Analysis of curing reaction of liquid-crystalline epoxy compositions by using temperature-modulated DSC TOPEM®

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The curing behaviour of the composition of a liquid-crystalline diepoxy monomer (LCEM) with the central triaromatic mesogenic group was studied using...     

Phase transitions and molecular properties of new divinyl and diepoxy compounds

The aim of this paper is to compare some physical properties of six new divinyl and diepoxy compounds. The compounds differ in the length of the rigid central segments. Optical observations and differential scanning calorimetry confirmed the existence of a mesophase in five compounds and enabled the determination of the phase transition temperatures. The wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) measurements of samples aligned in a magnetic field and the optical observations allowed the identification of the mesophase types. In four compounds a nematic mesophase was detected during both heating and cooling. In one case two higher ordered phases were observed during cooling. The analysis of WAXS images and the positions and shapes of the scattering intensity peaks suggests a smectic B-crystal E transition. Using the data obtained in WAXS measurements carried out in the nematic phase, the lengths of the molecules and the average nearest neighbour distances were estimated. The average intermolecular distances and the layer spacings were also estimated for the SmB and E phases. The lengths of the molecules were also calculated by means of theoretical ab initio methods. The results obtained are in very good agreement with the experimental data.     

Liquid crystalline polymer networks based on a nematic epoxy resin with azoxy group

The paper presents research results on curing two recently synthesized liquid crystalline epoxy materials with selected amines. The process of cross-linking, the final product of curing, and the pure monomers were examined using polarizing optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dielectric spectroscopy (DS). Chemical structure of the products was confirmed using spectroscopic methods. The authors attempted to demonstrate how selection of curing conditions (such as the amine used as curing agent, the curing temperature or preparation of the surface in contact with the sample) influences optical properties of the cured product.     

Development of Liquid Crystalline Order During Cure of Mesogenic Epoxy Resins

In the present paper we describe the curing process of a new liquid crystalline epoxy monomer with 4,4′-diaminodiphenylenemethane (DDM). The characteristic of cured product is presented. Both the monomer and cured product have been characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM), wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS).The curing process was analysed with the use of DSC and real-time DRS.