Liquid crystalline polymers XII. Main chain thermotropic poly(arylidene-ether)s containing 4-tertiary-butyl-cyclohexanone moiety linked with polymethylene spacers

A new homologous series of thermally stable thermotropic liquid crystalline poly(arylidene-ether)s based on 4-tertiary-butyl-cyclohexanone moiety was synthesised by solution polycondensation of 4,4′-diformyl-α,ω-diphenoxyalkanes, I_a–f, or 4,4′-diformyl-2,2′-dimethoxy-α,ω-diphenoxyalkanes, II_a–f, with the 4-tertiary-butyl-cyclohexanone monomer. A model compound III was synthesised from the monomer with benzaldehyde and characterised by elemental and spectral analyses. The inherent viscosities of the resulting polymers were in the range of 0.18–0.92 dL/g. The mesomorphic properties of these polymers were studied as a function of the diphenoxyalkane space length. Their thermotropic liquid crystalline properties were examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and optical polarising microscopy and demonstrated that the resulting polymers form nematic mesophases over wide temperature ranges. The thermal properties of those polymers were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis and DSC measurements and correlated to their structural units. X-ray analysis showed that polymers having some degree of crystallinity in the region 2θ = 5–60°. In addition, the morphological properties of selected examples were tested by scanning electron microscopy.     

LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS. IV. THERMOTROPIC LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLY(ARYLIDENE-ETHER)S AND COPOLYMERS CONTAINING N-METHYLPIPERIDONE LINKED TO THE MAIN CHAIN THROUGH SPACERS OF VARIOUS LENGTHS

Two novel series of poly(arylidene-ether)s and copoly(arylidene-ether)s were synthesized from N-methylpiperidone and/or cyclohexanone respectively. The first series (homopolymers) was derived from 4,4′-diformyl-α,ω-diphenoxyalkane or 4,4′-diformyl-2,2′ dimethoxy-α,ω-diphenoxyalkane with N-methylpiperidone. The second series (copolymers) was derived from the diphenoxyalkanes (I–VIII) with N-methylpiperidone and cyclohexanone. The inherent viscosities of the polymers thus prepared were in the range of 0.37–0.98 dI/g. The majority of the polymers and copolymers are soluble in chlorinated hydrocarbons. DSC measurements and microscope observation under polarized light demonstrate that this type of poly(arylidene-ether)s form nematic mesophase over a wide temperature range in contrast to the corresponding copoly(arylidene-ether)s. All of the polymers and copolymers exhibited thermotropic liquid crystalline properties. In most cases, the mesophase extends up to 315°C, where thermal decomposition prevents further observation. The morphology of polymer IXb and copolymer XIb as a selected example was examined by scanning electronic microscope.     

LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS. 3. SYNTHESIS AND LIQUID CRYSTAL PROPERTIES OF THERMOTROPIC POLY(ARYLIDENE-ETHER)S AND COPOLYMERS CONTAINING CYCLOALKANONE MOIETY IN THE POLYMER BACKBONE

Two novel series of poly(arylidene-ether)s and copoly(aryl-idene-ether)s were synthesized by polycondensation of 4,4^′-diformyl-α,ω-diphenoxyalkane and 4,4′-diformyl-2,2′-dimeth-oxy-α,ω-diphenoxyalkane with cyclohexanone and/or cyclo-pentanone. The inherent viscosity of the polymers and copolymers thus prepared were in the range of 0.42–1.27 dL/g. The phase behavior of these polymers was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), optical polarizing microscopy using a heated stage, and thermogravimetric analyses. Almost all the polymers and copolymers exhibited thermotropic liquid crystalline properties. In most cases, the mesophase extends up to 310°C, where thermal decomposition prevents further observation. Methoxy substituents, on the benzene ring of these polymers, lower the transition temperature significantly. The morphology of polymer IX_f was examined by scanning electronic microscope.     

Room-temperature fluorescent liquid crystalline dimers based on discotic 1,3,4-oxadizole

A series of liquid crystalline dimers DOXD-n (n = 6–10) based on discotic 1,3,4-oxadiazole have been synthesised and its thermal properties have been investigated by means of polarised optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, variable-temperature X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analyses. Most of the dimers display a discotic nematic phase or a hexagonal columnar phase at room temperature and exhibit photoluminscence in solution, in solid state and in liquid crystalline phase. The relationship between the properties and states of the matter is discussed briefly. Notably, the fluorescent intensity in liquid crystalline state decreased apparently compared to that in solid state due to the self-quenching aggregates.     

Studies on thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer. XI. Effect of amide group on thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer properties

A series of poly(azomethine)s containing amide, ether, or ester groups was prepared by the condensation of dialdehydes with various diamines. The thermotropic liquid crystalline properties were examined by DSC and microscopic observations. The effects of the number and position of amide groups, which are attached to the rigid segment, on the thermotropic liquid crystalline properties of the homo-and copoly(amide-azomethine-ether)s were also investigated in this study. The copolymerization took place by changing the amount of amide group to obtain copoly(amide-azomethine) ( P13 and P14 ) which exhibit thermotropic liquid crystalline properties. The poly(azomethine)s containing ether or ester groups also exhibited thermotropic liquid crystalline properties. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Block copolymers of telechelic poly(phenylene sulfide) and semiaromatic thermotropic liquid crystalline polyester segments

We report the synthesis and characterization of copolymers comprising poly(phenyl sulfide) (PPS) blocks and semiaromatic thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (TLCP) blocks. The copolymers, synthesized by melt-transesterification of dicarboxy-terminated poly(phenylene sulfide) with poly(ethylene terephthalate-co-oxybenzoate) (PET/OB), were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and polarized light optical microscopy (PLOM). The crystallizability and liquid crystalline properties of the copolymers are greatly influenced by the extent of interchange reactions, the mole percent of oxybenzoate with respect to the PET, the PPS : PET/OB weight ratio, and the reaction time. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2707–2713, 1998     

Synthesis and thermal properties of side‐chain liquid crystalline poly[1‐({(4‐methoxyazobenzene‐4′‐oxy)alkyl}thio)‐2.3‐epoxypropane]s

A novel series of side‐chain liquid crystalline copolymers, i.e. poly‐[1‐({(4‐methoxyazobenzene‐4′‐oxy)alkyl}thio)‐2.3‐epoxypropane]s, were synthesised in which the number of methylene units in the alkyl group of the side chain varies from 3 to 6. The structures of compounds obtained were characterised by elemental analysis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Thermal properties were investigated using polarising optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X‐ray diffraction analysis. The synthesised thiols and corresponding polyepichlorohydrin‐based copolymers exhibited thermotropic liquid crystalline behaviour and nematic phases with schlieren textures. The thiols have lower transition temperatures than the corresponding copolymers. In addition, the degree of substitution of the copolymers synthesised increased with an increase in number of methylenes in the side chain. The phase transition temperatures increased and the mesomorphic temperature ranges widened with the increasing degree of substitution of the copolymers.     

Studies on the thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer. XII. Synthesis and properties of crosslinkable thermotropic liquid crystalline homo- and copoly(ether-ester)s

A series of crosslinkable thermotropic liquid crystalline poly(ether-ester)s and copoly(ether-ester)s was prepared. All of the polymers were crosslinked by thermal treatment or photo-irradiation upon heating. The thermal stability and thermal crosslinking reaction of these polymers were investigated. These polymers also could be crosslinked by copolymerization with vinyl monomers, such as styrene or methyl methacrylate. The crosslinked polymers exhibited thermotropic liquid crystalline behavior after softening by heating. The phase behavior of linear polymers and crosslinked polymers was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and an optical polarizing microscope equipped with a heating stage. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

液晶基元直接横挂于主链上的液晶共聚物研究

以含有液晶基元的单体，２，５－双（４－甲氧基苯甲酰氧基）苯乙烯与丙烯醇，通过自由基共聚合反应，首次合成了一系列含液晶性单体和非液晶性单体两种结构的共聚物．采用ＤＳＣ、偏光显微镜和Ｘ－衍射方法研究了共聚物的液晶行为，发现单体和所有的共聚物均有明显的热致液晶性及较宽的液晶态温度范围；随共聚物中液晶性单体含量增加，共聚物玻璃化转变温度Ｔｇ和热分解温度Ｔｄ有所上升，但Ｔｇ的变化较小．     

Thermotropic semi-rigid copoly(imide-carbonate)s composed of 3,4,3",4"-p-terphenyltetracarboxdi-imide and 3,4,3',4'-biphenyltetracarboxdi-imide rings

New semi-rigid copoly(imide-carbonate)s composed of 3,4,3",4"-p-terphenyltetracarboxdi-imide and 3,4,3',4'-biphenyltetracarboxdi-imide units and neighbouring homologous penta- and hexa-methylene spacer chains were prepared by melt polycondensation; the relationships between polymer structure and liquid crystalline (LC) properties are discussed. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements, polarizing microscope observations, miscibility tests and variable temperature X-ray analyses suggest that the 3,4,3",4"-p-terphenyltetracarboxdi-imide-rich copolymers form thermotropic LC nematic and smectic phases, but the 3,4,3',4'-biphenyltetracarboxdi-imide-rich copolymers are amorphous and have no LC melts. Therefore, the presence of 3,4,3",4"-p-terphenyltetracarboxdi-imide units confers good mesogenic properties.     

X-ray analysis of the structure of a copoly(ester-imide)

The structure of a thermotropic liquid crystalline copoly(ester-imide) prepared from p-hydroxybenzoic acid (48 mol %), 4,4′-dihydroxybenzophenone (26 mol %), and N,N′-bis(trimellitimide)hexane (26 mol %) has been investigated by X-ray diffraction. X-ray fiber diagrams of as-spun and annealed fibers contain a series of aperiodic layer lines reminiscent of those seen for fibers of other copolymers that have extended chain conformations and completely random monomer sequences. The positions of these layer lines were reproduced approximately in simulation of the X-ray scattering by a fully extended chain of completely random sequence, and the match was improved to within experimental error when we considered a stereochemically acceptable sinuous chain. This agreement was lost when the sequence statistics deviated were completely random. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 3137–3145, 1998     

Studies on thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers. XV. Synthesis and properties of liquid crystalline copoly(imide-ester)s

Three series of the thermotropic liquid crystalline copoly(imide-ester)s were prepared by direct polycondensation. The first two series of the copoly(imide-ester)s were synthesized from N-(4-carboxyphenyl) trimellitimide with N,N-di(hydroxypropyl) pyromellitic diimide and various aromatic diols. The third series of copoly(imide-ester)s were prepared by N-(4-carboxyphenyl) trimellitimide with various imide-diols (methylene spacer = 2–6) and phenyl hydroquinone. The structures and thermal properties of the synthesized poly(imide-ester)s were examined by FTIR spectrum, wide-angle x-ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal optical polarized microscope, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The effects of the structures of the aromatic diols on the thermal properties of the resulting copoly(imide-ester)s were investigated. It was found that most of the copoly(imide-ester)s possessed excellent mesophase stabilities and thermostabilities. The mesophase stabilities of poly(imide-ester)s decreased with the increase of the size of lateral group, and the mesophase range increased with the increase of the amount of PhHQ. No significant odd-even effects were observed between the methylene spacer lengths and transition temperatures. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Design,synthesis, and characterisation of symmetrical bent-core liquid crystalline dimers with diacetylene spacer

Two new symmetrical bent-core liquid crystalline dimers (B-DA4 and B-DA12) bearing diacetylenes spacer and different terminal alkyl chains were successfully synthesised via Sonagashira coupling reaction. The molecular structures of these dimers were confirmed by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. Their thermal stability and liquid crystalline properties were characterised by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarised light microscopy (PLM), and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Results showed that the diacetylene group may be thermal polymerised at about 260°C far from thermal decomposition. The dimers exhibited monotropic phase behaviour and typical layered-structure phase with long-range order on a length scale of about 6.3 nm was observed. The results mentioned above offer a promising opportunity to design polydiacetylene nanowires by thermal, UV irradiation, or scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) tip-induced polymerisation.     

Thermotropic semi-rigid copoly(imide-carbonate)s composed of 3,4,3,4-p-terphenyltetracarboxdi-imide and 3,4,3',4'-biphenyltetracarboxdi-imide rings

New semi-rigid copoly(imide-carbonate)s composed of 3,4,3",4"-p-terphenyltetracarboxdi-imide and 3,4,3',4'-biphenyltetracarboxdi-imide units and neighbouring homologous penta- and hexa-methylene spacer chains were prepared by melt polycondensation; the relationships between polymer structure and liquid crystalline (LC) properties are discussed. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements, polarizing microscope observations, miscibility tests and variable temperature X-ray analyses suggest that the 3,4,3",4"-p-terphenyltetracarboxdi-imide-rich copolymers form thermotropic LC nematic and smectic phases, but the 3,4,3',4'-biphenyltetracarboxdi-imide-rich copolymers are amorphous and have no LC melts. Therefore, the presence of 3,4,3",4"-p-terphenyltetracarboxdi-imide units confers good mesogenic properties.     

Synthesis,characterization, and photoreaction of photoreactive liquid crystalline block copolyetheresters

Photo-crosslinkable thermotropic liquid crystalline block copolyetheresters with photoreactive hard segment of poly(hexamethylene p-phenylenediacrylate) and soft segment of poly(tetramethylene ether) were synthesized by melt polycondensation from n-butyl-p-phenylenediacrylate, hexamethylene glycol, and poly(tetramethylene ether) glycol (PTMG, M_n = 1000–3000). The influence of molecular weight and composition of PTMG unit on the thermal behavior was determined by differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy. All synthesized block copolymers show thermotropic liquid crystalline phase and can photo-crosslink by UV irradiation. Photoreaction of the copolymer thin film was carried out using Hg-UV light and investigated by FT–IR spectroscopy and a dynamic viscoelastic analyzer. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 1849–1855, 1997     

Main-chain biodegradable liquid crystal based on cholesteryl end-capped polycarbonate copolymers

Main-chain biodegradable liquid crystal (LC) based on cholesteryl end-capped polycarbonate copolymers was investigated. The novel LC was synthesised through ring-opening copolymerisation of trimethylene carbonate with ε-caprolactone (CL) initiated by cholesterol, without adding any catalyst. The chemical structure of the resulting polymers was confirmed by ¹H NMR. The liquid crystalline properties were validated by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and polarising optical microscopy. The results showed that the synthesised polycarbonate copolymers Chol-(TMCL)x + y exhibited liquid crystallinity in particular temperature ranges because of the incorporation of the cholesterol moieties. Furthermore, the effect of CL content on the mesomorphism properties of Chol-(TMCL)_x+y was also investigated; the higher the CL content, the lower the mesomorphism properties. It might be attributed to the hindered orientation of LC caused by the crystallinity of the poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) segments in the polymer chain.     

Liquid crystalline polymers XVI*. Thermotropic liquid crystalline copoly(arylidene-ether)/TiO2 Nanocomposites: synthesis,characterisation and applications

ABSTRACT

Polymer nanocomposites are already a part of many important worldwide businesses. Among many nanocomposite precursors, titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanopowder is increasingly being investigated due to its special properties. In this work, the feasibility of synthesising a new series of materials, copoly(arylidene-ether)/titanium dioxide nanocomposites, using in-situ copolymerisation technique has been investigated. This can be performed by the interaction of both cyclohexanone and 4-tert-butylcyclohexanone monomers with 4,4′-diformyl-2,2′-dimethoxy-α,ω-diphenoxyalkanes Ia–e, respectively, using different additions of titanium dioxide-P25. The structure of the prepared nanocomposites IIa–e/TiO₂ (0.2–3.0%) was confirmed by elemental analysis (energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) and spectral data (Fourier transform-infrared [FT-IR]). FT-IR verified the dispersion of nanofillers in the copolymer. Then, the characterisation and applications of these nanocomposites are extensively discussed depending on the investigation of how the addition of titanium dioxide nanoparticles affected on their properties using various techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, SEM, transmission electron microscopy, Water Contact Angle (WCA), thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermogravimetric, differential thermal analysis (DTA), polarising optical microscope and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy. The nanoparticles affected on the copolymer thermal behaviour in different ways (discrepancy results) depending on how these nanoparticles are dispersed in the copolymer matrix. UV–vis absorption spectra displayed a decrease in the optical band gap of some nanocomposites, which resulted from the addition of titanium dioxide to these copolymers, and this can improve the efficiency of them as organic emitting materials.     

Synthesis and characterisation of a novel Y-shaped liquid crystalline epoxy and its effect on isotropic epoxy resin

ABSTRACT

A novel Y-shaped liquid crystalline epoxy with a rigid core with three flexible liquid crystalline arms (ETTPM) was synthesised and its structure was characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. It was analysed and observed by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and polarised optical microscopy (POM) that the liquid crystal phase was stable on the temperature range of 107.8°C. In particular, an unusual transition phenomenon of liquid crystal phases was observed. Modified epoxy-resin-cured products were prepared using ETTPM, epoxy resin E51 and 4,4-diaminodiphenyl methane. The liquid crystalline domains in cured products were observed by researching their scattering effect on laser. Mechanical tests showed that ETTPM was effective for the mechanical properties improvement of epoxy-resin-cured products, as demonstrated in the improvement of impact strength, tensile strength and tensile elasticity modulus. The impact fracture cross-sections and surface morphologies were studied further by POM and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Crack deformation, crack split and notable plastic deformations were found in modified epoxy-resin-cured products, and these factors played important roles in improving the impact strength.     

Synthesis and phase behaviour of new biodegradable liquid crystalline polycarbonate derived from side chain cholesteryl derivative

A new cholesterol side-functionalised polycarbonate was synthesised through a coupling reaction between the terminal carboxyl group of the monomer 6-cholesteroxy-6-oxocaproic acid (COHA) and side hydroxyl group of the polycarbonate (PHTMC). The chemical structures of the intermediate compounds, monomers and polymers obtained in this study were characterised with FT-IR and ¹H NMR spectrum. Their phase behaviour and thermal stability were investigated using polarising optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The monomer COHA showed a cholesteric phase, while the corresponding cholesterol side-functionalised polycarbonate P(TMC-g-COHA) revealed a smectic A phase. This behaviour was attributed to an increased density of the mesogenic units in side chain and hence an ordered organisation into the mesophase. Furthermore, P(TMC-g-COHA) could exhibit a liquid crystalline state below body temperature (≈37°C). This fact indicated it could be used clinically as a self-assemble material with orientational-order mesophase. In addition, P(TMC-g-COHA) had a good thermal stability, the corresponding thermal decomposition temperature was 241°C.     

Synthesis,liquid crystalline mesophases and morphologies of diblock copolymers composed of a poly(dimethylsiloxane) block and a nematic liquid crystalline block

In this study, a series of liquid crystalline diblock copolymers, composed of a soft poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) block with a de?ned length and a side-on liquid crystalline poly(3??-acryloyloxypropyl 2,5-di(4?-butyloxybenzoyloxy) benzoate) (P3ADBB) block with different lengths, are synthesised by the atom transfer radical polymerisation. The macromolecular structures, liquid crystalline properties and the microphase-separated morphologies of the diblock copolymer are investigated by ¹H NMR, FT-IR, GPC, POM, DSC and TEM. The results show that the well-de?ned diblock copolymers (PDMS_n-b-P3ADBB_m) possess four different soft/rigid ratios (n = 58, m = 10, 25, 42, 66) and relatively narrow molecular distributions (PDI ≤ 1.30). P3ADBB blocks of the copolymers show nematic sub-phases, which are identical to the mesomorphic behaviour of the homopolymer P3ADBB. After being annealed at 90°C in a vacuum oven for 48 h, the copolymers form a lamellar morphology when m = 10 and morphologies of PDMS spheres embedded in P3ADBB matrix when m = 25, 42 and 66.