Optical anisotropy and rigidity of molecules of a comb-like polymer with mesogenic side groups

Abstract

Synthesis of a new type of comb-like polymer with mesogenic side groups — poly[(4-methacryloyloxy)benzoyl-(4-hexadecyloxy)benzoyl hydroquinone] is described. Flow birefringence [n], intrinsic viscosity [η] and molecular weight of whole polymers and fractions have been measured. The optical anisotropy α 1- α 2 of this polymer is −4900 × 10 −31 m 3 in chloroform and −3000 × 10 −31 m 3 in benzene. The equilibrium rigidity has been estimated on the basis of measured hydrodynamic characteristics: Kuhn segment in chloroform is A=(140±8) A ̊ . It has been shown that a high degree of intramolecular axial orientational order is characteristic for this polymer, brough about by interactions between the long side chains containing mesogenic groups.