Induced hybrid LC phase in side-chain LC copolymers and polymer blends with binary heterogeneous mitogens.

Abstract

In this paper, we prepared side-chain liquid crystalline (SCLC) copolymers and polymer blends with cyanobiphenyl (CB) and azobenzene (Az) mesogens. Isotropic temperatures of the copolymers and polymer blends shifted higher compared to each homopolymer by differential scanning calorimetry and polarized microscope observation. Moreover, X-ray scattering measurement revealed that the copolymer and blends exhibited the smectic (Sm) E phase at room temperature. Each homopolymer does not exhibit the SmE. These results indicate the induced highly ordered smectic phase formed by the binary mixture of the SCLC copolymer and polymer blends. We discuss the hybrid liquid crystalline phase in main chain structures and side-chain spacers.