Side-Chain Liquid-Crystalline Polymers Containing the Siloxane Spacer V. Syntheses and Thermal Properties of Copolymethacrylates with Different Spacer Structures

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Copolymerizations of the methacrylate-type monomers whose spacer consisted of only alkylene unit with the comonomers containing a disiloxane unit in the spacer component were carried out by radical polymerization. The effects of copolymer composition and structure of mesogen on the mesomorphic properties of the obtained copolymers were investigated, using DSC, optical polarizing microscope and X-ray diffractometry. T• and T; of the copolymers decreased with increase in comonomer component reflecting the flexibility of the siloxane linkage.

Mesogen-jacketed liquid crystalline polymers

“…45 When comonomers with different spacer structures were copolymerized, the resulting copolymers showed an enantiotropic smectic or N phase when the comonomer content was about 75 or 50 mol%, respectively. 46 The phase behavior of side-on SCLCPs is also greatly influenced by the structure of the side chain, which comprises a rigid mesogenic core and flexible tails at both ends.…”