RHEOOPTICAL FOURIER-TRANSFORM INFRARED-SPECTROSCOPY OF A LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE BLOCK-COPOLYMER

In the present rheo-optical experiments FTIR polarization spectroscopy was used to investigate the orientational behaviour of the different constituents of an LC block copolymer (copolyester imide) during uniax ial elongation at different temperatures. The results exhibit differen ces in the degree of alignment as well as in the response to the appli cation of the mechanical load. With increasing temperature the level o f the applied stress and the induced orientation decrease, while the d ifferences in the orientational behaviour of the mesogen and the flexi ble spacer are retained.