Liquid crystal device

Abstract

Provided is a liquid crystal device comprising a lyotropic-type cholesteric liquid crystal and an enclosure surrounding the liquid crystal, at least a part of which enclosure is transparent, so that the color of the liquid crystal, varying depending upon the change of temperature, is viewable therethrough. The liquid crystal is a concentrated solution having a concentration of approximately 50 to 85 wt.% of a cellulose derivative in water or an organic solvent. The cellulose derivative has an average polymerization degree of 30 to 600 and a chemical structure such that the --OH groups in the cellulose molecule are at least partially substituted with at least one radical of the following formula to the extent that the mole number (M.S.) of a hydroxyalkylating agent bonded with cellulose, per anhydro glucose unit of the cellulose molecule, is 2.0 to 10.0 at average: -- O -- X -- CHR.sub.1 -- CHR.sub.2 -- O ].sub.m H where X is direct bond or --CO--; and, when X is direct bond, R.sub.1 is H or --CH.sub.3, and R.sub.2 is a radical selected from --CH.sub.3, --C.sub.2 H.sub.5, --CH.sub.2 A.sub.1 (A.sub.1 is a radical selected from -OH, halogen, --OCH.sub.3 and --OC.sub.2 H.sub.5) and --CHA.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 A.sub.3 (each of A.sub.2 and A.sub.3 is selected from H, --OH and halogen or both A.sub.2 and A.sub.3 form a double bond together); and when X is --CO--, R.sub.1 is H and R.sub.2 is --CH.sub.3 ; and m is an integer determined depending upon the M.S.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.