Mesogen-jacketed Liquid Crystal Polymers With Mesogens of Aromatic Amide Structure

The synthesis and property of a new series of "mesogen-jacketed liquid crystal polymers" are reported. These polymers have aromatic amide structures as the mesogenic groups and are represented by poly-2,5-bis(4-methoxy- benzamido)styrene. The preliminary study on properties shows that the polymers have very high glass transition temperatures as well as very low critical concentrations for the formation of the lyotropic liquid crystal phase. The results indicate a high degree of chain rigidity. However, the liquid crystalline order of molecular organization in bulk samples disappears upon heating to the glass transition temperature as revealed by polarizing microscopy and by X-ray diffractometer. Therefore, the liquid crystalline order of these polymers forms only through solution but not through heating. This behavior is different from that of the previously studied poly-2,5-bis[(4-methoxybenzoyl)oxy]styrene and its homologs. The latter polymers are liquid crystals both lyotropically and thermotropically. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.