FERROELECTRIC LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE SIDE-GROUP POLYMERS DERIVED FROM MESOGENIC VINYL ETHER MONOMERS

Two classes of ferroelectric polymers, polysiloxanes and polyvinyl eth ers, have been synthesized, starting from the same mesogenic vinyl eth er as precursor. The polysiloxane materials obtained by polymer analog ous reaction of vinyl ethers with H-siloxanes exhibit larger ranges of ferroelectric S-C phases than the corresponding polyvinyl ethers. Th e effect of changing the nature of the link of the terminal chiral end group on the phase behaviour and ferroelectric properties of the new side chain polymers is reported.