Hanging out with the Liquid Crystal Elite

This week, Linkam is attending the 23^rd International Liquid Crystal conference in Krakow along with 650 of the world’s top liquid crystal scientists. 

With over 180 oral presentations and 1000 posters, the show covered numerous new developments with ferroelectric LC’s including work on nanoparticles, traditional nematic materials and some blue phase work. 

Many delegates are existing Linkam users and have provided really positive feedback about our products as well as a host of ideas for future instrument developments.

 Linkam is exhibiting with LC-Vision from Boulder, Colorado, highlighting the integration possibilities between the LCAS-3 system and the Linkam LTSE350 hot stage. 

A complete system enables accurate temperature control with image capture to be combined with a range of electrical measurements, including the elastic constants K₁₁, K₂₂, K₃₃  rotational viscosity and dielectric properties (parallel and perpendicular). 

Thanks to all those who visited our booth and a special thanks to Monika Marzec whose organisation made the exhibition run so smoothly.

Hours of Liquid Crystal Analysis- Done in Minutes

Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player to ever set foot on the basketball court.  He probably knows this, he has 6 NBA championship rings.  However, an actor, he is not. did you ever see Space Jam?  Nope, not too many did.

It's a good idea to stick with what you're best at.

We make temperature controlled stages for a variety of microscopy techniques.  This is what we are best at, and so when it comes to analysing liquid crystals, we'll take care of the temperature control microscopy instruments, but we'll turn over the in depth quantitative analysis to the experts.

We will be working with Dr. Michael Wand and the folks at LC-Vision to promote their LCAS range of liquid crystal analysis instruments.  The LCAS range utilise an LC cell holder that will fit into our LTS120 and LTS420 temperature controlled stages to enable the user to analyze liquid crystals in minutes that would otherwise take hours.

Property analysis of nematic LC includes:
 

• Threshold voltage (Vth) • Parallel dielectric (Epara)
• Perpendicular dielectric (Eperp)
• Dielectric anisotropy (ΔE)
• Splay elastic Constant (K1)
• Bend elastic constant (K3)
• Rotational viscosity
• Ionic density – both positive and negative ions
• Will measure negative ΔE nematic liquid crystals using high to low voltage sweep)

Further details available at LC-vision.com