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Microstructures Based on Thermotropic Liquid‐Crystalline Polymers in the Low Molar Mass Nematogenic 5CB
Author(s) -
Pereira Fabiano V.,
Zandoná Rodrigo,
Borsali Redouane,
Merlo Aloir A.,
da Silveira Nadya P.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.200551111
Subject(s) - thermotropic crystal , liquid crystal , polymer , materials science , molar mass , lyotropic , microstructure , mesogen , small angle x ray scattering , birefringence , optical microscope , phase (matter) , chemical engineering , side chain , polymer chemistry , organic chemistry , liquid crystalline , composite material , chemistry , optics , scanning electron microscope , scattering , physics , optoelectronics , engineering
Summary: The unique characteristics of two polyacrylates having the same side chain chiral mesogenics groups and different spacer lengths allowed the stabilization of ordered polymer rich‐phases in solution with the nematic solvent 5CB. These microstructures are smectic having fibrous‐like and rode‐like morphologies, in spite of the mesophases of the polymers in bulk. The interactions between the mesogenic groups in the polymer and the solvent 5CB stabilize the microstructures and leads to birefringence at temperatures above the 5CB clearing point. Polarized optical microscopy data are complemented by SAXS to fully describe the mesomorphic behavior of the mixtures.