Synthesis and properties of new mesogen-jacketed liquid crystalline polymers

Some new mesogen-jacketed liquid crystalline polymers (MJLCP) with polymer backbones, spacers, and mesogenic units of different structures were synthesized by radical polymerization. The mesomorphic behavior of these polymers was examined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarizing optical microscopy (POM). Their liquid crystallinity is influenced by the variation of polymer backbone, spacer, mesogenic unit and its terminal groups. The results show that 1) a more flexible polymer main-chain is more favorable to the formation of a liquid crystal phase, while 2) a flexible spacer will decrease the 'Jacket Effect' and the liquid crystallinity and 3) a subtle modification of the terminal groups on the mesogenic unit may also have a significant influence on properties of the polymers.EI02139-1481