PHOTOCROMIC PROPERTIES OF SOME DIAZOBENZENE COPOLYMERS IN SOLUTIONS

New copolyethers and polyesters based on chloromethyl oxetane and phenol mixtures presenting properties of a liquid crystal (LC) have been studied. Their thermotropic properties are favored by the presence of diazobenzene and phenol groups within the polymer structure. The diazobenzene groups in the polymer structure confer them characteristics with important application in optics and optoelectronics.The presence of diazobenzene groups in the molecular structure of the polymeric chain confers it photochromic properties. Due to this property, the anisotropic foils obtained from such a polymer are able to bias the nematic crystal liquid molecules if they come in touch with the foil, when the obtained physical system is UV irradiated. The liquid crystal characteristics of the studied polymers have not been dealt with, since the mesophase occurs at temperatures ranging between 170-200 oC, yet certain preliminary research has shown that the oxetane ring from the polymeric chain presumably favours a reticulation process too, occurring around 195 oC