Synthesis and characterization of liquid crystalline epoxy and co-polymerisation with a non-mesomorphic epoxy resin

A novel liquid crystalline epoxy resin based on the imine group was synthesised and structurally characterised by infrared (IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The mesogenic behaviour of the monomer was measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarised optical microscopy (POM), and presented various textures in the extensive temperature range. Methyl nadic anhydride (MNA) was employed to cure the liquid crystalline epoxy resin and the curing process was investigated using POM and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). Information about distribution of liquid crystalline epoxy resin in the blending system resulted from the FT-IR Imaging System, indicating that molecules of liquid crystalline epoxy resin can agglomerate to form anisotropic domains. The improvement in mechanical properties of diglycidyl ether of biphenol A (DGEBA) modified with liquid crystalline epoxy was achieved. Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) showed that an extremely rough and highly deformed fracture surface can be obtained. DGEBA modified with liquid crystalline epoxy resin was characterised by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) for its thermal properties. The results indicate that the presence of the liquid crystal phase influences glass transition temperature (Tg).