Thermotropic polyesters with non‐linear links

Abstract

AbstractThe use of different linking units to promote liquid crystal behaviour in rigid rod like polyarylates is reviewed. By systematically varying the proportion of non linear, meta, ortho, or bent bisphenol units in one particular series based on chloro‐ 1,4 phenylene: 4,4′ oxydibenzoate/terephthalate, complete series of compositions, extending from liquid crystal through to isotropic behaviour, have been prepared, characterised and compared. Using this data, parallels between thermotropic and lyotropic behaviour are illustrated and used to postulate physical models for the structure of liquid crystalline melts and solids.