Provided is a lubricant composition including a bicyclic liquid crystal of formula (1), tricyclic liquid crystal compounds of formula (2), and formula (3). The composition is suitable for use in a clean environment, under a high vacuum, under high temperature and a bearing. ##STR00001##
R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different from each other, and each is OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH(R)CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OR. ##STR00002##
R.sup.11 and R.sup.21 are the same or different from each other, and each is OR. R.sup.12, R.sup.13, R.sup.22 and R.sup.23 are the same or different from each other, and each is hydrogen or a group OR. ##STR00003##
R.sup.31 and R.sup.41 are the same or different from each other, and each is OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH(R)CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OR. R.sup.32, R.sup.33, R.sup.42, and R.sup.43 are the same or different from each other, and each is hydrogen or OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH(R)CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OR. R is a linear or branched C.sub.nH.sub.2n+1, 1?n?20, and R is methyl or ethyl.

A composite sliding member includes a combination of a fiber woven fabric and a resin member, wherein the fiber woven fabric is a multilayer woven fabric having a front surface layer serving as a sliding surface and a rear surface layer adhered to the resin member, the front surface layer mainly including a fluororesin fiber and the rear surface layer mainly including a heat resistant fiber; wherein when a cross section of the composite sliding member crossing the fiber woven fabric, the resin member, and their composite interface is observed, one heat resistant fiber A of such heat resistant fiber at a position adjacent to the resin member with no intervening other fiber in the cross section is observed, and a ratio of a number of monofilaments in the heat resistant fiber A not in close contact with the resin constituting the resin member or adjacent monofilaments in relation to a number of all monofilaments constituting the heat resistant fiber A is R1, and R1 is 0 to 70%.

A composite sliding member includes a combination of a fiber woven fabric and a resin member, wherein the fiber woven fabric is a multilayer woven fabric having a front surface layer serving as a sliding surface and a rear surface layer adhered to the resin member, the front surface layer mainly including a fluororesin fiber and the rear surface layer mainly including a heat resistant fiber; wherein when a cross section of the composite sliding member crossing the fiber woven fabric, the resin member, and their composite interface is observed, one heat resistant fiber A of such heat resistant fiber at a position adjacent to the resin member with no intervening other fiber in the cross section is observed, and a ratio of a number of monofilaments in the heat resistant fiber A not in close contact with the resin constituting the resin member or adjacent monofilaments in relation to a number of all monofilaments constituting the heat resistant fiber A is R1, and R1 is 0 to 70%.

The present invention relates to an electro-rheological fluid comprising particles of at least one inorganic or organic material suspended in a polar liquid crystalline medium, the use of such electro-rheological fluid in an haptic device, an haptic device itself, a method of the production of such haptic device and the use of such haptic device in electro-optical devices.

The present invention provides liquid crystal (LC)-infused materials and methods for detecting compounds or impurities in liquid samples using such materials. These slippery materials comprise a lubricating liquid, preferably a thermotropic liquid crystal, and a solid substrate able to immobilize or host the lubricating liquid. The portion of the substrate coated by the lubricating fluid forms a slippery surface able to allow droplets of various materials to slide off the slippery surface in a manner dependent on the chemical composition of the droplet, which can be used to detect the presence of analytes, impurities and other molecules within the droplet.