How to make smart glass?
How to make smart glass?
Can smart glass/film be used in wet areas?
Yes, smart glass/film can be used in wet areas such as bathrooms. The edges of smart glass/film are are sealed with a non-acid silicone gel that prevent any contact with water.
Why does PDLC require a polymer?
The polymer allows the liquid crystals to be embedded into a film, which can then be sandwiched between panels of glass or plastic. The polymer has constant optical properties which do not vary across its structure, and hence is considered isotropic.
In contrast, the liquid crystal itself is anisotropic, since its optical characteristics are not constant across its structure, but rather can vary under application of an electric field.
Why is PDLC considered to be smart?
The smartness of PDLCs is a result of its ability to change its transparency (technically called the transmittance) when an electrical stimulus is applied to it. This is normally by way of an alternating voltage, which exerts an alternating electric field across the PDLC material.
Nevertheless, the PDLC is only as smart as the control system which stimulates the change, which can be driven by a push button switch, a light sensor, or a building automation system.
Are PDLCs only available as artificial materials?
Not at all; common examples of natural occurrences of liquid crystals include proteins, soaps, detergents, and even some types of clay.