Abstract
Diffusion and orientation of monomers generally influence the polymerization behavior. In order to explore the effect of orientation on polymerization behavior, the liquid-crystalline vinyl monomer was synthesized which exhibited antiferroelectric, ferrielectric, ferroelectric, smectic A, and isotropic phases. Monomer was polymerized with benzoin as a photoinitiator at various temperatures. Photoirradiation was carried out in a cell which was composed of glass substrates with ITO electrodes. The cells were made with 20 μm spacings where the inner surfaces were washed and 2 μm spacings where the inner surfaces had been coated with a polyimide aligning agent and unidirectionally rubbed. The course of the polymerization was followed by gel permeation chromatography. It was found that the conversion in smectic A phase in 20 μm cell and ferroelectric phase in 2 μm cell under applied electric field was highest in the two types of the cells. Liquid-crystalline properties of produced polymers were also investigated.
