Phase separation kinetics of an SA liquid crystal in a reactive epoxy-amine PDLC system: an X-ray diffraction study

Abstract

A Polymer Dispersed Liqued Crystal composite based upon a smective liquid crystal and reactive crosslinkable epoxide-amine monomers was studies. The composite material is obtained by a polymerization induced phase separation process. The polymerization and the phase separation kinetics are with monitored. The polymerization induced phase separation is detected and quantiatively monitored by X-ray diffraction. The normalized X-ray intensity is used to calculate a phase separation rate and to define the phase separation kinetics which is comppared to the polymerization rate and to the polymerization kinetics. The rate difference accounts for changes in morphology.