SMALL ANGLE LIGHT SCATTERING MEASUREMENT OF THE ISOTROPIC TO NEMATIC TRANSITION OF A SIDE CHAIN NEMATIC POLYMETHACRYLATE*

 The kinetics of I→N transition of a side chain nematic polymethacrylate has been studied by small angledepolarized light scattering intensity measurements using a charge coupled device linear image sensor. The polymer showsthe transition temperatures K52N79I in ℃. The H_v scattering intensity J(q,t) during the transition I (at 80.2℃)→N (at75.8℃) shows that J(q) is independent of q for all t, and during the initial stage (in 6 s) J(t) increases exponentially with t.In the later stage of the transition (t) approaches a saturation value in 2 min.This experimental result indicates that the I→N transition of a liquid crystalline polymer is a spinodal type of phase transition mediated by orientation fluctuation.