Optical properties of a mesogen by image analysis

An image analysis technique in conjunction with polarising optical microscopy (POM) is proposed for assessment of the thermo-optical properties of homogeneously aligned chiral ester liquid crystals of the type ((S)-(-)-2-methylbutyl 4′-(4″-n-alkanoyloxybenzoyloxy) biphenyl-4-carboxylates, where n?=?16 or 18. Chiral ester textures are recorded as a function of temperature using POM provided with a hot-stage and a high-resolution colour camera. Temperature-dependent optical parameters, or thermo-optical properties such as optical transmission, degree of polarisation, absorption coefficient and birefringence are computed for chiral esters by analysing the texture of samples using MATLAB software. This is a simple experimental technique for observing how the optical parameters of liquid crystals change with temperature.     

Synthesis and characterization of 6-[4-(trans -4-pentylcyclohexyl)phenoxy]hexyl acrylate homopolymer and copolymers

The compound 6-[4-(trans -4-pentylcyclohexyl)phenoxy]hexyl acrylate (2) was prepared and homopolymerized. The block copolymer and copolymer of 2 with styrene were synthesized by photopolymerization and solution techniques, respectively. These polymers were characterized by IR and ¹H NMR spectra and size exclusion chromatography. Polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies revealed that these polymers exhibited smectic A (SmA) phases. POM showed that the homopolymer showed a higher order SmA phase than did the block copolymer and copolymer. After magnetically forced alignment the samples exhibited similar optical texture but the domain size of the liquid crystalline phase increased. Differential scanning calorimetry, POM and XRD data suggest that the SmA domain size decreased in the order hompolymer > block copolymer > copolymer.     

Synthesis and Liquid Crystalline Properties of 3-Substituted Pentane-2,4-dione, Pyrazole and Isoxazole Derivatives

The γ-substituted β-diketonate 2,4-dioxo-3-pentyl 4-[4-（n-octyloxy）cinnamoyl]oxybenzoate 1 and its pyrazole and isoxazole derivatives （2 and 3 respectively） have been synthesized and characterized by the spectroscopic methods and elemental analysis. The mesogenic properties of these compounds have been studied by polarizing optical microscopy （POM） and differential scanning calorimetry （DSC）. A monotropic nematic mesophase was observed for the β-diketonate 1, in contrast, the pyrazole 2 displays an enantiotropic smectic A and isoxazole 3 exhibits an enantiotropic nematic mesophase. The relationship between the structure and liquid crystalline properties has also been discussed.     

New insight into the crystallization behavior of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/clay nanocomposites

Crystallization behavior of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/clay nanocomposites has been investigated in terms of differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) analysis, polarizing optical microscopy (POM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation. The nanocomposites for investigation were prepared via in situ polycondensation. Crystalline morphologies were observed through POM and SEM. The nonisothermal and isothermal crystallization rates of different samples were determined for comparison based on DSC data. Secondary nucleation analysis was also performed based on bulk crystallization data derived from DSC analysis. The results revealed that nucleating abilities of montmorillonites (MMT) depended on the dispersion state of clay in matrix, the surface modification status, and the metallic derivatives released from MMT during in situ synthesis. The quantities of metallic elements released were measured by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis. The results showed that the release of these metallic derivatives was also affected by surfactant molecules anchored on the surface of MMT. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 2380–2394, 2008     

Calorimetric studies of poly (2-phenoxyethylacrylate)/5CB mixtures

The thermophysical properties of mixtures of poly (2-phenoxyethylacrylate) and 4-cyano-4′-pentyl-biphenyl, 5CB, are investigated using polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The polymer has a molar mass M _w = 181 000 g mol ^-1 the low molecular mass liquid crystal exhibits a nematic to isotropic transition at 35.3°C and crystallizes below 23°C. The phase diagram exhibits miscibility gaps in certain regions of temperature and composition where coexisting nematic and isotropic phases are found. From a practical point of view when considering the electro-optical applications of these systems, it proves to be useful to know precisely the amount of small liquid crystal molecules dissolved in the polymer matrix and the concentration of polymer in the nematic phase. The former quantity has a mechanical impact due to a plasticizing effect, an optical impact since it changes the polymer refractive index, while the polymer in the nematic phase shifts the transition temperatures influencing the electro-optical response of the liquid crystal. The present work addresses these important aspects using POM and DSC.     

Enhancement of the stability and temperature range of the mesophases in the binary mixtures of cholesteryl myristate and 4-n-decyloxy benzoic acid

Thermodynamical, optical, and electrical properties of the binary mixtures of cholesteryl myristate (ChM) and 4-n-decyloxybenzoic acid (DOBA) have been carried out by the differential scanning calorimeter, polarized optical microscopy (POM), and impedance spectroscopy. Through thermodynamic study, various phase transition temperatures, transition enthalpies, and transition entropies have been determined to investigate temperature range and stability of the mesophases of the mixtures. Phase diagrams in the heating and cooling cycles have been drawn for the ChM–DOBA binary system. Optical textures of different mesophases have identified with the help of POM. Dielectric permittivity has been determined in planar and homeotropic alignments of the mixtures having DOBA concentrations 30.0 and 92.3 mol %. The experimental dielectric data in the frequency range of 1 Hz to 35 MHz do not show any relaxation mode in both the alignments of these mixtures. Dielectric anisotropy has been determined for the various observed phases of the mixtures.     

A study on the melting and crystallization of polyoxymethylene‐copolymer/hydroxyapatite nanocomposites

In this work, isothermal crystallization kinetics of polyoxymethylene copolymer (POM) in POM/hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanocomposites has been investigated. Melting behavior and crystalline structure formation were studied using TOPEM DSC, positron lifetime spectroscopy (PALS), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and ¹³C and ³¹P solid‐state NMR. The highest degree of crystallinity was found for POM/0.5% HAp nanocomposite and the lowest for POM/2.5% HAp. Isothermal crystallization analysis showed that an introduction of HAp nanoparticles led to effective heterogeneous nucleation and formation of crystals with higher Avrami exponent. Besides, changes in overall crystallization rate were observed – the highest overall crystallization rate was found for POM/0.5% HAp sample, while the lowest for POM/2.5% HAp was observed. Generally, for POM in POM/HAp nanocomposites, a significant decrease in nucleation activation energy (K_g), and the fold surface free energy (σ_e) was found. For nanocomposite containing 2.5% HAp, heterogeneous nucleation takes place as well, but too high concentration of nanoparticles hinders POM crystallization and enhances formation of more defected crystals as confirmed by AFM data. The presence of HAp nanoparticles in the POM matrix was confirmed by ³¹P MAS‐NMR, but their influence on the crystallization process was not observed in the ¹³C CP‐MAS‐NMR spectra. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

High melting thermoplastic/epoxy resin blends: Influence of the curing reaction on the crystallization and melting behavior

The influence of the cure process and the resulting reaction‐induced phase separation (RIPS) on the crystallization and melting behavior of polyoxymethylene (POM) in epoxy resin diglycidylether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) blends has been studied at different cure temperatures (180 and 145 °C). The crystallization and melting behavior of POM was studied with DSC and the simultaneous blend morphology changes were studied using OM. At first, the influence of the epoxy monomer on the dynamically crystallized POM was investigated. Secondly, a cure temperature above the melting point of POM (T_cure = 180 °C) was applied for blends with curing agent to study the influence of resulting phase morphology types on the crystallization behavior of POM in the epoxy blends. Large differences between particle/matrix and phase‐inverted structures have been observed. Thirdly, the cure temperature was lowered below the melting temperature of POM, inducing isothermal crystallization prior to RIPS. As a consequence, a distinction was made between dynamically and isothermally crystallized POM. Concerning the dynamically crystallized material, a clear difference could be made between the material crystallized in the homogeneous sample and that crystallized in the phase‐separated structures. The isothermally crystallized POM was to a large extent influenced by the conversion degree of the epoxy resin. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2456–2469, 2007     

Aromatic Sulfonium Polyoxomolybdates: Solid‐State Photochromic Materials with Tunable Properties

A new aromatic sulfonium counter‐ion motif for polyoxometalate (POM) clusters with potential for structural and electronic fine‐tuning has been designed. Its two derivatives 4‐hydroxyphenyl dimethylsulfonium triflate (HPDST) and 4‐(allyloxy)phenyl dimethylsulfonium triflate (APDST) exhibit ionic liquid behaviors under ambient conditions. HPDST and APDST are used to develop a series of aromatic sulfonium POM hybrids (HPDS/APDS)_n[XMo₁₂O₄₀] (HPDS and APDS are the cations of HPDST and APDST, respectively; X=P or Si; n=3 or 4), which are tested for photochromic behavior. On exposure to UV light, these POM hybrids undergo color change from yellow to green/blue. The coloration kinetics half lives (t_1/2) are less for APDS‐based hybrids than for HPDS‐based hybrids, suggesting that alkyl substitution on the phenolic group helps to fine‐tune the electron availability on the sulfonium moiety and hence to control the photochromic behavior of the POM hybrids. The t_1/2 values of these hybrids are considerably lower than those of the reported aliphatic sulfonium POM hybrids. We have also demonstrated the application of photoreduced POM hybrids as catalysts for the reduction of 4‐nitrophenol to 4‐aminophenol.     

Synthesis,characterisation, mesomorphic investigation and temperature-dependent Raman study of a novel calamitic liquid crystal: methyl 4-(4′-n-alkoxybenzylideneamino)benzoate

A new series of Schiff base calamitic liquid crystal; methyl 4-(4′-n-alkoxybenzylideneamino)benzoate (MABAB), H_2n+1C _n OC₆H₄C(H)=NC₆H₄COOCH₃ (n = 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16) has been synthesised and characterised by elemental analyses, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ¹H and ¹³C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The mesomorphic properties of these compounds were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarising optical microscopy (POM). All members of the series exhibit enantiotropic smectic A (SmA) mesophase. Temperature-dependent micro-Raman study of one of the members, MABAB-10 has been employed to identify phase transitions and the molecular rearrangement therein. Analysis of Raman marker bands; C–H in-plane bending, C–C stretching of phenyl rings and –C(H)=N– linking group of core confirms the transitions clearly as observed through DSC and POM. An in situ Raman measurement of C–H in-plane bending mode has also been performed to visualise the molecular changes more clearly. The Raman study gives an evidence of induced co-planarity of rings at Cr→SmA phase transition. The density functional theoretical (DFT) optimisation of monomer, dimer and rotational conformer of MABAB-10 also support the induced co-planarity at Cr→SmA phase transition.     

含氧化偶氮苯介晶基元共聚醚的合成与液晶行为

以1,6-二溴己烷(A)和1,10-二溴癸烷(B)为共缩聚单体,按不同摩尔配比与4,4'-二羟基氧化偶氮苯经相转移催化共聚醚化反应,合成了一系列主链上含有氧化偶氮苯介晶基元的共聚醚,它们均有好的液晶性,其取向膜观察到条带织构,当A/B的摩尔比为1时液晶态范围最宽。     

High-temperature chiral nematic phase in naphthalene and cholesterol derivative liquid crystal: characterisation and dielectric relaxation study

In this article, we report the synthesis of the naphthalene and cholesterol derivative 2-(cholesterol-n-decanoate)-6-(heptyloxy benzoate) naphthalene (2CD6HBN) liquid crystal (LC) having chiral nematic (N*) mesophase. The synthesised mesophase has been characterised using polarising optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) study. The presence of the rigid and less polarisable cores causes a higher N*-Iso transition temperature. The relaxation phenomenon of the present LC sample was analysed by the dielectric relaxation spectroscopic study. The dielectric properties, electrical conductivity and the relaxation time were observed as a function of the temperature. The relaxation time follows the first-order exponential decay–type equation. The properties of the LC sample have also been correlated with the structure of the compound.     

Preparation and characterization of polyoxymethylene‐copolymer/hydroxyapatite nanocomposites for long‐term bone implants

In this work, new polyoxymethylene (POM)/hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanocomposites for long‐term bone implants have been obtained via extrusion and injection molding processes and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), temperature‐modulated DSC (TMDSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetry (TG), and tensile mechanical and in vitro stability tests. Based on the DSC results, it was found that the degree of crystallinity increases for POM/0.5% HAp sample and decreases for POM/1.0% HAp and POM/2.5% HAp. SEM and TEM observations for POM/HAp nanocomposites indicated that the dispersion of HAp in the polymer matrix was uniform and the diameter of the HAp particles was less than 100 nm for most of them. Young's modulus increases with increasing HAp concentration, whereby elongation at break decreases. On the contrary, HAp concentration does not have a significant influence on the tensile strength. TG results show that for POM/0.5% HAp, POM/1.0% HAp, and POM/2.5% HAp, thermal stability slightly increases in comparison to pure POM, whereas for POM/5.0 HAp and POM/10.0% HAp, lower thermal stability was observed. In vitro data reveal that with an increase of HAp content, bioactivity of nanocomposites increases; a good in vitro chemical stability of POM and POM nanocomposites was confirmed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A study of field induced transitions (FiT) in the nematic phase of an inter hydrogen bonded ferroelectric liquid crystal

A novel series of hydrogen bonded ferroelectric liquid crystals (HBFLC) have been isolated. Hydrogen bond is formed between non mesogen chiral ingredient (S)-1, 2–cholo-3-(4-hydroxy) phenyl propionic acid and mesogenic p-n alkoxy benzoic acids. Phase diagram is constructed from the transition temperatures obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarizing optical microscopic (POM) studies. Thermal and electrical properties exhibited by a hydrogen bonded complex namely (S)-1,2–cholo-3-(4-hydroxy)phenyl propionic acid with octyloxy benzoic acid (CTy + 8BA) are discussed. Observation of dielectric hysteresis in CTy + 8BA makes it more suitable for device applications. Salient feature of the present work is observation of a field induced transitions in nematic phases pertaining to the above complex designated as FiT. This phenomenon has been confirmed by optical textures of POM, helicoidal measurements, optical intensity and dielectric studies. Four threshold electrical field values are noticed which in turn contributed to four new phases (E₁, E_2, E₃ and E₄) induced by electric field and helical pitch measurements supports the above observation. FiT is reversible in the sense that when applied field is removed the original texture is restored.     

Synthesis and characterization of achiral banana‐shaped liquid crystalline molecules containing bisnaphthyl moieties

Three analogous series of symmetric banana‐shaped liquid crystalline molecules containing bisnaphthyl units were synthesized and characterized. The effects of linking groups (on the side wings) and lateral meta‐fluoro substitutions (on the middle outer rings) on the mesogenic properties were examined. The type of mesophase depends on the lengths of terminal alkoxy chains. Thus, achiral molecules with shorter flexible chains (n = 8) exhibit a rectangular columnar (B₁) phase, while analogous derivatives with longer flexible chains (n = 12) display the B₂ phase. All lateral meta‐fluoro substituted analogues (series II) possess the lowest isotropization temperatures and the narrowest mesophasic ranges of the B₁ and B₂ phases. The B₁ and B₂ phases were confirmed by X‐ray diffraction, polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and electro‐optical (EO) switching experiments. An electric field‐induced transition from an antiferroelectric (tristable) state to a ferroelectric (bistable) state was observed in the EO measurements. Spontaneous polarization (by switching current response), tilt angle of chiral domains (by POM), and transmittance–voltage measurements of the B₂ phase in related compounds have been surveyed in this study.     

The optical anisotropy and orientational order parameter of two mesogens having slightly different flexible side chain – a comparative study

Variation of the phase transition temperatures and existence of different number of mesophases, due to the changes of -CH₂ groups at the oxygen containing flexible side chain between two Schiff’s base liquid crystals compounds p-ethoxybenzylidine p-heptylaniline (EBHA) and p-butoxybenzylidine p-heptylaniline (BBHA) have been studied by using POM and DSC. Refractive indices as a function of temperature of these two compounds have also been measured by the well-known thin prism technique. To get the best accuracy of refractive indices data a comparison between the experimental data and theoretical values which are obtained from modified four-parameter model based on Vuks’ hypothesis have been done. A comparative study of some important parameters such as, optical anisotropy, orientational order parameters of these two liquid crystal compounds have also been conducted.     

Synthesis, Mesogenic and Spectroscopic Properties of 2,5-Disubstituted Thiophene Derivatives

Two series of 2,5-disubstituted thiophene derivatives （series 1： 2,5-bis（p-alkoxyphenylethynyl）thiophene and series 2： 2,5-bis[p-（p-alkoxyphenylethynyl）（phenylethynyl）]thiophene） were synthesized and characterized by ^1H NMR, ^13C NMR, HRMS and elemental analysis. The relationship between the structure and the mesogenic and spectroscopic properties has been discussed. The results show that compounds 1a-1f all exhibited an enantiotropic nematic mesophase, which was confirmed by the polarized optical microscopy （POM）, differential scanning calorimeter （DSC） and variable temperature powder X-ray diffraction （PXRD）. In contrast, the extended conjugated analogues 2a-2b had no liquid crystal properties. As for the spectroscopic properties, incorporating more phenylethynyl units results in red-shifted absorption and emission spectra, greatly enhanced quantum efficiency.     

非线性光学活性的侧链型聚丙二酸酯液晶的合成和性质

通过熔融缩聚法合成了含非线性光学活性硝基偶氮苯液晶基元的聚丙二酸酯侧链液晶聚合物 ,采用FTIR、NMR对其结构进行了表征 ,DSC确定其液晶转变温度 ,并用变温WAXD及偏光显微镜 (POM )研究其液晶性质 ,该聚合物为近晶型液晶聚合物 ,POM观察到典型焦锥织构 ,近晶相WAXD有对应层间距为2 74nm和 1 35nm的两个衍射峰 .聚合物旋涂膜经电晕极化 ,紫外光谱测试求得其取向序参数 =0 33 .     

Replicated Banded Spherulite: Microscopic Lamellar-assembly of Poly(L-lactic acid) Crystals in the Poly(oxymethylene) Crystal Framework

The morphologies of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) spherulites,when crystallized within the pre-existed poly(oxymethylene)(POM) crystal frameworks,have been investigated.PLLA/POM blend is a melt-miscible crystalline/crystalline blend system.Owing to the lower melting point but much faster crystallization rate than PLLA,POM crystallized first upon cooling from the melt state and then melted first during the subsequent heating process in this blend system.Lamellar assembly of PLLA crystals within the pre-existed POM spherulitic frameworks was directly observed with the polarized light microscopy by selectively melting the POM frameworks.The investigation indicated that PLLA crystals fully replicated the spherulitic morphology and optical birefringence of the POM crystal frameworks,which was independent of Tc.On the other hand,POM could also duplicate the pre-existed PLLA morphologies.The result obtained provides us a possibility to design the lamellar assembly and crystal structures of polymer crystals in miscible crystalline/crystalline polymer blends.     

MORPHOLOGICAL STUDY ON THE ORIENTED CHITOSAN FILM OBTAINED FROM PRE-SHEARED LIQUID CRYSTALLINE SOLUTION IN DICHLOROACETIC ACID

The oriented chitosan films obtained from pre-sheared liquid crystalline chitosan/dichloroacetic acid (DCA)solutions were studied by means of polarized optical microscopy (POM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infra-reddichroism technique and wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). The shear induced band texture in the film was found tocorrespond to the sinusoidal fibrillar microstructure along the shearing direction on the basis of POM and SEM observations.The sinusoidal fibril was found to be lying within the film plane. The model of chitosan molecular orientation in the pre-sheared film with band texture can be established assuming that the main chain orients in the shearing direction and the sidegroup is perpendicular to the shearing direction. The WAXD azimuthal scanning at 2θ= 20° indicates that the (002) planeorients perpendicular to the shearing direction.