Influence of Substituent Density and Substitution Position on Liquid Crystalline Behavior of Side Chain Liquid Crystal Polymers

Abstract

Side chain liquid crystalline polymers with the chain backbone of substituted methylenes were more advantageous in order to realize well-ordered liquid crystalline phases, such as smectic phases, and widening of liquid crystalline temperature range. As fumarate monomers are capable of introducing different substituents, accordingly substituted methylene-type liquid crystalline polymers carrying equivalent amount of different mesogenic groups were prepared. The superiority of poly(substituted methylene) liquid crystalline polymers was discussed by comparing related liquid crystalline polymers with different substituent density and substitution position.