Phase separation of poly(γ-benzyl L-glutamate) to liquid crystal and isotropic solution in various helicogenic solvents

Solvent effects on the phase separation of poly(-benzyl L-glutamate) to liquid crystal and isotropic solution have been observed in various helicogenic solvents. The temperature-composition phase diagrams have been determined for each solution. The critical concentrations, ₂ ^* , at which the phase separation occours have been compared in various solvents. In dimethylformamide in which the polymer is molecularly dispersed, the observed ₂ ^* value has agreed with that calculated by Flory's theory. In some solvents in which the polymer aggregates in a head-to-tail mode such as chloroform, the observed ₂ ^* values have been considerably small. It is assumed that the polymer aggregates behave as longer particles than the original particles. In dioxane in which the polymer aggregates highly both in a head-to-tail and a side-by-side modes, the ₂ ^* value has been a little larger than that in chloroform. In this case the relationship between the aggregation and the liquid crystal formation is so complicated that further investigation is necessary. In aromatic solvents such asm-cresol that dissolves the polymer almost molecularly, the ₂ ^* is smaller than that in dimethylformamide. Therefore, the intermolecular interactions between the phenyl groups in the side groups of the polymer and those in solvent molecules must be considered.The author is grateful to Mr. K. Sano and Mr. M. Watanabe for their observation of the liquid crystal formation.