Electro-Rheological Effect of Side-On Liquid Crystalline Polysiloxane

Abstract

Side-end LCPs, in which mesogens are linked to the backbone by one of their end groups, show large ER effect. However, the response time for applied electric field is slow, because of their high inherent viscosity due to the smectic phase. On the other hands, side-on LCPs, in which mesogens are laterally attached to the backbone, exhibit nematic phase. In this work, side-on liquid crystalline polysiloxane was prepared in order to study phase transition behavior and ER effect. And it was found that side-on liquid crystalline polysiloxane shows large ER effect with quick response in nematic phase.