THERMOTROPIC LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE COMB-LIKE POLYMERS WITH POLYACRYLAMIDE MAIN-CHAIN .1. SYNTHESIS AND MESOMORPHIC STRUCTURES OF POLYMERS WITHLIPOBIPHENYL SIDE-CHAINS

The synthesis of polymerizable lipobiphenyls, the study of the kinetic s of their radical polymerization giving comb-like polymers, and the s tudy of the thermotropic behaviour of the polymers are reported. Utili zation of all the information provided. by X-ray diffraction diagrams showed that polymers with polyacrylamide main chains and lipobiphenyl side chains exhibit successively, between room temperature and isotrop ization temperature, two mesophases: an ordered tilted double layer sm ectic phase SI2, and a disordered tilted double layer smectic phase SC 2.