Abstract
Main-chain type thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) were synthesized to regulate the order of monomers in the mesogen. Thermal analysis revealed that such regulation resulted in the distinct phase transition and the enhancement of liquid crystallinity. Microscopic observation between crossed polarizers was performed on the materials and their blend systems to study the phase transition and the temperature dependence of liquid crystalline (LC) texture. The threaded Schlieren texture was seen for both no regulated and regulated samples. However, huge domains developed in the latter in quasi-stable state. The blend system of regulated copolymers with different lengths of flexible spacers assumed homogeneous mixing apparently in the isotropic phase. The blending did not affect the fundamental transition phenomena, while exhibiting partial miscibility in the LC co-existing temperature region.
