Anisotropic mesogenic liquid crystalline cellulose derivatives as a basis for functional materials

Abstract

Liquid crystalline cellulose derivatives are promising materials which can be used for the formation of novel functional systems. Microcrystallites were obtained from cellulose fibers which were complexed with Fe(III) according to known methods. Dispersions of these crystallites were mixed with liquid crystalline (hydroxypropyl)cellulose and fixed in an oriented state by photopolymerization of polymerizable lyotropic solvent. The solid anisotropic polymeric networks exhibit high stability of orientation. These systems containing an organized iron complex of liquid crystalline cellulose may have new functional properties expected for dispersed metals or metal oxides in polymeric matrices. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.