PA37 Dependence of Polymer Molecular Weight on Cure Temperature in Polymerization-induced Phase Separation of Liquid Crystal and Polymer Fibers

Abstract

We studied the influence of cure temperature on polymer molecular weight in photopolymerization-induced phase separation of liquid crystal and polymer fibers, using gel permeation chromatography. As the experimental result, it was for the first time found that the molecular weight of the polymer, which is segregated and aggregated in a solution of monomer and the liquid crystal, increases with decrease of the temperature. We considered that the spatial concentration of growing polymer density, which is induced by the phase separation with temperature decrease, accelerates chemical bonding of polymer molecules.