, alkyl or alkoxy group having from 0 to 24 carbon atoms; A and B are the same or different and are a cycloaliphatic group or aromatic group, provided at least one of A and B is an aromatic group; Y is a covalent bond, CH2-CH2-, CHCH, CC, OCOO, COO, CO, CSO, CSS, CS, O, S, SO, SO2-, CH2O, OCH2O, NO, ONO2, COOH, OH, or CN; and m and n are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3. The lubricant base stock has a kinematic viscosity of 2 cSt to 28 cSt at 40 C., and 1 cSt to 12 cSt at 100 C.

The invention provides a lighting device (10) comprising a light source (100) configured to generate light source light (101) and a light converter element (200), wherein the light converter element (200) comprises a light transmissive matrix (205), wherein the light transmissive matrix (205) comprises: (i) a first luminescent material (210) configured to convert at least part of one or more of (a) the light source light (101) and (b) optionally a second luminescent material light (221) from an optional second luminescent material (220) into a first luminescent material light (211); and (ii) a thermo-responsive liquid crystalline compound (250); wherein the light transmissive matrix (205) is configured in thermal contact with the light source (100), and wherein the lighting device (10) is further configured to provide lighting device light (11) comprising said light source light (101), said first luminescent material light (210) and optionally said second luminescent material light (221), and wherein said light converter element is arranged for changing one or more of the color and color temperature of the lighting device light with the electrical power provided to the light source.

Described herein are heterocyclic liquid crystal compositions that can allow for the adjustment of their refractive indices by the application of an electric field, such as those described by the following formula (1) wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.7, R.sub.8, X, Y are as described herein. In addition, selectively dimmable reverse-mode polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) elements and devices using the aforementioned compositions are also described, which are transparent when no voltage is applied and opaque when a voltage is applied.

The present invention relates to a liquid crystalline medium which comprises one or more mesogenic compounds selected from the group of compounds of formulae I and II as set forth in claim 1, one or more chiral compounds and one or more polymerisable compounds, to a composite system obtained from or respectively obtainable from the medium by polymerising the one or more polymerisable compounds, and to liquid crystal displays comprising the composite system, in particular displays operating in reflective mode. The present invention further relates to a process for preparing the composite system comprising spatially selective polymerisation.