Thermotropic and lyotropic mesomorphism in a polymeric network with low cross-link density

Abstract

The polymer network obtained by reaction of ClCOCH([CH 2 ] 2 COCl) 2 with an oligomeric derivative of the nematogenic polymer (O-p-PhO(CH 2 ) 10 O-p-PhOCO-p-PhO(Ch 2 ) 10 O-p-PhCO) n was shown to exhibit thermotropic nematogenic behaviour with isotropization temperature and enthalpy not very much lower than measured for the linear polymer. Swelling in o-dichlorobenzene produces an optically anisotropic non crystalline material containing 73.7 wt % of solvent at room temperature. The swollen polymer undergoes a thermotropic transition to an optically isotropic phase.