Abstract
Liquid crystalline (LC) polymers are high-molecular-mass substances that exhibit an intermediate (mesomorphic) behavior between the ordinary liquids and crystalline compounds. This chapter gives a short introduction of the chemistry and physics of low-molecular-mass liquid crystals (called mesophases), which combine the anisotropic properties of solid crystals and fluidity the of liquids. The main principles of the synthesis of LC polymers combining the unique optical properties of liquid crystals and the macromolecular compounds capable of films, fibers, and coating formation are considered. The concept of preparing thermotropic main-chain and side-chain LC polymers, and other multifunctional LC copolymers, LC ionomers, and LC networks is covered. The main relationships between the molecular constitution and properties of these polymers are considered. The problems concerning the design of photochromic light-controllable LC copolymers and polymeric composites are discussed. The main applied aspects of using main-chain LC polymers for the creation of super-strength fibers and high-modulus plastics are presented. Special attention is devoted to the consideration of photochromic LC materials on the basis of the side-chain LC polymers for optical data storage, photonics, optoelectronics, and other photo- and electro-optical applications.
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