Abstract

Polyacrylate with phenyl benzoate mesogenic side groups was synthesized and fractionated into narrow fractions. Structure and phase behavior of the narrow-molecular-weight samples have been studied by X-ray diffraction. Depending on the degree of polymerization the polymer shows nematic, smectic A d , re-entrant nematic and new phase with two-dimensional (2D) periodicity. Such behaviour is implicit to so-called frustated systems. However, the mesogenic side chains are nonpolar and thus the origin of frustation is different from that in conventional polar liquid crystals. We found that this phenomenon is steric (entropic) in nature and depends on the length of the polymer backbone. The phase transformations of mesogen side chain polyacrylates are discussed in terms of coupling between the smectic ordering of the side groups and the polymer backbone conformations.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.