Thermoplastic and thermoset main chain liquid crystal polymers prepared from biphenyl mesogen

Main chain liquid crystal thermoplastic polyesters and thermosetting epoxy resins were prepared using biphenyl mesogens. The melting points of the polyesters were effectively decreased by incorporating flexible methylene spacers into the polymer main chain. The liquid crystal epoxy resins exhibit high glass transition temperature, low thermal expansion coefficients, high dielectric strengths, and low dielectric loss. They are suitable for the preparation of self-reinforcing molecular composites. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.