ANISOTROPIC POLYMERIC NETWORKS WITH A CONTROLLED NANOSTRUCTURE

The synthesis and properties of anisotropically ordered polymer networ ks with a controlled (molecular) nanostructure are reported. Polymer n etworks with only a single rigid segment (based on 1,4-distyrylbenzene or hydroquinone) between crosslink points were prepared by a simple p olyesterification procedure. Unswollen polymer networks containing onl y one of these rigid segments or a combination of the two were birefri ngent and exhibited a reversible thermotropic phase transition. The or dering within these networks is attributed to a microphase separation of rigid aromatic and flexible aliphatic segments rather than strictly to a shape-anisotropy driven liquid crystalline phase. The nature of ordering within these networks when swollen in 1,2-dichlorobenzene is also discussed.