Liquid crystal compositions

A liquid crystal composition with a solid-to-nematic transition temperature of at most 0.degree. C. and a nematic-to-isotropic transition temperature of at least 85.degree. C. consisting of:

• about 85% to about 100%, by weight, of a liquid crystal host composition consisting of about 83% to about 90%, by weight, of a 4-part liquid crystal mixture consisting of about 21% to about 24% by weight of trans-4-n-Propyl-(4-cyanophenyl)-cyclohexane, having a chemical formula ##STR8## about 32% to about 36%, by weight, of trans-4-n-Pentyl-(4-cyanophenyl)-cyclohexane, having a chemical formula ##STR9## about 22% to about 25%, by weight, of trans-4-n-Heptyl-(4-cyanophenyl)-cyclohexane, having a chemical formula ##STR10## and about 15% to about 25%, by weight, of trans-4-n-Pentyl-(4'-cyanobiphenyl-4)-cyclohexane, having a chemical formula ##STR11## about 10% to about 17%, by weight, of 4-n-Pentyl-4"-cyano-p-terphenyl, having the chemical formula ##STR12## about 0% to about 5%, by weight, of an optically-active material dissolved in said host composition;
• and;
• about 0% to about 10%, by weight, of a dichroic dye dissolved in said host composition.