Liquid-crystalline reference compounds

A polar (PCH-5) and a non-polar (152) compound are introduced as liquid-crystalline bench-mark compounds. The materials chosen are affordable, stable, easy to handle and possess nematic mesophases between 30–54·9 and 24–103·4°C. All relevant macroscopic physical properties, such as refractive indices n o n e, dielectric permittivities ∥⊊, elastic constants K 11, K 22 and K 33, and bulk and rotational viscosities are given as a function of temperature, wavelength and frequency, when applicable. The reference compounds are available from E. Merck, Darmstadt.