Applied Physics; Research from Kent State University yields new data on applied physics

4 Ink Jets

2009 APR 6 - (VerticalNews.com) -- "We have found that liquid crystal (LC) can be aligned on an inkjet printed and air-buffed polyimide (PI) surface," researchers in the United States report.

"Surface anisotropy is introduced by inkjet printing and air blowing from a PI ink cartridge and an empty cartridge of an inkjet printer, respectively. LC molecules align on the PI surfaces with the nano-scale grooves, which are validated with atomic force microscope images," wrote J.Y. Hwang and colleagues, Kent State University.

The researchers concluded: "The pretilt angles of the LCs could be varied from 0 degrees to 90 degrees, by controlling the composition of a mixture of homogeneous and homeotropic PIs."

Hwang and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Physics D - Applied Physics (Liquid crystal alignment on inkjet printed and air-buffed polyimide with nano-grove surface. Journal of Physics D - Applied Physics, 2009;42(5):55305).

For additional information, contact J.Y. Hwang, Kent State University, Institute Liquid Crystal, Kent, OH 44242, USA.

Publisher contact information for the Journal of Physics D - Applied Physics is: IOP Publishing Ltd., Dirac House, Temple Back, Bristol BS1 6BE, England.