The effect of formation of a periodic surface microrelief upon tension of polymeric substrates with thin hard coatings under specified conditions (the processing temperature below the glassing temperature, elongation up to 250%, elongation rate <5mm∕min) is described. The microrelief period ranges from 0.5μm up to hundreds of micrometers, its height up to 1μm. Methods are proposed to measure low values of the optical path length in media Δn∼λ and azimuthal anchoring energy of a liquid crystal on microreliefed surfaces.
Abstract— The effect of the formation of a periodic surface microrelief while stretching the polymeric substrates with thin hard coatings under specified conditions (a processing temperature lower than the glassing temperature, an elongation magnitude up to 250%, an elongation velocity <5 mm/min) is described. The microrelief period varies in the range from 0.5 μm up to hundreds of micrometers, the height up to 1 μm. The polar and azimuthal orientation of a liquid crystal on the surface of such substrates was studied. Methods are proposed to measure low values of the optical path length in media Δn ∼ λ and components of LC anchoring energy on microreliefed surfaces. The simulation description of the light diffraction in optical anisotropic materials is proposed on the basis of the Rokushima‐Yamakita approach for periodical media. An opportunity for the creation of various optical components on the basis of this effect was considered, namely, diffraction gratings, optical compensators, and various types of light‐scattering elements.
Parameters of a microrelief of poly(ethyleneterephthalate) (PET) 0.7 mm thick and poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) 1.0 min thick films with a hard platinum covering are studied. The technology of manufacturing the PET substrates with the microrelief is optimized. The birefringence and transmission of the substrates in dependence on their elongation are measured. The possibility of their use as diffraction gratings, scattering and other optical elements for displays is discussed.
