Polyfumarate esters

The relationship between the molecular structures of polymer materials for alignment layers and the bistability has been discussed by Myrvold [14]. Here, the bistabilities resulting from alignment layers made from polyethylene, polyfumarate esters, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and polyimide (PI) will be overviewed according to his studies. 

Polyfumarate esters with bulky substituents in the backbone give good alignment [15]. Because of the bulky substituents, the polymer chains form a helical structure which gives the polymer a rigid and rod-like nature, which makes crystal packing easier. 

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