Novel ion-containing liquid crystals and liquid crystalline polymers
The properties of main chain polymeric liquid crystals (PLC's) based on trans-1,2-bis(4,4[prime]-pyridyl)ethylene mesogens, alkyl spacers and various counterions are described. The mesomorphic properties of model compounds are also described. Some of these are based on [open quotes]Siamese twin[close quotes] systems with the 4-alkoxystilbazole mesogen similar to the trans-1,2-bis(4,4[prime]-pyridyl)ethylene used in the polymer. Some model compounds are low molecular mass monomer analogues of the polymer. The structural parameters investigated were the length of the flexible spacer, the nature of the mesogen, the ionic density of the system and the nature and size of the counterion. The introduction of ionic sites into a main chain PLC's far from inhibiting appears to promote mesophase formation and enhance the stability of the mesophase. The phenomena described here involve high transition temperatures strong odd-even oscillations and supercooling effects. The twins and polymers display a great variety of smectic mesophases, the nature of which depends strongly on the nature of the counterion. Large organic counterions such as methylsulfonates promote the formation of smectic mesophases, sometimes of lower order (S[sub A] or S[sub C]) whilst toluenesulfonate promote often higher order smectic polymorphism. The polymers display also lyotropic liquid crystallinity.
- Research Organization:
- Massachusetts Univ., Lowell, MA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 5576634
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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