The pyroelectric response and the thermal properties of microtomized sections of 'singlecrystalline' ferroelectric liquid crystalline elastomers (FLCE) have been investigated. The microtomized sections were manufactured in the thickness range from 20 to 100 mm. The roughness of the surfaces due to the cutting process was investigated with an alpha-stepper and found to be in the range of about 5 mm. The thermal di usivity of the elastomer at di erent temperatures was determined by placing the sample on a pyroelectric substrate and measuring the pyroelectric signal of the substrate under appropriate conditions. From the pyroelectric current spectra, information about the spatial distribution of the polarization could be deduced. It was found to be constant except in a range also about 5 mm near the surface. From the combination of this result and that of the alpha-stepper measurements, the conclusion is drawn that the molecular orientation at the surface is destroyed due to the cutting process. The magnitude of the spontaneous polarization was calculated from the pyroelectric measurements at di erent temperatures, making use of the thermal di usivity values.

No abstract