MESOPHASE BEHAVIOR IN FLUOROCARBON HYDROCARBON POLYESTERS

A series of liquid crystalline main chain polyesters has been synthesi zed in which mesogenic, linear perfluoroalkyl groups are linked to ali phatic hydrocarbon chains. The liquid crystalline phase appears to be smectic B from X-ray diffraction data. Interesting differences in the mesophase transition temperatures and enthalpies are observed along th e series, as the hydrocarbon and perfluoroalkyl contents are changed. These are discussed in relation to the length of the segments. One pol ymer was also synthesized from biphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxyic acid for comp arison with the polyesters prepared using aliphatic dicarboxylic acids .