Phase diagrams and physical properties of binary ferroelectric mixtures based on a series of chiral α-cyanocinnamate derivatives

We report a detailed investigation of binary mixtures composed of members of the homologous series of (S)-4′-(2-n-alkoxypropanoyloxy)biphenyl-4-yl 4-n-alkoxy- f-cyanocinnamates. The phase transition curves for these mixtures have no minima. On the contrary, eutectic behaviour was obtained if the members of this homologous series were mixed with structurally different chiral cinnamic acid derivatives and other ferroelectric liquid crystal materials. Spontaneous polarization, tilt angle and dielectric constant results were obtained for three of the single compounds and nine ferroelectric mixtures.