Liquid crystal state of oxypropylenecellulose and its n-aliphatic derivatives

Abstract

The conditions of the formation of liquid crystal phases in aqueous solutions and melts of oxypropylenecellulose (OPC) are studied. Some n-aliphatic OPC derivatives are obtained by synthesis of its esters. The formation of the thermotropic liquid crystal phase of cholesteric-type for the first members of the homologous series is demonstrated by optical studies. The pitch of the cholesteric helix is studied as a function of the number of carbon atoms in the aliphatic substituent, the MM of the polymers, and temperature. The structure of the OPC and its derivatives is investigated by X-ray analysis.