How is thermochromatic rainbow paint made?

AI Thread Summary
Thermochromatic paint is made using liquid crystals, which exhibit unique optical properties and change colors at different temperatures. These liquid crystals can be sourced from chemical suppliers like Sigma-Aldrich, although their specific formulas are often proprietary. While some users have attempted to extract liquid crystals from defective LCD displays, creating a thermochromatic paint with a wide range of colors requires experimentation. Products available online include thermochromic pigments that activate at specific temperatures, but finding liquid crystal-based paints with a full spectrum of colors is challenging. Experimentation is key for achieving the desired effects in thermochromatic applications.
sauroman1
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I'm curious how thermochromatic paint is made that has many changing colors corresponding to different temperatures? Read that liquid crystals are used but they same as in LCD displays or it's somekind another chemical?
 
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What it could. I checked Wikipedia. These are liquids crystals but I have no idea what chemicals used and where to find them. That's why I'm hoping learn something from experts.
 
A liquid crystals IS a type of chemical. It is basically -as the name implies- a liquid (with some short range order, hence the "crystal") with very interesting optical properties.
Hence, the answer to your question is that you buy them from suppliers of chemicals. If you go to e.g. the Sigma-Aldrich website and search for "liquid crystals" you will get lots of hits.
Note that the chemical formulas for the C that are used commercially tend to be proprietary, i.e. you can't buy them and the manufacturer won't tell you how to make them.
 
Anybody tried extracting liquid crystals from LCD displays? I do have defective PC LCD display from which I plan to get polarizer film and maybe make lamp from backlight, it would be great if I could make as well thermochromatic paint from display.
 
I see several LCD sheets, and also thermochromatic paint sold on amazon.
 
I can't find liquid crystal based paints in online shops. I mean thermochromatic not those with just two colors but LC which have beautiful rainbow colors corresponding to minute temperature changes.
 
sauroman1 said:
I can't find liquid crystal based paints in online shops. I mean thermochromatic not those with just two colors but LC which have beautiful rainbow colors corresponding to minute temperature changes.

I'm not pushing Amazon, but here are some things I found easily.

To get a rainbow of colors from minute temperature changes, you would have to experiment. Put on your artistic experimenter's hat.
 
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