Anisotropic Network Formation by Photopolymerization of Liquid Crystal Monomers in a Low Magnetic Field

Abstract

Liquid crystalline mixtures of mono- and dimethacrylates [CH 2 =C(CH 3 )COO(CH 2 ) 6 OPhCOO] 2 Ph and CH 2 =C(CH 3 )COO(CH 2 ) 6 OPhCOOPhX (X= CN, OC 6 H 13 ) were photopolymerized after macroscopic orientation of the monomers under a relatively weak magnetic field or via interaction with a unidirectionally rubbed polyimide substrate. Polymerization kinetics was followed by a thermoanalysis technique, and the transmitted light intensity was measured in real time. The macroscopic order parameter of the component comonomer bearing a cyano group incorporated into the polymer network prepared under different conditions was evaluated using IR dichroism. The results obtained for the cross-linked polymer network produced under the low strength magnetic field are compared with those for the polymer film produced by surface orientation