Phase Transitions and Orientational Behavior of Liquid Crystal Polymers with Amphiphilic Skeleton

Abstract

New liquid crystalline comb-shaped polymers (LCPs) with hydroxyl groups were synthesized. Their thermal and orientational properties were examined. An epoxy monomer (E5) with a 4-(4-pentylcyclohexyl)phenyl mesogenic group showed a smectic A phase with a focal conic fan texture. LCPs with the 4-(4-pentylcyclohexyl)phenyl mesogenic groups, which was synthesized by the reaction of E5 and polyethyleneimine, exhibited a smectic A phase with focal conic fan and homeotropic textures from glass transition to isotropization temperatures. LCPs with 4-cyanobiphenyl mesogenic groups formed only a nematic phase.