Liquid-crystalline polymer

Abstract

A liquid-crystalline polymer comprising repeating units of the following general formula ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1 is --H, --CH.sub.3 or --C.sub.2 H.sub.5, 1 is an integer having a value of 1 to 20, k is an integer having a value of 1 to 30, A is --O-- (oxygen) or --COO--, m is 0 or 1, and R.sup.2 is ##STR2## wherein Y is --COO-- or --OCO--, and R.sup.3 is --COOR.sup.4, --OCOR.sup.4, --OR.sup.4, --COR.sup.4 or --R.sup.4 where R.sup.4 is ##STR3## R.sup.5 being --CH.sub.3, --CN or a halogen radical, n and p being independently an integer having a value of 0 to 10 with the proviso that if R.sup.5 is --CH.sub.3, p is not 0, X being a halogen radical, q being 0 or 1, and C* being an asymmetric carbon atom. The liquid-crystalline polymer not only exhibits liquid-crystalline properties and transfers to ferroelectric chiral smectic C phase at temperatures of a wide range including the vicinity of room temperature but also has a high speed in responding to external factors enabling to display motion pictures, and can be advantageously used as display elements of large size screens and curved screens.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.