A thermodynamic model is given for phase separation induced by the increase of network elasticity during free-radical cross-linking polymerization. The importance of network elasticity in the field of polymer dispersed liquid crystals is stressed. The concept of a conversion-phase diagram is introduced as an attractive way to visualize the onset of phase separation in all situations where the phase separation is induced by polymerization. The results of the model are presented in conversionphase diagrams.
Phase separation in a polymerizing diacrylate/LC mixture is shown
to be driven by liquid−gel demixing rather than by liquid−liquid demixing. The structure
of the gel strongly influences the
initial morphology: “early” phase separation (at low conversion)
produces spherical domains, whereas
“late” phase separation (at high conversion) produces nonspherical
domains. The higher the conversion
at phase separation, the smaller the domains. A new method,
simultaneous photo DSC/turbidity
measurement, provides the conversion at the appearance of a nematic
phase, and optical microscopy
shows the development of morphology. A nonspherical droplet shape
reflects the inhomogeneous structure
of the polymer network. The dependence of the initial morphology
on the LC content, temperature of
the reaction, and cross-linker content can be explained using
conversion−phase diagrams obtained from
the Flory−Huggins−Dušek theory. The
observable part of the demixing process in a model system
composed of 4-n-pentyl-4‘-cyanobiphenyl (K15) and
tetraethylene glycol diacrylate (TEGDA) probably
proceeds through nucleation and growth rather than through spinodal
decomposition. The phase diagram
of the unpolymerized monomer/LC mixture is also reported.
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