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The recent developments of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers
Author(s) -
Chung TaiShung
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.760261302
Subject(s) - thermotropic crystal , mesogen , lyotropic , materials science , liquid crystal , polymer , liquid crystalline , polymer science , characterization (materials science) , phase (matter) , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , composite material , chemistry , optoelectronics , engineering
The historical development of both main‐chain (M.C.) and side‐chain (S.C.) liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) is presented. Synthetic routes and characterization techniques for LCPs are introduced. Various approaches to reduce the melting points of M.C. LCPs and to increase the mesogenic order of S.C. LCPs are reviewed and evaluated. The criteria to form a liquid crystalline phase are then discussed. Comparisons among thermotropic, lyotropic, and low‐molecular‐weight liquid crystals are also made. It is concluded that the preparation of LCPs has been well developed by the industry, but that the understanding of the formation of LC domains has not been completely understood. The theoretical explanations for some unexpected results are still not available. These anomalies are detailed in this work. Future research activity en LCPs for plastics engineers is also mentioned in this article.