Remoldable Crosslinked Liquid-Crystalline Polysiloxane with Side Chain Mesogens Based on Exchangeable Crosslinks

Abstract

Crosslinked liquid-crystalline polymers (CLCPs) show unique behavior of deforming macroscopically when stimulated with heat, electricity and light. However, they cannot be remolded and reshaped once prepared. Here, we designed crosslinked polysiloxane with side chain mesogens that contain exchangeable crosslinking points based on transesterification between phenyl benzoates and hydroxy groups. After the formation of a polymer network, a base catalyst was introduced into the CLCP. When heated at 80°C, a piece of the CLCP was reshaped into a film and separate pieces of the CLCP were fused together, indicating that the CLCP is remoldable.