Ferroelectric Switching Liquid Crystal Polyacrylates - The Control and Effect of Molecular Weight

Abstract

The polymerisation of two liquid crystalline acrylate monomers is discussed with particular reference to control of the degree of polymerisation. Two series of liquid crystalline side chain polymers are produced, each with a broad smectic C phase and with a range of molecular weights. The electro-optic behaviour of the materials is discussed, and in one of the series ferroelectric response to electric field is observed for all molecular weights. This includes a sample with a very high degree of polymerisation where the molecular weight is too high to allow dissolution in tetrahydrofuran, and therefore cannot be measured by gel permeation chromatography.

Optical Characterization of a Ferroelectric Liquid Crystalline Polymer Studied by Time-Resolved Optical Waveguide Spectroscopy

“…Ferroelectric liquid crystalline polymers (FLCP) have attracted much attention, e.g., in nonlinear optics, optical storage, electrooptic devices, and large area liquid crystal (LC) displays. Side chain FLCPs have been extensively synthesized and studied by various groups for 1 decade. − The backbones of these polymers are flexible chains such as polyacrylates, − ,, polymethacrylates, − ,,,, polysiloxanes, ,− poly(vinyl ethers), and poly(oxyethylenes) …”

“…Side chain FLCPs have been extensively synthesized and studied by various groups for 1 decade. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] The backbones of these polymers are flexible chains such as polyacrylates, [1][2][3]6,15 polymethacrylates, [1][2][3]6,8,11,12 polysiloxanes, 7,[9][10][11][12] poly-(vinyl ethers), 13 and poly(oxyethylenes). 14 The mesogenic moieties which show ferroelectricity in the low molecular mass LC are attached to the polymer backbone through a flexible spacer.…”